In This Update

- Breakfast at Tower Bridge
- Making It In Hollywood
- Looking For Eric
- Stars In Their Eyes
- Wikipedia's Fact Fight With Scientology
- Relatively Speaking
- Hot Mikado
- Scooby-Doo And The Pirate Ghost
- Quadrophenia
- His Dark Materials
>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Breakfast at Tower Bridge

Sunny days in London, and hopefully where you are. It was breakfast on my balcony this morning while watching Tower Bridge opening up to let a big cruise ship through as it headed on it's journey around the world. Sigh ! One day I'll take a long cruise around the world but somehow I feel I'm a little too young for that, and a little less grey on top!

I've just signed up for another 6 months to Project Manage the launch of the largest Internet Bank in Europe. As you know, I like BIG challenges. That's just my day job, while I juggle being a presenter on Sky News, a DJ on Nevis Radio, a film producer and blogger. Well, there are 24 hours in every day, it's best we make the most of it don't you think ? I hope you'll make the most of it by visiting your nearest theatre and supporting your local performers.

Have a great week.

Douglas

>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Making It In Hollywood

The documentary is now doing the rounds of broadcasters, festivals and distributors. My mentor and filmmaking coach at Raindance, Elliot Grove, has been really supportive and I met him briefly in Cannes as he was going about his business of networking for his film festival and independent film awards. With his help I managed to get a listing on IMDB after Raindance Film Festival accepted my submission for consideration this year.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1442263/

>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Looking For Eric

I had the pleasure of being invited to the first London screening of Looking For Eric, which was introduced by the talented Ken Loach. He really has a cracker with this film. It reminded me in some ways to that Northern humour in The Full Monty. Steve Evets, who co-starred last year with Robert Carlyle in "Summer", was superb, as was the perfectly cast John Henshaw....as a postman (he's the guy in the Post Office adverts). It's out in cinemas from June 12th and worth going to see.

http://www.lookingforericmovie.co.uk/

>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Stars In Their Eyes

It's finals day with Britain's Got Talent, Scottish Cup Final and the FA Cup Final. Listen to Doug's Radio Blog live today from 12-2pm. The show includes I Dreamed A Dream, I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea and Simply The Best.

Streaming live from http://www.nevisradio.co.uk

>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Wikipedia's Fact Fight With Scientology

Douglas McFarlane, who blogs at uktheatre.net, talks Matt Smith through the growing stories exciting the web audience. Broadcast live on Sky News on Friday 29th May.

http://tinyurl.com/nuun37

>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Relatively Speaking at Manchester Library Theatre

Published by: Caroline May on Friday 29th May 2009 11:05am

It’s becoming something of a tradition for The Library Theatre to end their season with an Alan Ayckbourn comedy, and this is one of his best, a gentle farce of mistaken identities and sexual misdemeanours dating from the mid 1960s.

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine/read/relatively-speaking-at-manchester-library-theatre_181.html

>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Hot Mikado

Published by: kelly potter on Thursday 28th May 2009 06:05pm

The Queen's Theatre Hornchurch.

Directed bt Matt Devitt, this production featuring members of the multi talented resident company, Cut to the Chase, promised a sizzling, swinging evening.

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine/read/hot-mikado_177.html

>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Scooby-Doo And The Pirate Ghost – Live On Stage!

Published by: Louise Winter on Wednesday 27th May 2009 10:05pm

Scooby-Doo And The Pirate Ghost – Live On Stage!

Reviewed at Milton Keynes Theatre 27th May 2009

This is a great fun production for children to at any time of the year. My co-reviewer (5 year old niece!) thought it was super and thoroughly enjoyed herself.

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine/read/scooby-doo-and-the-pirate-ghost-%EF%BF%BD-live-on-stage!_178.html

>>>>>>>>>>>> 

“Quadrophenia”, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, 26 to 30 May 2009

Published by: John Sinclair on Tuesday 26th May 2009 11:39pm

“Quadrophenia” is based on the album of the same name, produced by The Who in 1973.

