Touring Reviews

REVIEW: Return To The Forbidden Planet, UK Tour ✭✭✭

Touring Reviews
Return To The Forbidden Planet touring the UK in 2015

It is a jukebox full of lively hit after hit just some of which are Great Balls of Fire, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, Good Vibrations, Young Girl and She’s Not There. On the one hand, there is the joy of identifying the Shakespearean quotes or mis-quotes (“To Beep or not to Beep” is a crowd favourite). On the other hand, the Science Fiction idiocy provides a great potential for fun. It’s a completely silly story, complete with silly costumes, that shamelessly bastardises Shakespeare’s words in a goofy, nerdy Sci-Fi way while banging out Hit Parade tunes loudly and wholeheartedly

REVIEW: Calamity Jane, New Wimbledon Theatre ✭✭✭✭

Touring Reviews
Calamity Jane starring Jodie Prenger now touing the UK

This is a theatrical treat: a good, old fashioned musical done in a new fangled way. It’s great to hear such good songs so well sung by a cast that basically accompanies itself. Prenger’s crowd pleasing turn as Calamity, together with first class support from Lister, Delaney, Street and Hammond ensures an evening that moves along at Whip Crack Away pace and makes you long for those Black Hills of Dakota.

REVIEW: Barnum, UK Tour ✭✭

Touring Reviews
Barnum starring Brian Conley touring the UK

Mikey Jay-Heath is superb as Tom Thumb and his big number, Bigger Isn’t Better, is wonderful in every way. Landi Oshinowa displays great vocal chops, twice. Her Joyce Heth number, Thank God I’m Old, is vocally aglow and her second Act number, Black and White, is a solid jazz/blues number. There are some terrific cameos from Nick Butcher and Edward Wade, both of whom are accomplished triple-threats with bright futures. But this is not Barnum at its best.

REVIEW: Jesus Christ Superstar UK Tour ✭✭✭✭

Touring Reviews
Jesus Christ Superstar on tour in the UK

Returning to a role he first played in Gale Edwards’ 1996 Lyceum Theatre revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, Glenn Carter is in tremendous form as Jesus. As Judas, Tim Rogers is a powerhouse of masculine rage and outrage, a fitting contrast to Carter’s Jesus. A very entertaining, sometimes confronting, revival of Jesus Christ Superstar.

REVIEW: Oh What A Lovely War!, Richmond Theatre (Touring) ✭✭✭✭

Touring Reviews
Oh What A Lovely War review Richmond Theatre

Oh What A Lovely War still has great relevance and, in at least one respect, has more power now than it ever has. It is a combination of sketches, jokes, music hall songs, dramatic scenes and wartime songs which results in a conflagration of poignant truths and misty nostalgia. There are a lot of laughs along the way and some genuinely delightful renditions of songs and dances.

REVIEW: Arcadia, Theatre Royal Brighton Then On Tour ✭✭✭

Touring Reviews
Arcadia English Touring Theatre

It’s a symphony of wit and wisdom wrapped up in a puzzle, a puzzle which is shattered and then, like a fiendishly difficult jigsaw puzzle, is put back together piece by piece. There are no unanswered questions at the end, no conundrums to ponder about the narrative. Stoppard ensures that everything works and that the humour and humanity of the piece is the lasting impression.