Puss In Boots

 

Review by Paul Towers, 15/12/23

Puss In Boots

Directed by John Bale

Produced by Leicester Drama Society

At The Little Theatre til Saturday Sunday 7^th January 2024

“A most traditional of pantomimes”

This year’s Little Theatre pantomime is the most traditional of pantomimes, Puss In Boots.

Written by director and star John Bale this is the story of Tom (Simon Butler), the late miller’s son, returning penniless from his travels to, hopefully, claim his inheritance and marry his childhood sweetheart, Princess Lilly (Alice Marshall). Unfortunately the evil landlord Malavort (a splendidly camp Joe Middleton) puts a dampener on things by suddenly calling in the miller’s huge loans and leaving the family without anything. Tom’s younger brother Silly Billy (a wonderfully energetic Abdullah Henly) tries to help but, of course, only makes things worse.

As Queen Camilla John Bale’s Dame indulges his imagination with an every more outrageous selection of frocks alongside his sidekick Chamberlain Fusspot (a wonderfully comedic Russell Webster) who break each other up when they wander off script. Of course panto wouldn’t be panto without a Good Fairy and Natasha Ann-Carr’s Spirit of Cat-Land fills in the narrative gaps while the titular Puss in Boots is thigh slappingly played by Rose Bale.

All the elements of the best pantomimes are here, lots of audience participation, glittering costumes and awful puns. What’s not to like?

To fill out the scenes there are a bevy of eight dancers and singers who perform the many shoe-horned in old and new pop songs, as is traditional. The opening night was full to the brim with over-excited youngsters and parents.

The sets designed by Jacob Martin are very professional, as are the extraordinary costumes overseen by Mr Bale.

Puss In Boots is at The Little Theatre until Sunday 7^th January

Pics: Dave Morris

www.thelittletheatre.co.uk

www.ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk

 

Evita

 

Review by Paul Towers, 1/12/23

Evita, lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Directed by Nikolai Foster

Produced by Curve

At Curve til Saturday 13^th January 2024

“an astonishing production”

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Do yourself a favour and swap your Christmas shopping from Waitrose to Lidl this year and bag a ticket (or three) for this astonishing production of Evita.

This seminal musical by Lloyd Webber and Rice from 1978 was originally a rock opera concept album in 1976. Such was its success that a full show was fashioned around the music and an iconic production was born and spent 8 years in London’s West End. It opened on Broadway in 1979 and ran til 1983. Since then it has had productions around the world and regularly tours the UK.

So I was excited to hear that our very own Nikolai Foster was staging it in his own inimitable style. And boy, what style. Much like the current London production of Sunset Boulevard, Foster’s Evita has a pared back stage which allows the songs and the singers to, rightly, shine.

Evita follows the rise of Eva Duarte, a social climbing model, radio star and actress (remind you of anyone?) who, having slept her way up the social ladder eventually manoeuvres herself into the sphere of political climber Juan Peron. Peron soon gets elected President of Argentina with her by his side. However, with success comes accountability and suddenly her charitable work is being scrutinised and found to be wanting. As Eva’s health starts to falter she realises that all that glitters is not gold and her aspirations for class and wealth have not brought her happiness. All that she has achieved is her love for and by the people of Argentina.

A huge cast is lead by Martha Kirby as Eva Peron and Gary Milner as Juan Peron. Che, the Narrator, is mischievously played by Tyrone Huntley who pushes the story along while voicing some of the nay sayers of Argentina. A  large ensemble is further bolstered with two alternating teams of young  local performers. A live orchestra of nine hidden below the front of stage and led by George Strickland and Tom Slade give the production a really full blooded feel. However it is the set (design by Michael Taylor) and lighting (Joshie Harriette) that give this production the wow factor. Choreographer Adam Murray brings an extraordinary energy to the various dance routines. The set of girders and gantries give a very apt industrial feel to everything but for sheer drama the opening scene of Eva’s funeral takes some beating.

This is Curve’s festive offering and runs right through to the middle of January so, do yourself a favour, and get a ticket and lose yourself in this amazing production of one of the first influencers.

Evita is at Curve until Saturday 13^th January 2024

 

Pics: Marc Brenner

www.curveonline.co.uk

www.ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk

 

Nativity The Musical

 

Review by Paul Towers, 21/11/23

Nativity  The Musical, book & lyrics by Debbie Isitt, music by Debbie Issit & Nick Ager

Directed by Joshua J Knott

Produced by Knighton Park Operatic Society

At The Little Theatre until Saturday 25^th November 2023

“laughs galore for all the family”

Well, what a joyous way to kick start the festive season!

Knighton Park Operatic Society have garnered a huge cast of precociously talented youngsters and adults in this most joyous of hits.

Based closely on the hit film Nativity, this musical version by the same author is almost  pantomime and includes plenty of local references.

The story is that disillusioned primary school teacher Mr Maddens (Daniel Rowberry) has been pressured by his headmistress, Mrs Bevan (Keziah Caldwell), into mounting the annual Christmas play and has promised his class of primary school kids that a big Hollywood producer is coming to their Coventry school to see their Nativity Musical in order to make a film of it. Of course this is just a ploy to encourage their participation. Unfortunately new Teaching Assistant Mr Poppy (Ed Turner) overhears and takes it as true. Thus is started a real comedy of errors. No matter how Mr Maddens denies it nobody believes him.

Ed Turner’s Mr Poppy is an extraordinary performance of someone who has had 5 espressos and a couple of bags of Haribo and, deep inside, still thinks he is 5 years old as he bounces around Tigger-like. This behaviour, of course, bonds him to the kids and they give him, and Maddens, amazing performances.

Right from the start there are laughs galore and they don’t stop til the welling up of tears at the final curtain.

As well as a great adult cast of exemplary singers, there are two alternating groups of talented youngsters. Tucked away at the front of the stage is also a 12 piece live orchestra.

Unfortunately the entire run is sold out, not a seat to be had. You might want to try calling the box office to see if they have had any returns but I doubt anyone will be giving up their tickets willingly. It was so gratifying to see an audience that ranged from a babe in arms to proud grandparents thoroughly enjoying themselves.

www.thelittletheatre.co.uk/

www.ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk

 Pics(c) Poyner & Mee