The album has iconic status, representing the clashes between the mods and rockers in Brighton in the sixties. This was one of the first instances of mass teenage rebellion and the success of the album and subsequent film has made sure it won’t be forgotten.

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine/read/%EF%BF%BDquadrophenia%EF%BF%BD-festival-theatre-edinburgh-26-to-30-may-2009_179.html

>>>>>>>>>>>> 

“His Dark Materials”, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, 21 to 24 May 2009

Published by: John Sinclair on Saturday 23rd May 2009 05:56pm

Birmingham Rep and the West Yorkshire Playhouse are presenting the first tour of Nicholas Wright’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s internationally successful trilogy of books “His Dark Materials” (consisting of “Northern Lights”, “The Subtle Knife” and “The Amber Spyglass”). The books have often been compared to “Harry Potter”, but in fact go much deeper.

http://www.uktheatre.tv/magazine/read/%EF%BF%BDhis-dark-materials%EF%BF%BD-festival-theatre-edinburgh-21-to-24-may-2009_180.html 

It’s becoming something of a tradition for The Library Theatre to end their season with an Alan Ayckbourn comedy, and this is one of his best, a gentle farce of mistaken identities and sexual misdemeanours dating from the mid 1960s.

With its finger on the pulse of the decade’s changing mores and loosening morals, the opening scene shows us Ginny’s classic single-girl flat in swinging London, complete with psychedelic colour scheme, flimsy white furniture, and a narrow bed occupied by her latest lover, Greg.  While Greg himself has only just started to swing, so to speak, Ginny is practised in promiscuity and is still clearing up the detritus, both physical and emotional, from several past affairs.  But phantom phone calls, mysterious bouquets and an inexplicable pair of slippers lead Greg to wonder whether these boyfriends really are exes, so he decides to stalk Ginny down to the country when she goes to visit her parents for the day.

Later, somewhere in the Home Counties, the rakish Philip is trying to convince his long-suffering wife Sheila that a forthcoming trip to Europe is purely for business purposes and certainly not for pleasure, when a strange young man appears on their patio.  And because by 1965 formal introductions have gone out of the window, Greg (for it is he) assumes these are his future in-laws, Sheila thinks Greg is a work colleague of her husband, and Philip concludes that this must be his wife’s lover – obviously.  Then Ginny arrives, and things become even more complicated.

Ayckbourn’s plot is extremely clever in setting up confused identities and outrageous assumptions while nailing the traits and tics of the middle-classes, in this instance the ritual of Sunday lunch.  There can be a tendency for his characters and situations can seem slightly stereotypical, but in this production the design, direction and playing are filled with real life and heart. 

Simon Harrison is the gawky innocent Greg, wearing a permanent air of amiable goodwill and costumes ranging from improvised loincloth to frilly apron.  Leila Crerar invests the cynical and worldly (and beautifully dressed) Ginny with a humour and warmth that prevent her from being the super-bitch she will probably become.  And although Lucy Tregear and Malcolm Scates as Sheila and Philip at first appear prickly and unsympathetic when they sit down to their unsatisfactory breakfast, their characters soften as the morning wears on until their marriage actually seems worth caring about.

Designer Judith Croft has recreated Ginny’s bedroom as a 1960s nostalgia-fest, while the glorious sun-drenched back-garden makes you want to reach for the factor 30.  Chris Honer’s revival is the most enjoyable Ayckbourn I can ever remember seeing, ending the Library Theatre’s adventurous season on a high. 

Relatively Speaking is on until Saturday 20 June 2009

Prices: £9.80-£18.10

Eves: Mon-Thurs @ 7.30, Fri & Sat @ 8pm

Matinees: Thurs & Sat @ 3pm

Box Office: 0161 236 7110

www.librarytheatre.com

The Queen's Theatre Hornchurch.

Directed bt Matt Devitt, this production featuring members of the multi talented resident company, Cut to the Chase, promised a sizzling, swinging evening. 

Hot Mikado is a revitalised version of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic Operetta, The Mikado. 
Set in 1940s Japan, the comically unconvincing Japanese characters with an unconvincing array of American accents, remind us regularly that, 'Oh, we are Japanese.' 

