My mum and I had our annual trip to London at the end of May this year and, as usual, we spent most of our time inside theatres watching musicals!
The first show we went to see was the much-discussed 'Viva Forever!'. A lazy script full of characters based on ones from television comedy shows, poorly constructed story-lines and deseprate attempts to make fun of popular culture. My point of view on these elements of the show agree with that of critics, however, what the critics have failed to appreciate is the cast, set, music, acting, singing and dancing. A Spice Girls fan at heart, this show was very enjoyable, included many of the Spice Girls' big hits and the singers and musicians made them sound show-stopping. The acting and dancing were energetic and exciting and the whole show was really good fun. We were dancing in the aisles, spicing up our lives girl power-style. Magic.
The second show we went to see was the Olivier award-winning 'Top Hat'. Stunning, traditional musical comedy poured from the stage from curtain up. The band were terrific and dancing energetic, characterised and typically 30s. The costumes and set were wonderful, and all of the elements of a fantastic musical theatre show fitted together perfectly. It had the 'feel good' factor and filled the gap within the theatre world at the moment where there are only a few old-style musicals with traditional charm and humour. I was so sad to hear that this show is to close as it was truly the best show I've seen in years.
Our final theatre-trip of the London holiday was to see 'A Chorus Line'. I had heard a lot about this show, including the fact that there was no interval! My mum was quite tired that night but managed through the one-act show due to it's engaging content, fantastic score and well-scripted characters. This show had thought-provoking content, taking each character as an individual including great songs, striking monologues and, at times, quite crazy dancing! The ending was so fitting to the role of a chorine and, although it was set in the 70s (or 80s?), so many of the stories are so relevant to people today. I was laughing, crying, stunned to silence and energised beyond belief all in the one show. I hope I get the chance to go and see this show again...really soon!
Bring on London 2014 Mum :)
Showing posts with label theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label theatre. Show all posts
Monday, 16 September 2013
Monday, 4 July 2011
ARENA: RSAMD CPP2 Students 24th June 2011
ARENA: an explicit expose of process, generated by the body and from the practice and study of movement.
As with each piece from the contemporary performance practice students of the RSAMD, I had no idea what was in store as I entered the Chandler Studio Theatre. Arranged in the centre of the floor, the performers explored the space around them, keeping in contact with the floor and transferring weight slowly between themselves.
A fun-filled, exciting performance piece followed, including exciting extracts of dance, physical theatre, art, parkour and acrobalance. I was inspired by CPP2's use of contact and improvisation and enjoyed seeing the progress of these amazing young artists from their performance the previous year. Particularly, duets between Aby Watson and Kim Donohoe, Emma Nutland and Amy McLahlan Sayer stand out for me, their strength and beauty stealing my attention from everything else that was happening in the space. I must commend Ellie Dubois and David Banks on their work with contact and parkour. The control in their movements had me holding my breath, I was completely captivated.
As with each piece from the contemporary performance practice students of the RSAMD, I had no idea what was in store as I entered the Chandler Studio Theatre. Arranged in the centre of the floor, the performers explored the space around them, keeping in contact with the floor and transferring weight slowly between themselves.
A fun-filled, exciting performance piece followed, including exciting extracts of dance, physical theatre, art, parkour and acrobalance. I was inspired by CPP2's use of contact and improvisation and enjoyed seeing the progress of these amazing young artists from their performance the previous year. Particularly, duets between Aby Watson and Kim Donohoe, Emma Nutland and Amy McLahlan Sayer stand out for me, their strength and beauty stealing my attention from everything else that was happening in the space. I must commend Ellie Dubois and David Banks on their work with contact and parkour. The control in their movements had me holding my breath, I was completely captivated.
CPP students are more than the much talked-about 'triple threat'...they use voice, dance, physical theatre, parkour, yoga, contact, acting, improvisation, art and more to create innovative relevant performances that everyone could relate to on some level. They capture the essence of every individual, personality and natural charisma oozes from every performer.
Congratulations on a fantastic end of year show CPP2. Your performances are real, engaging and inspiring.
Congratulations on a fantastic end of year show CPP2. Your performances are real, engaging and inspiring.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
STOMP!
Wow! After seeing Strictly Tap Dance Fever, Tap Dogs and now Stomp, I really have had the best year at the theatre!
Stomp was a fast=paced, energetic 1 hour 40 minute straight-through show. The musicality of each performer was used to the highest level and the characters developed during each section were intriguing and funny.
My favourite sequence was the newspapers. The ways they were used to create sound and rhythm was inventive and original, each new sequence delivered with astounding accuracy.
The cast looked at all time like they were having the time of their lives, and so they should! I would kill to perform in this show!
This is definitely a show for all the family and I'm not one to use that phrase! Usually it describes shows for me that are for couples with children but Stomp was honestly the most fun performance I have seen in a long time, enjoyed by the small child in front of me as much as the elderly couple behind.
I am feeling very spoiled after a very rhythmical 2010 so far!
Stomp was a fast=paced, energetic 1 hour 40 minute straight-through show. The musicality of each performer was used to the highest level and the characters developed during each section were intriguing and funny.
My favourite sequence was the newspapers. The ways they were used to create sound and rhythm was inventive and original, each new sequence delivered with astounding accuracy.
The cast looked at all time like they were having the time of their lives, and so they should! I would kill to perform in this show!
This is definitely a show for all the family and I'm not one to use that phrase! Usually it describes shows for me that are for couples with children but Stomp was honestly the most fun performance I have seen in a long time, enjoyed by the small child in front of me as much as the elderly couple behind.
