UK Theatre Network

Mrs Brown Rides Again

The Sunderland Empire Theatre

Having missed out on the first two instalments of Brendan O’Carroll’s ‘Mrs Brown’ trilogy, I wondered if it might prove difficult reviewing the third show – would I struggle to catch-up with previous storylines, would I be expected to have a knowledge of events that took place in Mrs Brown’s Last Wedding and Good Mourning, Mrs Brown?

A brief chat with a fellow reviewer put my mind at rest. Each production is relatively self-contained and the sequence in which you see them doesn’t really matter, I was assured. Phew!

Agnes Brown is an Irish widow whose hobbies are drinking tea, going to the bingo and interfering in her children’s lives. She has an acid tongue, but a heart of gold, and has a habit of constantly getting the wrong end of the stick.

After overhearing a conversation between her children, in which they agree that ‘she’s getting really smelly’ and ‘doesn’t know where she is most of the time’, Mrs Brown concludes that they intend to have her put into a home. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she also has to deal with the news that her best friend’s husband desperately needs a heart bypass, her gay son and his partner who wants to give birth, her daughter’s psychiatrist boyfriend using her as a case study for his book, a raffle ticket scam, and a family secret that everyone seems to know except her. It’s fair to say that she has a lot on her plate!

For those who don’t know, the meddlesome matriarch is actually played by a man - the show’s writer and co-director Brendan O’Carroll, and she is almost a hybrid of Arthur Lucan’s ‘Old Mother Riley’, Les Dawson’s ‘Cissy’ and Catherine Tate’s foul-mouthed ‘Nan’ with a smattering of panto dame thrown in just for good measure.

Brendan O’Carroll can only be described as a comedy genius and his side-splitting scripts leave the audience aching with laughter. There’s hardly enough time to recover from one gag before you are bombarded by another, and another, and another.

The combination of physical comedy, great writing and committed performances is one that shouldn’t, and doesn’t, disappoint.

All members of the stellar cast work their socks off as they try to keep up with O’Carroll’s frequent and hilarious deviation from the script and ad-libbing, but his razor-sharp wit and wonderful one-liners easily prevail.

Okay, so some of the characters do conform to certain stereotypes – the gay characters are camp, flamboyant hairdressers who enjoy cooking and listening to other people’s problems, the psychiatrist is a dishevelled nutty professor-type and the neighbour is a nosey old gossip – but that’s par for the course in comedy. It’s easier to laugh at people if we categorise and pigeon-hole them first, right?

The humour is far from politically correct and the air is often turned blue by expletives but, if you are not easily offended and enjoy a really good belly-laugh, you’ll have to go a long way to find a show that is faster, funnier or more fantastic than this.

Steve Burbridge.

‘Mrs Brown Rides Again’ runs at The Sunderland Empire until Saturday 12^th September 2009.

Hand Island, a brand new independent British comedy show, created by Reading writers Ash Parker and Alex Robinson three to four years ago, is brought to you free of charge on-line over the next few months.  Yes, all thirty episodes of Series 1 at: www.handisland.com

The pilot episode, shot in Cornwall in 2007, came second at The Cornish Film Festival during the same year.

A surrealist sitcom, where Spaced meets Lost,  it is designed in such a way that you can follow each episode as it is put out on to the web, as well as enter into the detailed world  Ash and Alex have created. The show is aimed at 16-25 yr old students, as well as more alternative viewers. However, having said this, the pilot received a lot of positive feedback worldwide and from all age groups.

Series 1 of Hand Island is divided up into ten 45 min episodes, each of which has been split up into three segments of 15 mins each, for easier consumption.

The production team is justly proud of their achievement in managing to film the first two episodes within a budget of approximately £500.

Now you should be eager to experience this ‘far removed from YouTube’ feeling this show bestows. A chance for web-based fans to come into contact with a high quality and well crafted production.

Hand Island Synopsis

Colin  normal, if a little cowardly, ends up being in the wrong place at the wrong time. As a result he is thought to be the Manager of an exclusive but, more importantly, secretive place which goes by the name of ‘Hand Island’.

His job quite simply is to furnish the island with eager candidates…but, as Colin delves deeper into his new abode, mysteries begin to unfold.

For example, why all communication made by his boss is done through a 3ft tall, cuddly toy tiger?

Why there is a group of Thespians plotting an explosion?

And what the reason is for the dangerous epidemic that is rapidly passing through the Island?

With a little help from his friends; Wade (the kidnapper), Vinny (the uncontrollable woman who also finds herself trapped on the Island) and the good natured... yet mentally deranged woman referred to as ‘The Native’, Colin must uncover the mysteries surrounding Hand Island…whilst keeping a tight lid on the Island’s

owners finding out they have chosen the wrong man!

