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Theatre REVIEWS Below are reviews of theatre productions we checked out last month. For further theatre reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Lord Of The Flies Birmingham Hippodrome There comes with the work of Matthew Bourne a great expectation of extravagance and challenge - and a belief that any sign of classical ballet will be replaced with something completely unexpected. Bourne’s latest work, an adaptation of William Golding’s Lord Of The Flies, is partnered with the choreographer’s sister company, Re:Bourne, and is touring as part of a community-led project that aims to increase the popularity of dance among boys. And the show certainly does that, inspiring youngsters not only to dance but to do so in a professional dancing environment. There’s no doubt that the community boys featured in Lord Of The Flies play equally as large a part as the professionals - the show is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the chosen twenty-two. The production itself is exactly what you’d expect from Bourne. The boys are not lost on an island but in an abandoned theatre; in this case, the Birmingham Hippodrome. The set is striking, offering the boys plenty of opportunity to climb, swing and run. Multiple entrances and exits are revealed throughout the course of the production. The piece starts on a high, utilising choreographed movement rather than dance to introduce the youngsters; the leaders, the bullies and the less confrontational. As the interval approaches, large choreographed sequences involving drumming and chanting convey the fact that things are starting to get out of hand. The second act steps up the violence and mob-like behaviour, both of which are evident in Golding’s story. The boys turn on each other and blood is shed. Finally, the large metal shutter opens and they leave one by one. Ballet technique shines through Bourne’s choreography - although by comparison with what one might expect, there’s a lack of dancing in the production. That said, Bourne’s attempt to foster a connection between boys and dance should be applauded. In so doing, the experience he has given the young men appearing in this show is priceless. Jamie Ryan ■ ■ ■ Protein Dance: Border Tales DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Lucu Silvestrini’s Protein Dance Company here presented a glimpse of twenty-first century multicultural Britain, in the process addressing issues such as immigration and racism. The story was mainly told through the eyes of Stuart, a man caught up in stereotypes and hampered by a lack of knowledge about the world around him. Significantly, the show was performed in the round. This meant that audience members were facing one another, so could observe each other’s reactions to what was being said on stage, plenty of which made for uncomfortable listening given the contentious nature of the subject matter. If a performer said something that was racist yet funny, should you laugh? Should you smile? And what would the audience members sitting opposite conclude about you if you did? Talk about feeling self-concious with regard to one’s reactions! Comprising mainly spoken text, the narrative was supported by Silvestrini’s wonderful choreography, featuring beautiful solos, complex duets and plenty of group work. Jamie Ryan ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Rock Of Ages New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham After a very successful two-year run in the West End, Rock Of Ages is now out on its first UK tour, and last month stopped off in Birmingham. Set in a run-down bar called the Bourbon Room in a mid-to-late-1990s Los Angeles, the boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl story unfolds against a rocking soundtrack that includes REO Speedwagon, Bon Jovi and Slade. Drew, played by Noel Sullivan (formerly of pop group Hear’Say), works at the Bourbon Room. He writes rock songs, dreams of fame and fortune - but mostly spends his time putting out the rubbish. Farm girl Sherrie, played by Cordelia Farnworth, arrives in the city and, with Drew’s assistance, gets a job at the bar. But the course of true love never runs smooth, and life becomes really complicated for Drew and Sherrie when drug-fuelled rock god Stacee Jaxx, played by Ben Richards, returns to play at the bar when it’s threatened with closure... The music throughout the show is extremely loud, as befits a rocking world. Cordelia’s voice is lost on the big tracks but beautiful when singing More Than Words, and there are some great vocals from both Noel and Ben. The production is very tongue-incheek, with some of the performances self-conscious to the point of bordering on hammy. It’s a show that craves audience participation, but which sometimes seems more of a rock concert than a musical. Genuinely funny moments are provided by Stephen Rahman-Hughes, who plays show narrator Lonny, and Daniel Fletcher as Dennis Dupree, the rock-hippie proprietor of the Theatre Box Office Birmingham ALEXANDRA THEATRE 0844 871 3011 BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME 0844 338 5000 BIRMINGHAM REP 0121 236 4455 THE BLUE ORANGE THEATRE 0121 212 2643 CRESCENT THEATRE 0121 643 5858 DOVEHOUSE THEATRE 0121 706 7139 THE DRUM 0121 333 2444 HALL GREEN LITTLE THEATRE 0121 707 1874 MAC 0121 446 3232 MIXING BOWL THEATRE 0121 224 7545 OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE 0121 200 0946 OLD REP 0121 245 4455 SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX 0121 704 6962 Black Country ARENA THEATRE WOLVERHAMPTON 01902 321321 BLOXWICH THEATRE 01922 653183 DUDLEY CONCERT HALL 01384 812812 FOREST ARTS CENTRE, WALSALL 01922 654555 GRAND THEATRE, 01902 429212 NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE 01902 572090 OLDBURY REP, OLDBURY 0121 552 2761 Shropshire THE BELFREY, WELLINGTON 01952 222277 THE