The Set is a mixture of a Japanese garden furnished with lanterns and a tiny bridge and a Chicago style jazz club. The energetic cast swap instuments and costumes throughout.
The story begins with Nanki-Poo looking for his lover Yum-Yum, who is destined to marry the marvelously funny Chief Executioner, Koko (Shaun Hennessy).  He warmed the audience up almost immediately with fun references to recent events such as MP's expenses, in his clever version of 'I've got a little list'.  In spite of the many obstacles thrown in their way, such as laws that carry punishment for flirting, the demands of the Mikado for regular executions and the Chief Executioner's inability to actually execute anyone, Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum finally find a way to be together. 

Although the singing was impressive, (Kim Ismay as the fearsome Katisha performed two incredibly powerful solos) most of the songs were difficult to understand, making the storyline a little tricky to follow. The relatively small stage space seemed to hinder the performers' movements during some shaky dance routines but they compensated with their talent for live music, all playing at least one instrument.  

Georgina Field as Peep-Bo breezed through her dance routines.  Comfortable in her space she 
swapped between the saxaphone and clarinet so quickly, I may not have noticed if I wasn't so captivated by her performance. Steve Pretty was brilliantly corrupt in his sleazy All Gentlemen of Japan role and Stuart Organ as the Mikado performed a great drum solo during the Mikado Song.  Joined by most of the cast this was probably the most impressive, well coordinated and vigorous part of the show.

Although I didn't quite feel the sizzles, the music certainly swung, the audience clapped along out of time and there were plenty of feet tapping away in the aisles.  

All in all a fun show, once the cast began to enjoy themselves.

  
22 May – 13 June

Hot Mikado

Book and lyrics adapted by David H Bell

Music adapted and arranged by Rob Bowman

Previews: Fri 22 May and Sat 23 May at 8pm     First Night: Tues 26 May at 7.30pm

Performances: Tue–Sat at 8pm                             Captioned Performance: Wed 3 Jun at 8pm

Matinees: Thurs 4 Jun and Sat 13 Jun at 2.30pm             Signed Performance: Wed 10 Jun at 8pm

Audio Described: Sat 13 Jun at 2.30pm

The Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT

Tube: Hornchurch

Tickets: £13.50-£22

Box Office: 01708 443333

Website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk

“Quadrophenia” is based on the album of the same name, produced by The Who in 1973.

The album has iconic status, representing the clashes between the mods and rockers in Brighton in the sixties. This was one of the first instances of mass teenage rebellion and the success of the album and subsequent film has made sure it won’t be forgotten.

The story is very basic. It is about Jimmy, a disaffected youth who rebels against his parents and his upbringing by running away to Brighton in search of ‘The Girl’. In Brighton he gets caught up in the bloody battles between the teenage gangs, whilst still trying to find the girl of his dreams.

What the plot frames is Pete Townshend’s brilliant music. Less of a musical and more of a live music video for each song of the album, the staging helps to dramatise the lyrics and the music. I had never seen the film before and had only heard snatches of the songs, but I now understand why it is considered one of the great rock albums. Such is the poetry of Townshend’s lyrics and the fantastic accompanying music.

The cast all put in a great job of bringing life to the songs. Jimmy is in fact played by four different actors, in order to show the four different sides to his character. This works well and the part is played with equal energy and charisma by Ryan O’Donnell, George Maguire, Jack Roth and Rob Kendrick. The cast is supported by a superb band, who give all the songs their full justice. Add to this Sophie Kahn’s imaginative set, which achieves the difficult task of bringing some reality to the piece.

A very different piece of theatre, but worth seeing. Even if it’s just for the music!

Listings:

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

26 to 30 May

Tue – Sat eves 7:30pm

Fri mat 5:30pm

Sat mat 4:00pm

Tickets: £15 - £26.50

Box Office: 0131 529 6000

www.eft.co.uk

Then touring until 3 October

Birmingham Rep and the West Yorkshire Playhouse are presenting the first tour of Nicholas Wright’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s internationally successful trilogy of books “His Dark Materials” (consisting of “Northern Lights”, “The Subtle Knife” and “The Amber Spyglass”). The books have often been compared to “Harry Potter”, but in fact go much deeper. They challenge our perceptions of religion and examine the importance of family and friends. In fact the books have caused a lot of controversy amongst Christian groups, as they believe the books champion atheism.

