REVIEW: Jersey Boys, New Victoria Theatre Woking ✭✭✭✭
Douglas Mayo reviews Jersey Boys now playing at the New Victoria Theatre Woking as part of its current UK tour.
Simon Bailey
REVIEW: Whisper House, The Other Palace ✭✭✭
Overall, Whisper House is an interesting experiment, a novel departure from the ‘norms’ of musical theatre. If it doesn’t quite fulfill its ambitions, well, that’s not the worse thing in the world, is it?
FIRST LOOK: The Whisper House at The Other Palace
The Whisper House is a dark and thrilling musical ghost story which opens tonight at The Other Palace in London from the Tony Award-winning composer of Spring Awakening and American Psycho. An eerie lighthouse stands on the remote East Coast of America at the height of World War II. When Christopher’s father’s plane is shot down, he is sent to live with his Aunt Lily and her mysterious Japanese housekeeper. It isn’t long before he starts to hear strange music seeping through the walls… but is his imagination getting the better of him, or are the ghosts warning of real danger? Soon the whispers become something louder. Starring Simon Bailey, Nicholas Goh, Simon Lipkin, Niamh Perry, Dianne Pilkington and a seven-piece on-stage band, Whisper House combines a thrillingly original rock score with an unforgettable story about learning to embrace the unknown. Music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening, American … Read more
Jersey Boys London Celebrate 8th Anniversary
The cast of Jersey Boys recently celebrated the show’s 8th anniversary in London. The event also marked the first time that all of the Four Seasons were changed simultaneously since the show’s opening in 2008. The new London cast will feature Matt Corner as Frankie Valli, Simon Bailey as Tommy De Vito, Declan Egan as Bob Gaudio and Matt Hunt as Nick Massi, with Dayle Hodge playing Frankie Valli at certain performances. Jersey Boys is the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks. These four boys from New Jersey became one of the most successful bands in pop history, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and sold 175 million records worldwide, all before they turned 30. The show is packed with their hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, … Read more
New Cast Announced as Jersey Boys Celebrates 8th Birthday in London
From Tuesday 15 March, there will be four new Seasons joining the cast of Jersey Boys at the Piccadilly Theatre ahead of its 8th Anniversary on 18 March. This is the first time since the show opened in London that all four Seasons have changed. Jersey Boys is the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks. These four boys from New Jersey became one of the most successful bands in pop history, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and sold 175 million records worldwide, all before they turned 30. The show is packed with their hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes … Read more
Elegies At The Criterion Theatre In Aid Of MAD Trust
Tickets are now on sale for a West End revival of the song cycle Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, taking place at the Criterion Theatre on Sunday 31 May 2015. More than 30 of the West End’s most talented performers will take to the stage for the special “one night only” performance in aid of The Make A Difference Trust, with direction by Stephen Whitson and musical direction by Dean Austin. Cast members who are confirmed so far* include: Vivienne Acheampong, Simon Bailey, Paul Baker, Daniel Boys, Natalie Bush, James Charlton, Adam Colbeck Dunn, Michelle Crook, Fra Fee, Sarah French, Tom Gillies, Rachel Lea Gray, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Emma Hatton, Paul Hazel, Nick Hendrix, Graham Hoadly, Freddy Hutchins, Lauren Ingram, Kurt Kansley, Emma Kingston, Emma Lindars, Leon Lopez, Grace McKee, Matt McKenna, Ako Mitchell, Ursula Mohan, Katie Paine, Michael Pickering, Ella Marshall-Pinder, Kelly Price, Sophia Ragavelas, Grace Reynolds, Paul Riddiford, … Read more
REVIEW: Bat Boy, Southwark Playhouse ✭✭✭✭
Rob Compton is quite remarkable in the title role here. The pain and anger and fear he expresses through vocal guttural cries combined with the way he uses his almost entirely naked body to establish precisely how instinctive, alert and animalistic his existence, his life in subterranean caves, has caused him to be, is enthralling to watch.
Georgia Stitt And Friends At The Garrick
US composer and lyricist Georgia Stitt makes a welcome return to London following her sell-out concerts at St Paul’s Church in 2007 and The Hippodrome in 2012. In her new show, My Lifelong Love, she performs some of her best-known songs from her albums This Ordinary Thursday, Alphabet City Cycle and, of course, My Lifelong Love, as well as from her shows Big Red Sun, The Danger Year, Mosaic and Samantha Spade: Ace Detective. This special one-off performance will take place at London’s Garrick Theatre on Sunday 26th October at 7.30pm. Georgia is joined by some very special guests including Simon Bailey (I Can’t Sing!), Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple), Jamie Muscato (Dogfight), Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon) and Caroline Sheen(Putting It Together), as well as a choir from Arts Ed and her seriously cool five-piece band! This is a one-off, not-to-be-missed evening of humour, heart, and thrilling musicality. Expect to … Read more
