Thoroughly Modern Millie, Milton Keynes Theatre, January 26^th 2017.

“Millie” tells the story of a country girl from Kansas, who arrives penniless in New York determined to throw off her dowdy life style and fully embrace all that’s new, risqué and modern in the city.

Those who know Joanne Clifton from her marvelously creative dancing on last seasons Strictly Ballroom competition on the BBC, will be in for a surprise as to what a great all round performer and singer she is.

This is an excellent show that allows her to fully demonstrate her talents.

It has to be said that the whole cast put in a great and spirited performance, special mention to Michelle Collins as the evil Mrs Meers who does a terrific Chinese accent via Benny Hill, Graham MacDuff as Trevor Graydon who produces an exceptionally funny drunk scene and Jenny Fitzpatrick, especially her marvelous performance of “Only in New York” at the end of the first half, simply brilliant.

The music and dancing throughout are superb, properly capturing the sounds and atmosphere of the times, the musicians were fluid and exceptionally musical.

The sound quality is clear and distinct and not so loud as to be distorted, the stage set

is both interesting and versatile, easily covering the seedy hotel of Mrs Meers, the offices of Trever Graydon, the local prison and then the penthouse of Muzzy van Hossmere.

The original book by Richard Henry Morris was re-conceived as a film for Julie Andrews in 1967 to rave reviews and huge box office success.

This presentation captures the mood and exuberance of those heady times in New York and is great entertainment for all.

Thoroughly Modern Millie is running until Saturday 28^th January at Milton Keynes Theatre. To catch some last minute tickets, head over to atgtickets.com

REVIEW: Dick Whittington at MK Theatre

Dick Whittington at Milton Keynes Theatre

13th December 2016

 

A truly mad old English tradition – the Pantomime!  A noun described in the Oxford Dictionary as ‘An absurdly exaggerated piece of behaviour’, well that’s exactly what you can expect from this year’s panto at Milton Keynes theatre and it was fabulous.

From dazzling costumes to vibrant stage sets that changed from scene to scene, audience participation to topical jokes, it was great fun all round.

This year we saw Stacey Solomon as Fairy Bowbells and Samantha Womack as Queen Rat, good versus evil to keep the audience in peril with a sprinkling of hope for dear Dick and his friends. Kev Orkian starred as Idle Jack, a narrator, entertainer, joker, story-teller, funny-man – he did great at involving us all in the show. Kevin Brewis, Chris Jenkins, Hannah Ponting, Marc Pickering, Shane Knight and Sophie Hart completed the ensemble and we could see and feel how much fun they were having playing their parts – which made it all the more enjoyable to watch.

Although everybody’s performance was flawless, right down to Tommy the cat and the swarms of rats, my absolute favourite character of them all was Sarah The Cook. Played by Kevin Brewis, this year’s Dame was truly outrageous with quintessential, flamboyant costumes, colourful make-up and witty, sassy lines.

The show takes you with Dick on his journey from rags to riches, meeting his friends and foes along the way. Mix a timeless story with topical references, some musical hits and even a surprise immersive underwater adventure – it’s Christmas entertainment at it’s best for all the family.

Book Tickets now! Dick Whittington is at Milton Keynes Theatre until 15^th January 2017. 

To book tickets go to: atgtickets.com

REVIEW: ENB The Nutcracker at MK Theatre

The Nutcracker, Milton Keynes Theatre, 23^rd November 2016.

 This was a most wonderful and enjoyable evening:- from the excellent music by Tchaikovsky, with pieces that we are all familiar with. To the terrific dancers who filled the stage with delight, there were times when there was so much happening it was difficult to take all of this wonderful action in.

The theatre too did it's part, last week we sat in the front of the stalls, this week the first few rows had been removed and the orchestra pit had appeared, it was filled with a marvelous full orchestra including two harps and a children choir.

The stage sets are very imaginative, with an ice skating scene which looks quite realistic and suitably chilly. The story develops from a simple bedroom scene through to a full Christmas party, the escape balloon lifting up into the gods and then the garden scene.

The performers and dancers were excellent, interpreting the music with great grace, enthusiasm and elegance.

It was a truly magical evening, one we would like to see again.

Our thanks to everyone involved.

The Nutcracker runs at Milton Keynes Theatre from 24^th – 26^th November. Tickets from www.atgtickets.com/shows/nutcracker/milton-keynes-theatre

REVIEW: Relatively Speaking at MK Theatre

Relatively Speaking by Alan Ayckbourn

Milton Keynes Theatre, Monday 14^th November 2016.

 

  

This was a most enjoyable performance from beginning to end, with just four players, the story funnily portrays misinterpretation, based on the assumption of facts that are not quite as they seem to the four characters. Particularly to the young man Greg, who is unaware of the complicated romantic history of his new girl friend Ginny and the people he thinks are her parents.

We are introduced to the young couple in a dodgy London bedsit, before moving to a comfortable detached house in South Buckinghamshire commuter belt of the early 1960's, where the story and the situation unfolds most cleverly.