I am feeling very spoiled after a very rhythmical 2010 so far!
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Tap Dance Fever, Theatre Royal
When my mum bought me tickets for this show for my birthday I was over the moon! Let’s just get one thing straight before I tell you about this show, I LOVE TAP DANCING!!!
Tap Dance Fever took me through the art of rhythmic dance from the era of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers right up to the newer body-percussive styles of Stomp and Tap Dogs.
Due to my dance experience and slightly crazy obsession with tap I was going to be a fairly difficult audience member to please! Initially I struggled to ignore the dodgy click tracks and unconvincing miming from the chorus and not least the terrible combinations of jazz-style tap shoes and skirts (very unflattering on the legs)! I felt disappointed in the costumes for scenes from 42nd Street where they didn’t always co-ordinate through the chorus members and just didn’t have quite enough sparkle!!!
By the end of the first half, all of my criticisms for costumes and backing tracks were well and truly forgotten and I was totally won over by the abilities of each and every member of the cast. When they performed in unison, it sounded like there was only one dancer on the stage, a tell-tale sign of perfect timing and spot-on rhythms.
The main female singer in the cast bared an uncanny vocal resemblance to Christina Aguilera, which was shown off when the girls of the company performed a fabulous cover of “Candy Man”. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a programme available for this show so I can’t name all of my favourites!
The interaction between the dancers was amazing, it was clear that they were having the time of their lives and so was the audience. The energy and spirit held right to the very end of what must have been an exhausting performance!
The standing ovation during the final piece summed up the performance. Tap Dance Fever was an outstanding, fast paced and invigorating show.
They had rhythm, who could ask for anything more?!!!
Tap Dance Fever took me through the art of rhythmic dance from the era of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers right up to the newer body-percussive styles of Stomp and Tap Dogs.
Due to my dance experience and slightly crazy obsession with tap I was going to be a fairly difficult audience member to please! Initially I struggled to ignore the dodgy click tracks and unconvincing miming from the chorus and not least the terrible combinations of jazz-style tap shoes and skirts (very unflattering on the legs)! I felt disappointed in the costumes for scenes from 42nd Street where they didn’t always co-ordinate through the chorus members and just didn’t have quite enough sparkle!!!
By the end of the first half, all of my criticisms for costumes and backing tracks were well and truly forgotten and I was totally won over by the abilities of each and every member of the cast. When they performed in unison, it sounded like there was only one dancer on the stage, a tell-tale sign of perfect timing and spot-on rhythms.
The main female singer in the cast bared an uncanny vocal resemblance to Christina Aguilera, which was shown off when the girls of the company performed a fabulous cover of “Candy Man”. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a programme available for this show so I can’t name all of my favourites!
The interaction between the dancers was amazing, it was clear that they were having the time of their lives and so was the audience. The energy and spirit held right to the very end of what must have been an exhausting performance!
The standing ovation during the final piece summed up the performance. Tap Dance Fever was an outstanding, fast paced and invigorating show.
They had rhythm, who could ask for anything more?!!!
Richard Alston, Theatre Royal, Glasgow
I was so excited to have got a 2 for 1 offer on tickets plus free pre-show talk with Richard Alston at the Theatre Royal. I hadn’t seen any of his work before but had heard really good things and knew he was the artistic director at The Place in London too, so he must be good?!!!
I took my boyfriend and we went to the pre-show talk which was very educational for me in terms of Alston’s choreographic processes. He appealed to my other half too as a musician due to most of his ideas and decisions for movement being influenced by music.
When it came to the performance itself, however, I have to admit I was slightly disappointed and don’t really have much to say. One more mature female dancer stood out as excellent amongst a fairly un-expressive company. I just didn’t “feel” the pieces shown, maybe I wasn’t in the right move or maybe the pre-show talk left me with too high expectations.
The second piece I found highly enjoyable in terms of movement and the lighting effects to create the “light through a window” were magical. Unfortunately, the lighting was more convincing than what Alston had described earlier as an intense emotional connection between man and woman. The dancers faces were still and I didn’t feel connected to the movement, although the choreography was beautifully subtle with bursts of light in amongst modest shade.
I will go and see more pieces by Richard Alston as I believe that he must have more in his repertoire that would suit my tastes more. Would I go to another pre-show talk? I’m not sure; I think that this one made me enjoy the performance less, what do you think?
I took my boyfriend and we went to the pre-show talk which was very educational for me in terms of Alston’s choreographic processes. He appealed to my other half too as a musician due to most of his ideas and decisions for movement being influenced by music.
When it came to the performance itself, however, I have to admit I was slightly disappointed and don’t really have much to say. One more mature female dancer stood out as excellent amongst a fairly un-expressive company. I just didn’t “feel” the pieces shown, maybe I wasn’t in the right move or maybe the pre-show talk left me with too high expectations.
The second piece I found highly enjoyable in terms of movement and the lighting effects to create the “light through a window” were magical. Unfortunately, the lighting was more convincing than what Alston had described earlier as an intense emotional connection between man and woman. The dancers faces were still and I didn’t feel connected to the movement, although the choreography was beautifully subtle with bursts of light in amongst modest shade.
I will go and see more pieces by Richard Alston as I believe that he must have more in his repertoire that would suit my tastes more. Would I go to another pre-show talk? I’m not sure; I think that this one made me enjoy the performance less, what do you think?
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