By Royal Appointment

 

Review by Paul Towers, 23/7/25

By Royal Appointment by Daisy Goodwin

Directed by Dominic Dromgoole

Produced by Daniel Schumann & Lee Dean

At The Richmond Theatre til Saturday 26th July 2025

Author Daisy Goodwin is probably best known for writing the TV series Victoria. So she already has a forensic interest in royalty and is ideally suited to a chronicle of the late Queen’s life. Very creatively she has used the proposed exhibition of some of Her Majesty’s (Anne Reid) clothes to hang the narrative on.

Supposedly her dresser (Caroline Quentin) and personal assistant Angela Kelly has been approached to vouch for the various outfits and the stories behind them. Very cleverly this allows for all sorts of world events to be referenced, thus anchoring the clothes in the correct period. The Curator (Grainne Dromgoole) of the proposed exhibition acts as narrator describing both the clothes and the current events, often to the amusement of the audience.

Her Majesty is served well by her Milliner (James Dreyfus) and Designer (James Wilby) who, apart from providing Her Majesty’s iconic outfits also provide the audience with much laughter with their spiky bitchiness.

By Royal Appointment is as much about how the Queen, never knowingly being indiscreet, nevertheless speaks volumes with the clothes (and jewellery) she wore. Sparkling and poignant in equal measure this show is a fascinating look behind the curtain of public duty. Something, perhaps, that some in the spotlight might like to learn from.

By Royal Appointment runs at Richmond Theatre until Saturday 26^th July and then continues touring.

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/ 

Calamity Jane

 

Review by Paul Towers, 8/7/25

Calamity Jane by James O’Hanlon, music by Sammy Fain, lyrics by Paul Francis Webster

Directed by Nikolai Foster, choreographed by Nick Winston

Produced by The Watermill

At Curve til Saturday 12th July 2025

When the Deadwood Stage rolls into town you can be sure of an exciting time, especially if Calamity Jane is on the reins.

In the capable hands of Curve’s Nikolai Foster this classic musical of The Old West is a joyous evening of hoe-downing and whip cracking one liners.

Calamity Jane (a fabulous Carrie Hope Fletcher) runs the stagecoach that connects the remote townships such as Deadwood City to the outside world. Her authority, alongside that of Wild Bill Hickock (suave and brimming with sexuality Vinny Coyle), keeps the peace in the town, mostly. When local saloon owner Henry Miller (Peter Peverley) is let down when his bill topping act, Frances Fryer mistakenly turns out to be Francis, with an ‘i’ Fryer, a man (Samuel Holmes) Calamity only prevents a riot by waving her pistols about. To rectify matters Calamity offers to go to Chicago  and bring back a real life stage star, Adelaid Adams (Molly Grace Cutler).

Of course, mistakes are made and Calamity returns with the wrong girl, Katie Brown (Seren Sandham-Davies), who goes on to partner up with Calamity in double dating with Bill and local soldier Danny Gilmartin (Luke Wilson).

The main cast are joined on stage by a bevy of triple threat performers who sing, dance and play instruments which makes the illusion that you have wandered into a local saloon all the more real. Choreographer Nick Winston has the cast hoe-downing at a pace.

This is a great evening out and you will leave the theatre humming several well know songs and a light step, especially now a lot of the scaffolding around Curve is gone.

Calamity Jane is at Curve until Saturday 12^th July and then continues to tour.

https://calamityjanemusical.com/

www.curveonline.co.uk

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/ 

Brassed Off

 Review by Paul Towers, 7/7/25

Brassed Off by Paul Allen, based on the screenplay by Mark Herman

Directed by Mary Jones

Produced by The Little Theatre

At The Little Theatre til Saturday 12th July 2025

When I was a teenager it was deemed advantageous for me to learn some sort of musical instrument. I couldn’t sing so finding something for me to play was felt more easily achieved. So it was that I was bought a cornet and enrolled in the school brass band. For the next five years I spent many after school sessions crammed in a dingy room puffing away as we waded through numerous brass band standards. Sadly once I left school the only thing I took with me was the ability to read music. It hasn’t been a lot of use.

Settling in my seat at The Little Theatre took me back to those sweaty practice sessions as the superb Enderby Senior Band were revealed on stage to play their part in Brassed Off.

Brassed Off is ‘the other miners’ strike’ show. Billy Elliot being the other better known one.