The dialogue is clearly presented with just the right amount of pauses to allow the audience to laugh, but to also keep a smooth flow in the performance.

However this is what you would expect from such experienced actors as Robert Powell and Lisa Goddard, but they are more than ably supported by Lindsey Campbell and Antony Eden as the young couple.

The two sets excellently show a scruffy bedsit in London and then the detached property in Buckinghamshire ,with lots on means for the characters to enter and exit the performing area.

The audience all seemed to enjoy the humour and performances of the play, they also found great interest in the "home counties map" that hung as a curtain before the two acts.

The map was pre-motorway so showed a different England than you would see today for road and rail routes.

The play was first known as “Know My Father” in 1965, but soon became Relatively Speaking when it was presented in London in 1967.

Relatively Speaking is running at MK Theatre until Saturday 19th November. Tickets are available from www.atgtickets.com/shows/relatively-speaking/milton-keynes-theatre

REVIEW: The Commitments at MK Theatre

Review of The Commitments at MK Theatre

 

The story is simple; a Dublin producer has to get a group of amateur musicians together to make a band. And like all good bands they have some rocky times where they argue like mad and in an Irish sort of way.

It all adds up to some rocking good music with plenty of soul. The songs are all familiar and our favourites from back in the day. Songs like River Deep, Mountain High, Mustang Sally and I Heard it Through the Grapevine are all interweaved effortlessly through the story, which by the way had plenty of laughs.

Although this was a musical it thankfully didn’t have lots of dance routines just some straightforward good songs with a little bit of choreography where necessary. The stage was simple but effective. The cast had some amazing singers but none more so than Brian Gilligan who played the lead role of Deco. What a star! We will surely be seeing more of him in the future. Other notable performances were from Amy Penston who played Natalie who was the best female lead singer in the show. Andrew Linnie who played Jimmy was adorable and in many ways held the show together. The token famous person was Kevin Kennedy (of Curly Watts fame) who is spending more time in musical theatre but taking the more elderly roles!

This is one of the best musicals around so don't miss it.

It's on at MK Theatre until Saturday 5^th November.

Tickets from the box office 0844 871 7652 Booking fees apply.

www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes    Booking fees apply.

REVIEW: Cats at MK Theatre

Review of Cats at Milton Keynes Theatre

 

Funnily enough Cats is a musical that I had bypassed all these years since the first showing in 1981 so it was about time I went to see what all the fuss was about. Well what a performance – a true example of excellent musical theatre. The enduring musical Cats written by Andrew Lloyd Weber has had a bit of a makeover in recent years. The story hinges on the lives of different character cats living on a dumpster. It`s quite a complicated and intricate set all adding to the atmosphere on the stage.

There are lots of big set dances with the very large cast and a range of different music and dance styles from jazz to ballet. The cast were athletic and gymnastic in their dance skills. As we got to know the individual cats then it was the solo pieces that the audience liked and recognised the most. Grizabella, the old decrepit cat played by Marianne Benedict performed the song Memory at least twice, well why not, it`s so good!

The cats came into the audience on many occasions and that was an excellent way to involve the theatre goers and to marvel at the intricate detail of the makeup and costumes. They were superb!

The show is all about the visuals and not the story and more of a variety show for cats which is probably why it`s called Cats!

There is still time to catch Cats at MK Theatre. It’s on till Saturday 29^th October.

Tickets from www.atgtickets.com/Miltonkeynes or telephone 0844 871 7652 (booking fee applies)

Footloose: The Musical

Everybody cut loose! Footloose! What a fab musical, I absolutely loved it.

The story starts with Ren and his mum moving away from trendy Chicago to the small and old-fashioned town known as Bomont. A town where dancing is illegal and we follow Ren and his friends as they challenge this law; wanting to express themselves in the art of music and dance.

They've done a great job of developing the classic 80’s movie into an actor-musician show. The cast is incredibly talented and very entertaining to watch. They are acting, singing, playing instruments and dancing at the same time – I was mesmerised from the first scene to the last and there are some great comedy moments too, especially from Willard, played by Gareth Gates. He’s a really funny character – he engaged the audience well with his comical faces and actions directed towards us and his silly jokes got a good giggle.

Luke Baker and Hannah Price played the rebel lovebirds Ren McCormack and the reverend’s daughter Ariel Moore. They were both brilliant and I particularly liked Rusty and Willards relationship too (Gareth and Joanna Sawyer) which was awkward but lovely! With 80’s classics like Footloose, Holding Out For A Hero and Let’s Hear It For The Boy, you can’t help but tap your feet and sing along.

Hats off to all the creatives from the fantastic choreography to the lighting and stage sets (which were far from simple) and one of the best sets I’ve seen from a touring theatre show, you can see the amount of effort, time and detail that went into creating it.

Without giving too much away, the ending has all the audience on their feet clapping, dancing and cheering so we left buzzing.

Footloose the Musical is running this week at MK Theatre from Monday 17th – Saturday 22nd October. Tickets from www.atgtickets.com