EDGE, MUCH WENLOCK 01952 728911 THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY 01743 234970 LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS 01584 878141 THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, TELFORD 01952 382382 THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY 01743 281281 WEM TOWN HALL 01939 232299 Staffordshire LICHFIELD GARRICK 01543 412121 NEW VIC 01782 717962 PRINCE OF WALES CENTRE, CANNOCK 01543 578762 REGENT THEATRE, STOKE 0870 060 6649 RUGELEY ROSE THEATRE 01889 584036 STAFFORD GATEHOUSE 01785 254653 STOKE REPERTORY THEATRE 01782 209784 Warwickshire BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL 024 7637 6707 BELGRADE THEATRE, COVENTRY 024 7655 3055 BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE, WARWICK 01926 776438 THE DREAM FACTORY 01926 419555 ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THEATRE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON 0844 800 1110 ROYAL SPA CENTRE LEAMINGTON 01926 334418 WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, COVENTRY 02476 524524 Worcestershire ARTRIX ARTS CENTRE, BROMSGROVE 01527 577330 THE HIVE 01905 822866 HUNTINGDON HALL, WORCESTER 01905 611427 MALVERN THEATRE 01684 892277 NORBURY THEATRE, DROITWICH 01905 770154 PALACE THEATRE REDDITCH 01527 65203 ROSE THEATRE, 01562 743745 SWAN THEATRE, WORCESTER 01905 611427 36 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Theatre WEST END Jeeves role for John Gordon Sinclair Olivier Award-winning actor John Gordon Sinclair, best known from the 1981 film Gregory’s Girl, is to take over the role of dutiful valet Jeeves in Sean Foley’s Perfect Nonsense. Sinclair will join the cast at the end of June, along with James Lance (Smack The Pony, Teachers, I’m Alan Partridge), who’ll play the bumbling Bertie Wooster. Previous actors to have enjoyed great acclaim in the award-winning comedy include Stephen Mangan, Matthew Macfadyn and, more recently, Robert Webb and Mark Heap. Perfect Nonsense is currently booking at Duke of York’s Theatre until 20 September, after which it embarks on a UK tour. Gina McKee in Shakespeare’s history play Gina McKee is to join Martin Freeman in the much-anticipated production of Richard III when it opens at Trafalgar Studios next month. Best known for her roles in Notting Hill and Our Friends In The North, McKee will play Queen Elizabeth opposite Freeman’s Duke of Gloucester in Shakespeare’s bloodthirsty history play. The production’s director, Jamie Lloyd, is widely regarded as one of the UK’s hottest talents. Lighting design for the show is by Charles Balfour, set design by the award-winning Soutra Gilmour. Richard III shows at Trafalgar Studios Theatre from 1 July to 27 September. WEST END LISTINGS: MUSICALS BILLY ELLIOT – THE MUSICAL Victoria Palace Theatre, booking until 16 May 2015 BODYGUARD Adelphi Theatre, booking until 30 Aug 2014 BOOK OF MORMON Prince Of Wales Theatre, booking until 30 Aug 2014 CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - THE MUSICAL Drury Lane Royal, booking until 30 May 2015 COMMITMENTS Victoria Palace Theatre, booking until 19 Apr 2015 DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS Savoy Theatre, booking until 29 Nov 2014 JERSEY BOYS Piccadilly Theatre, booking until 15 Feb 2015 LES MISÉRABLES Queen's Theatre, booking until 25 Apr 2015 LION KING Lyceum Theatre, booking until 28 Sept 2014 MADE IN DAGENHAM -THE MUSICAL Adelphi Theatre, 9 Oct 2014 - 28 Mar 2015 MAMMA MIA! Novello Theatre, booking until 25 Apr 2015 MATILDA THE MUSICAL Cambridge Theatre, booking until 24 May 2015 MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL Shaftesbury Theatre, 9 Oct 2014 - 28 Mar 2015 MISS SAIGON Prince Edward Theatre,now booking until 25 Oct 2014 ONCE Phoenix Theatre, booking until 4 July 2015 PAJAMA GAME Shaftesbury Theatre, now booking until 13 Sep 2014 PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Her Majesty's Theatre, booking until 25 Apr 2015 PORGY AND BESS Open Air Theatre, Regents Park, 17 Jul - 23 Aug 2014 STOMP Ambassadors Theatre, booking until 21 Dec 2014 THRILLER LIVE Lyric Theatre, booking until 19 Apr 2015 WICKED Apollo Victoria Theatre, booking until 25 Apr 2015 DRAMA 1984 Playhouse Theatre, booking until 19 Jul 2014 ANTONY & CLEOPATRA Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, booking until 24 Aug 2014 BAKERSFIELD MIST- Duchess Theatre, booking until 30 Aug 2014 BRING UP THE BODIES Aldwych Theatre, booking until 6 Sept 2014 DOCTOR SCROGGY’S WAR Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, 12 Sept - 10 Oct 2014 FATAL ATTRACTION Haymarket Theatre Royal, booking until 21 Jun 2014 GHOST STORIES Arts Theatre, booking until 17 Aug 2014 GOLEM Young Vic Theatre, booking until 17 Jan 2015 HANDBAGGED Vaudeville Theatre, 3 Apr - 2 Aug 2014 KING LEAR Olivier National Theatre, booking until 28 May 2014 OTHER DESERT CITIES Old Vic Theatre, booking until 24 May 2014 COMEDY 39 STEPS Criterion Theatre, booking until 18 Oct 2014 CONFESSIONS OF GORDON BROWN Ambassadors Theatre, booking until 30 July 2014 RELATIVE VALUES Harold Pinter Theatre, booking until 21 jun 2014 TWELFTH KNIGHT RE-IMAGINED Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, 21 Jun - 12 July 2014 Extended booking for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Jerry Mitchell’s musical adaptation of the movie Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has extended its booking period until March 2015. The all-star production features Robert Lindsay in the lead, as sophisticated conman Lawrence Jameson, and comedian/actor Rufus Hound as the larger-than-life Freddy Benson. Based on the book by Jeffrey Lane, the story follows the escapades of Jameson and Benson as they pursue the affections of millionaire soap heiress Christine Colgate, played by Katherine Kingsley. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 37
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