In 1994, with echoes of the 1984 miners’ strike still ringing in their ears, miners were seeing the shadow of pit closures looming ever closer. In the fictional Grimley the coal pit is the backbone of the local community and the Grimley Colliery Band is the pride of the colliery despite not winning any competitions for years.

Gloria (Nikki Favell) is sent back to her home town by the management to assess the profitability of the mine. Allegedly. Turning up at band practice she bumps into an old flame, Andy (Robin McFarland) and they rekindle their romance until Andy works out that she is working for ‘the other side’.

Danny (Adam Jones), the band leader, struggles to keep the band’s spirits up as he battles emphysema, the result of years of working down the pit. His son Phil (Chris Brookes), when not at the coalface moonlights as a children’s clown in an attempt to feed his wife, Sandra (Chloe Thorpe) and their children. One of which, 8 year old Shane (Samuel Smith on Press Night) acts as a sort of narrator filling the audience in on context when needed and provides many of the laughs with his assured performance.

A large main cast and a huge ensemble, as well as the band themselves, means this is a full-bodied production and will leave you tumbling out into the night humming tunes you had no idea were in your head.

Pics: Jonathan Pryke

https://thelittletheatre.co.uk/

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/ 

42nd Street

 

Review by Paul Towers, 24/6/25

42^nd Street by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble, music & lyrics by Harry Warren, & Al Dubin

Directed & choreographed by Lee proud

Produced by Celia MacKay  

At Kilworth House Theatre til Sunday 13th July 2025

42^nd Street is the ultimate backstage musical. If you want to be pedantic it is ‘just’ a jukebox musical but it is so much more.

In 1930’s America inexperienced actress Peggy Sawyer (Mia Kobayashi) is wide eyed and naïve as she gatecrashes the auditions for Julian Marsh’s (Lewis Griffiths) latest show, Pretty Lady. Marsh’s career is on the line as his writers Maggie Jones (Rosie Strobel) and Bert Barry (TJ Lloyd) scrabble around to tweak the songs for the show. The star, Dorothy Brock (Michelle Bishop) is already past her prime and is only leading the show because she has brought her sugar daddy Abner Dillon (Pete Gallagher) on board to sponsor the tour.

Right from the off Peggy has attracted the eye of the juvenile leading man, Billy Lawlor (Brian O’Muiri) who shows her the ropes. Also being shown the ropes is Dorothy Brock’s boyfriend Pat Denning (Tim Rogers) who is being careful to avoid Dorothy’s sugar daddy.

While Dorothy’s acid put downs are tolerated for the sake of the show it is with a sigh of relief when she falls and breaks her ankle. Cue a scramble for someone to take over the lead and save the show. Despite having been fired by Julian Peggy is persuaded to return to the company as the only one with enough talent to pull off the lead at short notice. Julian Marsh drills Peggy to the point of exhaustion to get her ready for opening night and sends her out on stage with the iconic words "You're going out there a youngster, but you've got to come back a star!", and she does.

This all allows for a slew of songs, virtually every one of them hummable. While the lead actors play out the story it is the exceptional ensemble who tap their hearts out in almost every scene. Their energy and enthusiasm is plain to see and really makes the show shine.

Lee Proud’s direction and choreography are once again spot on with an adaptable set by Philip Wilcomb making full use of the limited stage. A full orchestra of 10 is presided over by Rick Coates and  gives a fullness to the show.

So come and meet those dancing feet at the sublime Kilworth House Theatre this summer. This year we are being spoiled as Grease is also taking up residence from 29 July til 7 September.

Pics: Fox Corporate Photography

https://www.kilworthhouse.co.uk/kilworth-house-theatre/

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/ 

Strangers on a train

 

Review by Paul Towers, 16/6/25

Strangers on a train by Craig Warner

Directed by Martin Bell

Produced by Leicester Drama Society

At The Little Theatre til Saturday 21^st June 2025

Imagine if you could murder someone and get away with it.

That is exactly what Charles Bruno (Keir Watson) plans to do. A chance meeting with Guy Haines (Michael King) on a train in mid-century America is the spark for putting his plan into action. Both men have people in their lives they would rather were not there and Bruno’s plan would liberate them both.