Despite this the story and the books themselves are beautifully written and Nicholas Wright has done a brilliant job of adapting the epic story into a six hour piece of theatre. Due to its length, the play has been split into two parts.

The story is set in a world similar to our own, except everyone has a daemon. A daemon is an animal, a companion that is part of us and stays with us throughout our lives. In this world Lyra, a young girl abandoned by her parents must discover the truth behind where she came from. She must rescue her friend Roger, who along with the other children is having his daemon cut away from him. And with the help of her friend Will she must fight to protect the future of the world and all other worlds.

It’s a superb story that is well told by the ensemble of actors. All of them play many different parts, except Amy McAllister who puts in a superb performance as the headstrong yet brave Lyra. The daemons are also brought to life by fantastic puppets by the Blind Summit company. The cast work well together in creating a fantastic adventure that not only entertains, but challenges and stimulates as well. They also make great use of Ruari Murchison’s simple and effective set in telling the story.

An epic, yet enthralling piece of theatre!

Listings:

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

21 to 24 May

Thu 7:00pm – Part One

Fri 2:00pm – Part One / 7:00pm – Part Two

Sat 2:00pm – Part One / 7:00pm – Part Two

Sun 1:00pm – Part One / 6:00pm – Part Two

Tickets: £15.50 - £23.00

Box Office: 0131 529 6000

www.eft.co.uk

Then touring until 20 June

This Royal Exchange world premiere reunites Oscar-nominated actress Brenda Blethyn with director Braham Murray and designer Simon Higlett after their highly acclaimed collaboration on The Glass Menagerie last year.

Haunted is by distinguished Irish writer Edna O’Brien, perhaps best known for her novels, although equally at home scripting television, film and theatre.  In fact Haunted began life as a 1963 TV play starring Cyril Cusack, and in a nice coincidence his grand-daughter Beth Cooke plays one of the three characters in this stage translation.

Mr Berry, a semi-retired house-husband in London’s suburbia, becomes infatuated with Hazel, a young elocution teacher with an interest in vintage clothing.  Immediately smitten on their first chance encounter, he keeps luring her back to his house by “donating” items from his wife’s wardrobe.  Poor Mrs Berry, meantime, spends her days working in a doll factory and has no idea that her treasured possessions are being plundered, although she senses there’s something going wrong with her marriage (again).

As Mr Berry is the central character and narrator it’s impossible not to compare him with William Hazlitt, whose semi-autobiographical novel Liber Amoris is also a first-person account of the male menopause and its obsessions, passions and madness.  Although Niall Buggy is blithe and ingratiating, pottering around in his comfy carpet slippers and aspirational bow-tie, the audience can never experience his point of view as the reader of a book would: we only see his folly rather than share his hope.

Beth Cooke, who has just received a commendation from the Ian Charleson award panel for her performance in the Exchange’s production Three Sisters last autumn, brings a genuine sense of innocence and guilelessness to Hazel, as well as a detachment that is always at odds with any amorous ambitions Mr Berry might have.

Although the play is Mr Berry’s, the evening belongs to Mrs Berry.  Brenda Blethyn is brilliant as the frowsy, fussy, lower-middle-class factory worker who still cares passionately about her man and her marriage.  She manages to be comic, tragic, irritating and sympathetic all at once, and makes the audience long as much as she does for a happy ending – hers, not her husband’s.  This wonderful depiction is ably aided by the design, costume and wig departments - the cut-off raincoat and silk headscarf nail her era and class at a glance, and the immaculately-coloured helmet-like coiffeur seems made to withstand any marital storm.  Moreover, after spending all day on her stilettoed feet Mrs Berry doesn’t instantly kick off her shoes as she walks through the door like a mere mortal would, but instead reclines sensuously into the armchair, a domesticated Cleopatra, daintily sipping a glass of Madeira.  What a woman!  Mr Berry clearly doesn’t deserve her.