(Be sure to visit the hand island website and to join their facebook group, where you will be able to keep up to date with episode release dates.) 

Palladini Productions Presents '1867' at the Brockley Jack Theatre 26th-31st October (Black History Month)

1867 is a moving new play inspired by the story of Madam CJ Walker, who was the first self made, African American female millionaire. Set during the late 1800’s and a few years after slavery had been abolished the play celebrates the courage, strength and entrapaneuralism of Delilah McAndrew. Having been the first member of her family to be born free Delilah overcame the oppression, race and sexual inequality to not only become a success but to also be renowned for her philanthropic work and willingness to help others. By the time of her death in 1919 Delilah McAndrew had built one of the largest black owned manufacturing companies in the world which included an international network of over 15,000 Delilah McAndrew agents.

Written by Theresa Roche
Directed by Tonny A.

Tickets available on the booking line: 0844 847 2454
Or via www.ticketweb.co.uk or contact Saima Duhare saimaduhare@hotmail.co.uk

With sales far beyond expectation and wedges of moolah now in the company’s bank account, Helensburgh’s innovative business, AnElephantCant, scored a major success at the recent Homes & Interiors show at Glasgow’s SECC.

The product this time is, as we’ve reported on before - Waje - and the strapline is ‘Shuffle your Waje’. It’s a hip phrase and it’s a neat concept - WAll JEwellery. The notion is dressing your walls without breaking the bank - and creating different relationships between the artworks as you do with your clothes.

The neat trick has been the creation of a special fabric on which the artwork is printed - one taking a specific adhesive device that allows the prints to be easily moved around. What you get is art on your walls with all the unpretentious serendipity of the poster - but with more substance and durability and a system that makes swopping around and creating new combinations of the objects quick and fun.

They describe it as ‘fine art at consumable prices’ and the art in question is original material by Greenock’s Phil Burns who, with Brian Cairnduff, is a partner in An Elephant Can’t.

Cairnduff says that, with their partners Richard Fildes and Bill Laughlin of 2Canvas, he and Phil had targeted this prestigious show as a market trial for waje - wall jewellery: ‘to test whether the great Scottish public was ready for this radical challenge to how art is packaged, sold and viewed’.

It was.

Reeling from the success of their bold investment, Cairnduff admits: ‘There are now dozens of folk out there with waje on their walls. They looked, they questioned and they bought. Most people took it on board very quickly, loved the idea that you don’t need frames, glass or nails, and were intrigued by the fact that is is moveable. The waje shuffle just took off!’

He pays tribute to the 2canvas team, saying: ‘The work done by Ricky and Bill was critical to this success. The high quality and resilience of the silk-like paper coupled with the ‘magic’ no-residue adhesive was a major factor in allowing Phil’s art-work to be presented in the best possible way’.

Naturally there a few sniffs from the oxygen-thin altitudes of the Scottish art establishment. While one art expert said: ‘You guys have created a new way of selling art’, Brian Cairnduff noted that: ‘Some dealers, of course, were less enthusiastic. But I guess even an elephant can’t please all of the people all of the time’.

They almost bottled it. ‘We were sitting in a cafe outside Partick station, wondering if this was a really dumb idea even by our standards. We had done some market research, of course, but mainly through people who knew us. Taking Waje to an audience of thousands of complete strangers was suddenly an intimidating prospect.

Then the teenage waitress bounced up to our table with that special vitality that characterises so much of what Glasgow is about. I looked at Phil, he was grinning back at me.

“Joie-de-vivre”, he said, “That’s what we sell and people will buy it”.

And we’re taking no bets on what’s coming down the track next. ‘Wait till you hear our next scheme’, we heard, chortling in the ether. ‘We are going on a Great Highland Tour’. Will it be Loch Ness?

GARY WILMOT STAR AS ‘BILLY FLYNN’ ALONGSIDE EASTENDERS STAR EMMA BARTON AS ‘ROXIE HART’

LET THE KING’S THEATRE RAZZLE DAZZLE YOU WITH “CHICAGO”!

Gary Wilmot, star of West End musicals including “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, “Me And My Girl”, “Carmen Jones” and “Copacabana”, has played major UK tours with “Oliver!”, “Half a Sixpence”, Willy Russell’s “One For The Road”, Alan Ayckbourn’s “Confusions”, and “Travels with My Aunt”. More recently, Gary has appeared in “HMS Pinafore” at the Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park and as ‘The Lion’ in “The Wizard of Oz” at the Royal Festival Hall.

