UK Theatre Network

Hey All,

Tin Can have launched their Xmas competition. It's a mere £2 to enter and the winners will have their plays produced and broadcast by Tin Can Podcast.
See the website for more details
http://tincanpodcast.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=72

Tin Can Podcast 

The NAAA  play reading festival got underway last night showcasing  upcoming work from North American writers. Short Story Long, the sole Canadian  play in the season, is a one act play  about the battle of two women over a legacy.

 

Famous writer Lincoln Kennedy has died, leaving his money to his wife Julianne(Stephanie Ellyne)and his writing to Amalthea King(Erin Hunter), his former girlfriend . Amalthea is going through a divorce  and wants to avoid another court case  over the unpublished manuscripts.

 

Julianne, suspicious about Lincoln's decision, makes Amalthea  a deal she can't refuse- sort  through the work together to find the reason being her husbands actions.

 

The work nicely draws both of the female characters, there is a depth to  the female characters without cliché. Fishbane actually gets his female characters point of view. There are some long pieces of monologue which occasionally slow down the action but when both of the characters are together the plot moves along nicely.

 

Stephanie Ellyne plays Julianne with such a silky tonal delivery that we’re are never quite sure when she is going to lash out. The character is an interesting mix of grieving widow, astute business woman and borderline agrophobic. Erin Hunter's Amalthea is a  mix of troubled mother,  and a woman with a determination to snap Julianne out of her inertia.
The two actors were a  good contrast to each other and worked well together in the staged reading.
 
Fishbane’s play has already won  the Toronto Fringe New Play contest and was a finalist in FutureFest 2010 with hopes to have a full production in London.

 

 The North American Actors Association play reading festival 2010 at the Webber Douglas Studio Hampstead  6-11 September 7, 2010

LES MISERABLES 25th Anniversary Tour at the Barbican / 02
(September 13 to October 3)

The Casting Director for Les Miserables is looking for girls to play Cosette at these very special performances. 

This little girl is no taller than 4' 4 and has a sweet soprano voice.
London based not necessary.     

Auditions will be held next week please make suggestions as soon as possible to editor@uktheatre.net who will represent a small selection of candidates.

Chris Moreno presents

Annie

At Milton Keynes Theatre

 

This show tells the story of Annie an eleven year old child who had been left on the steps of a New York orphanage ten years ago, with a note from her parents saying they would return for her one day. The orphanage was run by Miss Hannigan (Su Pollard) who appeared to dislike children immensely and subjected Annie and the other orphans to a life of drudgery, whilst she consumed numerous bottles of alcohol. The children were dressed in ragged clothes and were fed what they referred to as “mush.” Despite this Annie remained optimistic that her parents would return to collect her one day. I thought Su Pollard was excellent in this role, whilst her character was unpopular, she was very amusing.

Annie is given some respite from the orphanage when a very wealthy businessman called Oliver Warbucks (David McAlister) decides to invite an orphan to spend Christmas at his mansion. His assistant Grace Farrell (Simone Craddock) visits the orphanage and chooses Annie for this treat, much to the annoyance of Miss Hannigan. Mr Warbucks takes Annie under his wing, being moved by her plight and finding her optimism in her belief that she will be reunited with her parents one day impressive. He decides to help Annie find her parents and enlists the help of some of his contacts, in addition to offering a reward. If Annie’s parents can’t be found he wants to adopt her himself. Miss Hannigan and her nasty brother Rooster (Philip Andrew) have their own devious plot. I won’t reveal any more of the story, you will have to go and see the show if you want to know what happens.

David McAlister was totally believable as the mega rich Oliver Warbucks. Grace Farrell was equally suited to the role of his assistant. As I mentioned before, Su Pollard was hilarious as Miss Hannigan. Ashley Knight deserves special mention; he played the apple seller and also Drake where he stole the show as Mr Warbucks’ butler. His antics were very amusing. I also admired Audrey Leybourne’s two very different roles as the ‘Hour of Smiles’ Producer and Mrs Pugh at Oliver Warbucks’ mansion. Special mention should be given to all the children who took part and performed really well.

The scenery was magnificent, very lavish and the numerous scene changes were carried out effectively and discreetly. I particularly liked the staircase at Oliver Warbucks’ mansion. There was a variety of scenery used from the shabby orphanage to the opulence of The White House or Oliver Warbucks’ mansion. The costumes were also appropriate ranging from the orphans’ rags, the servants uniforms to the evening dresses.

I should also mention the musical numbers that are performed throughout the show, whilst I can’t list them all, well known songs such as ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’ and ‘Tomorrow’ were well received.

This show has a real feel good factor and as there were numerous children in the audience it clearly has appeal as family entertainment. If this is your type of show then you should not miss this production.

Annie plays Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday 31^st August to Saturday 4^th September 2010. Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office 0844 871 7652 (bkg fee).

The tour then continues playing the Hexagon Theatre Reading from Monday 6^th September to Saturday 11^th September 2010.

www.miltonkeynestheatre.com  www.theatre4u.co.uk/annie

Reviewed by Sue Marks at Milton Keynes Theatre on Tuesday 31^st August 2010.