Haunted is on until Saturday 13 June 2009

Prices: £8.50-£29.00

Evenings: Mon-Fri @ 7.30pm, Sat @ 8pm

Matinees: Wed @ 2.30pm, Sat @ 4pm

Box Office: 0161 833 9833

www.royalexchange.co.uk

Singin' in the Rain 

Milton Keynes Theatre (until 23rd May 2009)


This was a very apt production to see in the light of the weather this week and, unlike what was happening outside, had a very uplifting effect on the mood of the audience!

Based on the 1952 film this is a very amusing interpretation of the story of the transition from silent movies to the ‘talkies’.

I did feel that the first half was a bit slow to get going but once we’d had ‘Make ‘em laugh’ we were up and running. This was followed by ‘Moses Supposes’, ‘Good Morning’ and …yes…‘Singin’ In The Rain’, with real rain! All were brilliant, bright, energetic and great fun.

All the leads are strong, particularly Tim Flavin, an Olivier Award winning American actor, as Don Lockwood. He plays the part wonderfully and is charismatic, charming, (and very dishy!). He has a gorgeous voice and is a lovely dancer. He’s not Gene Kelly, but who is? He is, however, an all round talent and just perfect in this role.

Lead female Jessica Punch as Kathy Selden compliments Lockwood and matches him in vocal quality and dance ability. She has a wholesomeness and gentleness about her that clearly made the audience warm to her immediately.

Supporting actors Graeme Henderson as Cosmo Brown, and Amy Griffiths as Lina Lamont deliver strong performances. The Cosmo Brown character provides much of the fun and comic moments and Henderson manages this effortlessly. Punch plays Lockwood’s leading lady to the hilt as a vain and, in this portrayal, fairly vindictive character. I found her screeching and screaming grating at times and the speed at which she delivered some of her lines meant that occasionally they were impossible to understand. However, the audience clearly loved her and were in stitches during her performance of ‘What’s wrong with me’.

The talented cast and superb chorus are fabulous, hugely energetic and delightful throughout the show. The sets are superb and the costumes gorgeous, giving the authentic feel of that stylish and glamorous Hollywood period.

This is a production that stays true to the original story and is better for it. A highly entertaining show and well worth a visit. You could probably do your own version of the main number on your way home!

Singin in the Rain plays Milton Keynes Theatre until 23rd May 2009. 
0844 871 7652. www.ambassadortickets.com/miltonkeynes(bkgfee)

FRONT STALLS SEATS AVAILABLE FOR LONDON'S MUST-SEE PLAY

VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY - SECURE YOUR SEATS NOW

  

When Samuel Beckett’s WAITING FOR GODOT exploded on to the London stage 50 years ago, it shocked as many people as it delighted. There had never been a play like it. Two tramps clowning around, joking and arguing, repeating themselves, as they wait through one day and then another, waiting for the mysterious Godot. The combination of music hall, poetry and tension redefined what is possible in theatre, so that these days WAITING FOR GODOT is accepted as one of the most significant plays of the 20th century.

Beckett’s characters have lost none of their power to fascinate and amuse and this production, directed by the acclaimed theatre and film director, Sean Mathias, has attracted the sort of great actors that the play deserves.

Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart are both renowned Shakespearean actors at Stratford-upon-Avon, in the West End and on Broadway. They first worked together in Tom Stoppard’s Every Good Boy Deserves Favour for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1977 and more recently in the X-Men film trilogy, as Magneto and Professor X. Each of them has established their own iconic screen persona, as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and as Star Trek’s Jean-Luc Picard.

Joining Ian and Patrick will be fellow masters in their field, Simon Callow and Ronald Pickup, whose extensive theatre, film and television credits span four decades.

SEATS AVAILABLE UNTIL 28 JUNE 2009

Top price seats in front stalls: £47.50 (+ booking fee)

Venue: Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London, SW1

Click here to book