Emma Barton is best known for her role as ‘Honey Mitchell’ in BBC1’s “EastEnders”. Her other television roles include “Spooks” on BBC1 and “Secret History” on Channel 4. Previous stage roles include ‘Peggy’ in “The Secret Garden” (RSC), ‘Norma Cassidy’ in “Victor/Victoria” (Bridewell) and ‘Marty’ in “Grease” (Victoria Palace Theatre).

"CHICAGO", which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.  Scenic design is by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Rick Clarke.  Musical supervision is by Rob Fisher.  "CHICAGO" is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie. 

 “CHICAGO” opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews, winning the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production' as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for 'Best Musical', and immediately became a sell-out hit.  The show in London, now at the Cambridge Theatre, has just entered its twelfth year. “CHICAGO” currently plays in New York, Japan, Denmark and on tour in the US, with forthcoming productions in Australia, Korea, Holland and Spain.

The National UK Tour of “CHICAGO” is produced by David Ian Productions in association with the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler.

www.chicagothemusical.com/uktour.php

THE GREATEST FAIRYTALE OF THEM ALL, ONLY AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

What do you get when you mix a flying horse, dancing penguins, a beautiful princess and a generous sprinkling of fairydust?   The North East’s biggest pantomime of course!  And this year, the Theatre Royal’s glittering panto Cinderella (1 Dec ‘09 – 16 Jan ‘10) is guaranteed to be more magical and spectacular than ever before. 

Featuring 26-year old TV star Roxanne Pallett (Dancing on Ice, Emmerdale) in the title role, as well as the north’s favourite comedy duo Clive Webb and Danny Adams - back again following overwhelming public demand for a fifth consecutive year - playing The Baron and Buttons respectively,  Cinderella will be the theatre’s most star-studded panto to date.

They are joined by two of last year’s pantomime favourites, Newcastle’s own Dame, Chris Hayward as Baroness Rita and North East actor and TV star Phil Corbitt as one of the Ugly Sisters.  New for 2009, the Theatre Royal is delighted to introduce David Ducasse of the pop-group Scooch and fresh from his Eurovision fame as Dandini, as well as ugly sister extraordinaire, North East actor and director Steve Arnott  and West End stage star Donna Steele (Jolson & Co, Shout! and Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Fairy Godmother.

There will be some particularly magical treats in store too – including: a talking horse, a 3D flying Pegasus which transports Cinderella to the ball, a troop of dancing penguins, a hot air balloon, an animatronic raven and even real rain!

Written, produced and directed by Wallsend-born Michael Harrison, Cinderella will be Michael’s fifth record-breaking pantomime for the Theatre Royal.

Michael Harrison said: “The shows I do are a reflection of what I wanted to see when I was a kid. I wanted to see the spectacular and be surprised by the special effects. The Theatre Royal is very special to me because it’s where I saw my first pantomime as a child.”

Roxanne Pallett said:  “This is every little girls dream and I can't wait to step into Cinderella's slippers. I’m absolutely thrilled to be performing in Newcastle”

David Ducasse said: “The Theatre Royal panto is the number one production in the region and it just gets bigger and better every year. I’m really excited to be part of the cast.”

With more than 46,000 seats already sold, Cinderella is the fastest selling pantomime in the region and one of the fastest in the UK.

Those who wish to go to the ball though ought to act fast as tickets are selling fast. To avoid turning into a pumpkin and missing the greatest panto in the UK, book now!

Cinderella appears at the Theatre Royal from Tuesday 1 December 2009 -Saturday 16 January 2010.  Tickets are priced at £7.50 - £26.00 and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk. 

Summer may be over, but The Mill at Sonning is still very much in a holiday mood with Holiday Snap, an old-fashioned but uproarious comedy of mistaken identity and misunderstandings.

Written by Jon Pertwee’s brother Michael, and John Chapman, whose first play Dry Rot was staged, not surprisingly, at the Whitehall Theatre, it is the perfect vehicle for the irrepressible Royce Mills as a retired naval officer who is now a bumbling manager for a timeshare company in Portugal.

Armed with someone else’s spectacles and several pink gins, he causes great mayhem as he mixes up two adulterous couples in the sort of frolicsome farce of which he is a master, delivering his lines as if making them up along the way, and adding to the hysteria by corpsing.

As if his huge personality isn’t enough for one production, he is joined on stage by an equally incorrigible comic, Patrick Monkton, as a car salesman, on holiday with his boss’s wife, played with great aplomb by Felicity Duncan.

I wonder how director Ron Aldridge managed to keep Royce and Patrick under control during rehearsals. My guess is, he didn’t, but gave them the opportunity to let their comic genius run riot while still managing to work wonders to produce the sunniest of comedies.

Holiday Snap is at The Mill at Sonning dinner theatre, Oxfordshire, until October 3. Box office: 0118 969 8000.