REVIEW: Anything Goes, Cadogan Hall ✭✭

Anything Goes Cadogan Hall review

As a whole experience, this was the equivalent of the local school end-of-year concert. If you were friendly and forgiving, you could have a good time. If you were expecting a professional concert of Cole Porter music, you were mostly disappointed and likely to be fleeing home at interval.

Jenna Russell and Jonathan Slinger headline Apollo transfer for Urinetown

Jenna Russell

It was announced today that Jenna Russell will return to the role of Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown when it transfers to The Apollo Theatre this September. Richard Fleeshman, however will not be returning to the show. In postings to Twitter, Richard cited “other commitments” as his reason for not returning but wished the production well. Other cast members from the St James’ production returning will return, including RSC actor Jonathan Slinger who plays Officer Lockstock and Eastenders‘ Marc Elliott who plays Mr McQueen. Others cast members resuming their roles from the run at  The St James Theatre include Karis Jack (Little Sally), Cory English (Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry),  Jeff Nicholson (Tiny Tom/ Dr. Billeaux), Katie Bernstein (Little Becky Two Shoes/Mrs. Millennium), Madeleine Harland (Soupy Sue), Rosanna Hyland (Hope Cladwell), Julie Jupp (Old Woman/ Josephine Strong), Aaron Lee Lambert (Billy Boy Bill/ UGC Executive), Mark Meadows (Senator Fipp), Joel Montague … Read more

FROM THE DRESSING ROOM: Jenna Russell

Jenna Russell

The stage door of the Harold Pinter Theatre tells a hundred stories. A stage door keeper, literally the keeper of the stories, presides over a comfy nook covered in headshots, some yellowing, corners curling. A hundred stories, a hundred once-upon-a-times. Jenna Russell’s dressing room tells its own story. She shares with Merrily We Roll Along co-star, Josefina Gabrielle. Gabrielle’s side of the dressing table is covered in make-up, brushes and powder and paints, neatly laid out in readiness for the evening show. On Russell’s side, there are three or four photographs of her baby daughter, Betsy, blu-tacked to the mirror. She tucks her legs beneath her on her chair and begins to tell stories. Born in London, brought up in Dundee and a performer from a young age, she has plenty of stories to tell. She is delicate-looking, radiant, with huge, open, blue eyes that brim with tears when she talks … Read more