That said, Bruno is completely serious while Guy Haines is merely amused by the possibility. As their train journey progresses it becomes obvious that Haines is easily manipulated by Bruno and a pact is cemented. Haines is to kill Bruno’s hated father thus allowing him to live an hedonistic life on his inheritance. Bruno will return the favour by disposing of Haines’ current wife leaving him free to marry his girlfriend Anne (Laura Brookes).

Both men have unconventional lives. Charles Bruno has what seems to be an incestuous relationship with his mother Elsie (Karen Gordon) and Guy Haines is balancing the two women in his life.

Trying to bring some normality are Haines’ secretary Frank Myers (Joe Middleton) and Robert Treacher (Joff Brown) his business partner. But it is retired police officer Arthur Gerard (David Lovell) who picks at Charles’ story and starts to unravel his lies.

The original story of Strangers on a Train is by Patricia Highsmith, the author of another story of emotional manipulation, The Talented Mr Ripley.

Strangers on a Train is at The Little Theatre until Saturday 21^st June. Grab a ticket and see if you can work out who survives this web of lies and deceit.

Pics by Jonathan Pryke

https://thelittletheatre.co.uk/

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/ 

Mrs Warren's Profession

 

Review by Paul Towers, 11/6/25

Mrs Warren’s Profession by George Bernard Shaw

Directed by Dominic Cooke

Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions

At Garrick Theatre until Saturday 16^th August 2025

I admit that, in the past, I have been a bit of a philistine and viewed the likes of George Bernard Shaw as too elite for my tastes. How wrong I was.

Currently being revived at London’ Garrick Theatre, Shaw’s Mrs Warren’s Profession is a delight, even at 1 hour 45 minutes without an interval.

The titular Mrs Warren (national treasure Imelda Staunton) is a business woman with many secrets held from her estranged daughter Vivie (her real life daughter Bessie Carter). The elder Mrs Warren, Kitty, has grown from being a prostitute to the part owner of a string of high class brothels across Europe. While not proud of the means by which she has progressed, Kitty is not ashamed. A poor childhood has propelled her to achieve what many women of the late 1800's could not. Independence.

Vivie has just come down from university, paid for by her mother’s ill-gotten gains, to get better acquainted with her often absent parent. Being a highly principled, intelligent independent young woman she is torn between admiration for how her Mother has bucked the system and the way she has earned her money. Money which she views as tainted even though it has paid for her education.

This is a very rare opportunity to see the pairing of Mother and  daughter on stage and one to be savoured.

A stella cast including Staunton, Carter, Robert Glenister (the vile Sir George Crofts) and Kevin Doyle (an hilarious vicar caught with his metaphorical trousers down) are joined by the young Reuben Joseph (Frank Gardner) and Sid Sagar (Mr Praed).

A clever set comprising a huge revolving circular garden is gradually stripped by  coteries of hand-maidens to indicate the passing of time. Until finally the bare stage has a curved wall lowered behind it to become the office that Vivie retreats to and where she and her Mother have their final stand-up row, thus severing their relationship.

https://thegarricktheatre.co.uk

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/ 

Ghost Stories

 

Review by Paul Towers, 3/6/25

Ghost Stories by Jeremy Dyson & Andy Nyman

Directed by Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman & Sean Holmes

Produced by Melting Pot Productions & Lyric Hammersmith

At Curve til Saturday 7^th June 2025

The first rule of Ghost Stories is you don’t talk about Ghost Stories. So, no spoilers here.

All I can tell you is that Professor Goodman (Dan Tetsell) is giving a lecture on whether or not ghosts are real, whether supernatural things do happen. He is an arch sceptic so is looking to debunk sightings.

To this end he presents three stories that may or may not be true. They involve Tony Matthews (David Cardy) a night watchman, Simon Rifkind (Eddie Loodmer-Elliot) a teenage boy and Mike Priddle (Clive Mantle) a businessman awaiting the birth of his first child.

With writing by Jeremy Dyson (League of Gentlemen) and Andy Nyman (Derren Brown) it is no surprise that Ghost Stories is full of shocks, illusions and downright horror. This show is not for the faint hearted with an age recommendation of 15+.

Kudos have to go to Jon Bausor for his clever set and, of course, James Farncombe’s lighting and Nick Manning’s sound design. Both adding huge amounts to the scare factor of the show.

Ghost Stories is at Curve until Saturday 7^th June and then continues touring

www.curveonline.co.uk

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/