The Homecoming

 

Review by Paul Towers, 27/4/22

The Homecoming by Harold Pinter

Directed by Jamie Glover

Produced by Theatre Royal, Bath

At Curve til Saturday 30^th April 2022

“a star studded cast”

A star-studded cast is led by Keith Allen as patronising, misogynistic patriarch Max, channelling both Alf Garnett and Albert Steptoe, snarling at his three sons who are, unusually, all at home at the same time. Teddy, the youngest (Sam Alexander) brings his wife, Ruth (Shanaya Rafaat) home from America for the first time in their six year marriage to meet his father and older brothers Lenny (Matthew Horne), Sam (Ian Bartholomew) and Joey (Geoffrey Lumb). This being Harold Pinter there are long pauses and lots of the darkest humour.

Lenny is a know-it-all wide boy pimp pontificating to imply intellect while Joey is the dim demolition worker and failed boxer. Father Max is a retired butcher with a gammy leg still missing his deceased wife. Max’s brother, Sam is a chauffeur and single, still lives in the family home.

Introducing his wife into this testosterone fuelled household is a big mistake for Teddy as the men all vie for her attention, thus adding coals to the fire of her fantasy of escaping her mundane life with her husband and three sons.

Just as you are coming to terms with the snarling point scoring of the men a lightening bolt of black humour pulls you up and we see the ridiculous machismo that is prevalent in the household.

Then downtrodden wifey, Ruth, suddenly bares her teeth and the tables are turned. In the end we have to wonder whether the men have succeeded in putting one over on her or whether she has subtly bent them to her will.

The set, a huge empty North London house echoes their lives while the real life lighting effects engender a layer of realism.

The Homecoming continues touring til May.

www.curveonline.co.uk

www.ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk

 

The Cher Show

Review by: Paul Towers, 19 April 2022

The Cher Show by Rick Elice, music as performed by Cher

Producer by Live Nation

At Curve: 15 – 23  April 2022 and then touring

 “packed with snappy one-liners ensuring there are plenty of laughs”

 For anyone around in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, in fact right up to the modern day this is the music show for you. From the moment that the 16 year old Cherilyn Sarkisian met 27 year old Sonny Bono an icon was born. Through her (many) relationships Cher has continuously been faithful to her fans and, despite crippling self doubt, became what many refer to as the Goddess of Pop.

The Cher Show very cleverly uses a trio of actresses to represent each phase of her life but they also represent the combined strengths of her character.

Babe (Millie O’Connell) is the baby of the story, brought up by her mother Georgia (Tori Scott) who constantly told her she could be whatever she wants. Lady (Danielle Steers) is the mid life Cher, still working things out, mother to two and going through men like a knife through butter. But still not satisfied with her life. Finally there is Star (Debbie Kurup), the diva we have all grown to love. Together this triumvirate make up the whole Cher, independent and in control of her life.

All three of the actresses have amazing singing voices and all perfectly capture Cher’s vocals to perfection.

As Sonny Bono Lucas Rush portrays the only average singer but very controlling manager/husband who is the butt of all the jokes that Sony & Cher made on stage. Jake Mitchell is archly camp and over the top as Bob Mackie, Cher’s costume designer in later years.

This is a big show with a supporting ‘entourage’ of  12 outrageously choreographed by ex-Strictly professional Oti Mabuse. The direction by also ex-Strictly Arlene Phillips (last seen at Curve at the helm of Grease) is vibrant and highly energetic.

This is far from a jukebox musical as it has a strong storyline with some of the songs barely getting a line while others warrant a  full rendition. There is no feeling that songs have been shoehorned into the narrative.

The script by Rick Elice is packed with snappy one-liners ensuring there are plenty of laughs. But what else do you expect from Cher?

The singing is so good there is no need for auto-tune (as Georgia points out) and the only way this show could be any camper would be if Cher was played by a drag queen!

The Cher Show is at Curve until 23 April and then tours nationwide

 

Curve https://www.curveonline.co.uk/
https://cheronstage.com/

http://ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk/