Monty Python brings the circus to town this week as the Broadway and West-End smash hit musical, SPAMalot, pitches its tent in Glasgow’s King’s Theatre.

“We dine well here in Camelot, we eat ham and jam and Spam a lot.”, sing the Knights of the Round Table in a jolly refrain that was the inspiration for the show’s title and a good indicator for the tone of this irreverent comedy musical.  Lovingly ripped off from Monty Python’s 1975 movie, “The Holy Grail”, the show “farts in the general direction” of the Arthurian legend.  Python fans will be delighted to learn that many of the original characters and songs from the movie are faithfully recreated while new elements and characters have been added with hilarious consequences.  Rest assured that alongside King Arthur and his faithful knights, we are entertained by The Black Knight (“It’s only a flesh wound”), the French Taunter (“Your mother was a hamster …”), The King of Swamp Castle (“One day lad, all this will be yours …”) and the Knights who say “Ni”!  But King Arthur and the world of musicals are mocked in equal measure with references to Lloyd Webber, ‘star’ cast headliners, camp dance routines and blatant overacting throughout.

Marcus Brigstocke made his musical theatre debut with some style as King Arthur.  Ironically, the stand-up comic was very much the straight man of this piece but he held his character well among the swathe of outrageous caricatures onstage.  Hayley Tamaddon (as The Lady of the Lake) seems to have limitless talent – she sings, she dances, she’s a character actress, she has great comic timing, she skates* (*not in this production).  Is there nothing she can’t do?  As in the Monty Python movies, the principal players play several roles throughout the show.  Graham MacDuff (Sir Lancelot / The French Taunter/Knight of Ni/Tim the Enchanter) and David Langham (The Historian/Prince Herbert/Not Dead Fred/Lead Minstrel/The French Taunter's Best Friend), in particular, displayed diverse character talents.

If there could be any criticism of the show it would be that the music seemed a little thin at times.  The movie’s grand soundtrack featuring French horn and timpani was replaced by somewhat weedy electronics.  Also, chorus singing was a little exposed.  A few more members of the cast wouldn’t have gone amiss … although, even that was lampooned when a few members of “stage crew” joined the cast for one scene!  These are but mere ‘flesh wounds’ in an otherwise robustly entertaining production.

Now, go away or I will taunt you a second time!

SPAMalot
King’s Theatre
Mon 14 – Sat 19 May
Mon – Sat evenings 7.30pm
Wed and Sat matinee 2.30pm

Spirit Production's production of 'Dancing Queen' is most definitely not going to make you dance in the aisles. 

Haphazard dancers who appear to have just learned their steps mark out routines which are amaturely  choreographed. There is none of the slickness and professionalism that one would expect from a show touring major venues and charging west-end prices.

Four principle performers lead the troupe. There are some excellent vocal performances from them, but also some poor ones; showing they just aren't of a consistent standard to be able to front a large-scale show. Jonathan de Mallet Morgan looked embarrassed to be on stage, and uncomfortable in his body in this performance.
It took the cast almost the entire first-half (consisting of some hugely popular Abba numbers) to get the audience clapping along.

Costume designs are uninspired, and do nothing to enhance the production. The costumes have all the quality and craftsmanship of a show at a caravan park in Cleepthorpes.

For a show with no narrative, it relys entirely on it's adaptation and execution of Abba's vocals and dance routines; and these just aren't up to scratch. At times they are almost laughable. During one number- 'Gimme Gimme Gimme'- dancers appear in lingerie posing on chairs. It has all the class and sophistication of a strip show at a gentleman's club.

If you are a major Abba fan and are just looking for a fun night out with the girls; then maybe this is suitable for you. However, if you are expecting to be wowed by vocals and see slick and perfected dance routines that one would expect from a show like this; then this isn't the production for you. 

Whistle Down the Wind blows into Glasgow’s King’s Theatre this week.

Whistle Down the Wind is based on the 1961 children’s novel by Mary Haley Bell; famous wife of John Mills and mother of Haley and Juliet.  The musical came into being in 1996 from an unexpected collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman.  Despite spawning the most successful single in musical theatre history (“No Matter What” performed by Boyzone hit the number 1 spot in 18 countries), the show proved to be a hard sell with a short West End run and a cancelled appearance on Broadway.

This second UK national tour brings together a talented cast to create a success where those before have failed.  Their efforts do not fall flat and the audience left happy, if a little bewildered as to what had not quite worked.  One audience member summed up the feelings of many in the foyer by saying “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be”.  Not, altogether, an unqualified success, then.

So, it’s up to me to tell you what was good and what was not so good.  The good is easy.  Jonathan Ansell (The Man – that’s his character name and not a recommendation of just how important he is) was very good indeed.  Playing an escaped convict who is mistaken for Jesus by 3 Louisiana youngsters, Jonathan dirtied up his clean cut “G4” appearance and, more importantly, dirtied up his clear as crystal voice to play this character role.  He was menacing and mysterious throughout.  Jonathan was matched by Carly Bawden as 15 year old Swallow, who is mesmerised by the stranger hiding out in her barn.  The clarity of Carly’s voice cut beautifully through Jonathan’s new bad-boy vocals in perfect contrast.

The supporting cast largely fell into the ‘good’ camp with particularly solid performances from Lincoln Stone, Scarlette Douglas and Scott Bourne.  A few disappointing accents were a let-down, together with some odd Meatloaf style vocals.

And that leads me into the not so good elements of the show … the jarring changes of musical style were quite upsetting.  If you listen to the original concept album for this show, you will hear artists as diverse as (the aforementioned) Meatloaf, Boy George, Boyzone, Elaine Page, Donnie Osmond and Bonnie Tyler.  An eclectic mix of performers, I’m sure you will agree.  Now, imagine that all of these vocal and musical styles are reproduced onstage in one story based production … it’s just odd!  The second failing is the story itself which could be summarised in one sentence.  The show scratches the surface of the deeper issues of faith and racism but I’m not convinced that a children’s story from 1961 is the most likely source of 2 ½ hours of entertainment for adults.

To finish on a positive note (because I did enjoy this show) I can say that Paul Farnsworth’s set was among the most impressive and ambitious touring production sets I have witnessed.  In scale, perspective, practicality and speed of changes it was second to none.

Listings Info:
Whistle Down the Wind
Mon 24 – Sat 29 May
Mon – Sat eves 7.30pm
Wed and Sat Mats 2.30pm

Transport yourself half way around the world and 40 years back in time to witness the Rat Pack in their heyday in this mesmerising production.

Join Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. in Las Vegas circa 1962 in this rip roaring tribute to three of the world's greatest musical legends. Tam Ward kicks the show off as Frank Sinatra with his astonishing sound-a-like voice ‘rolling a seven’ with a performance of “Luck Be A Lady”.  As he follows with a few Sinatra classics it quickly becomes clear that he is no 'one hit wonder'.  Close your eyes and you would swear that ‘Old Blue Eyes’ was in the room!  Jason Pennycooke is next up as Sammy Davis Jr.  His rendition of Mr. Bojangles holds the audience spellbound.  Finally, we are entertained by Nigel Casey as the inimitable Dean Martin.  As charismatic as the great man himself, Mr. Casey captures our hearts with 'Amore'.  The principals then return with solos, duets and trios from a seemingly endless immortal repertoire.

While the success of this show clearly relies on the talents of the leading trio, they are ably supported in all departments.  The backing singers harmonise effortlessly and raise the temperature with alluring choreography that is firmly rooted in 1962.  In fact, all aspects of this production scream 1960s authenticity with atmospheric lighting and costumes setting the scene while the 15 piece band (naturally heavy on the brass) bowls the audience over with their bold sound.

The principals tie all of these elements together by recreating the famous camaraderie of the legendary trio with jokes, stories and goofball antics.  The audience truly feel transported in time.  The Rat Pack are not in town for long so don’t delay your call to the box office!

The Rat Pack – Live from Las Vegas
King’s Theatre
Mon 17 – Wed 19 May
Mon – Wed eves 7.30pm
Wed mat 2.30pm

Tom and Catherine and Dan Dare in Concert featuring Encore

The Customs House, South Shields

Encore return to the Customs House as part of its fifteenth anniversary celebrations, performing abridged versions of Tom Kelly’s musicals, ‘Tom and Catherine’ and ‘Dan Dare’.

‘Tom and Catherine’ chronicles the life of bestselling author Catherine Cookson, who was born and lived in the Tyne Dock area of South Shields until she was 23 years old, and her husband, Tom, from the time they first met until their deaths in 1998.

Blighted by her illegitimacy and her mother Kate’s drinking problem, she moves to Hastings where she meets her beloved Tom. Among John Miles’s musical score, ‘Something Special’, ‘Hanging onto Life’, ‘Blessed With Peace’ and ‘I Need Your Love’, sung at pivotal periods in their lives: on first meeting; during her terrible bouts of depression; on the death of her mother, Kate, and when Catherine dies, respectively, bring pathos to the show.

Patricia L. Whale (young adult Catherine) and Andrea Atkinson (older adult Catherine), John Whitfield (young adult Tom) and John Robinson (older adult Tom) and Janet Lord (Kate) portray their characters superbly and the lyrics enable them to bring their singing talents to the fore.

Narrated by Caroline Wells and Karen Aynsley, this musical production re-enacts Tom and Catherine’s lives tastefully, completely captivating the audience.

After the interval, in complete contrast, Dan Dare (who will evoke childhood memories to many of the male members of the audience) follows one of the many adventures of the comic strip character. Embarking upon a mission to Venus with the purpose of saving the Earth, which is suffering from food shortages, he and his crew are captured by the Treens and Dan is forced into battle with the evil Mekon. Meanwhile Dan’s assistant, Miss Peabody, and Crew One are vying for his affections.

With very lively songs, ‘Keep A Checking’, ‘Can’t Keep A Good Man Down’ and ‘Two Minutes Fifty Nine’ to name but a few, combined with energetic dance routines and special lighting and sound effects, ‘Dan Dare’ is much more light-hearted than its predecessor.

The excellent band, Andrew Richardson  and Johnny Winter on keyboards, Ian Paterson, bass guitar, James Birkett, guitar, and David Francis on drum, compliment Encore’s sensational singing perfectly.

A very entertaining evening and well worth a visit!

Linda Barker on behalf of Steve Burbridge.

Runs until Saturday 15^th May 2010.

QUEEN AND BEN ELTON’S “WE WILL ROCK YOU”

ANNOUNCES SECOND UK TOUR

UK Tour to kick off again in late 2010, while the record-breaking run at London’s Dominion Theatre continues

Following the huge success of the 2009 regional tour of the smash hit Queen and Ben Elton musical, ‘”We Will Rock You” comes the announcement that the show will return to the road in 2010.

The production will be rocking across Scotland, visiting Glasgow from 18^th January to 19^th February 2011, Aberdeen from 8^th June to 2^nd July 2011 and Edinburgh from 29^th November 2011 to 7^th January 2012.  (NB: GLASGOW DATES ON SALE 10 MAY 2010)

The production is returning to Edinburgh with an impressive legacy after it sold out its 10 week run at the theatre, as well as shattering the box office sales records by grossing more than £400,000 in one week, which broke all records for any production at the Playhouse Theatre since the millennium. The show will be visiting Glasgow and Aberdeen for the first time.

On announcing the new dates, Queen’s Brian May said: “The touring production of WWRY has taken our show to new places in more ways than one!  The London show thunders on, and continues to delight audiences, but the touring cast and band have brought a new interpretation and style all of their own. It's a tonic!”

Last year’s tour of the acclaimed production visited six cities starting in March 2009 and coming to an end in style at Dublin’s O2 Arena at the end of January 2010.  The tour sold over half a million tickets, setting and smashing box office records.

The London production of the show is now in its eighth year and it is the longest running musical ever staged at the West End’s Dominion Theatre and is now booking until October 2010. The musical has so far been seen by 11 million people in 17 countries and is also due to open in Utrecht (Netherlands), Sweden (Stockholm) and Berlin (Germany) this year.

The production is directed by Ben Elton, with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor as music supervisors and Arlene Phillips overseeing the musical staging and choreography.

Writer Ben Elton has fashioned a hilarious futurist comedy around more than 24 of Queen’s biggest hit songs delivered in a show that boasts the scale and spectacle that marked Queen’s live performances. 

 “This show is all about legend,” says Ben Elton. “We take the legend of Queen and create our own fantastical story of young kids battling the might corporations who want to suppress their individuality and their love of music.  They need a hero who can help them in their struggle, and we have two – the dreamer Galileo and the sassy rock chick Scaramouche. Guess who ends up winning?”

Says Brian May: “The amazing bonus is that Ben's script subtly works as a metaphor too. People definitely come out of the theatre feeling that in a strange way they now know us, Queen, and our struggle, our journey.” 

Says producer Phil McIntyre: “We are looking forward to taking this true rock extravaganza out on the road again. We had standing ovations night after night around the UK last year and we can’t wait to see that happen again.

The touring production reaches local UK theatres carrying with it an impressive legacy: when it first became news that one of Britain’s most phenomenally successful comedy writers Ben Elton was teaming up with legends of rock, Queen, for a musical there was much speculation on what such a unique collaboration would turn out. Especially when screen icon Robert de Niro became so impressed after attending the original workshop that his company Tribeca came on board as American partner.

We Will Rock You – not just a show, but a promise!

We Will Rock You UK Tour 2010/11/12:

Tickets on sale now - Theatre Booking Details:

Glasgow King’s Theatre

Tuesday 18th January 2011 – Saturday 19^th February 2011

Performances: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Wed and Sat mats 2.30pm

Ticket Price:  £17 - £41.50

Booking Line: 0844 871 7648 (bkg fee) Groups and Schools 0141 240 1122

Website: http://www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow  (bkg fee)

NB: GLASGOW DATES ON SALE 10 MAY 2010

Aberdeen, His Majesty’s Theatre

Wednesday 8th June 2011 – Saturday 2^nd July 2011

Performances: 7.30pm plus 2pm Thursday and 2.30pm Saturday matinees

Ticket Price: £15 to £40.50, plus £1bf

Booking Line: 01224 641122

Website: boxofficeaberdeen.com

Edinburgh Playhouse

Monday 29th November 2011 – Friday 7^th January 2012

Performances: Mon- Sat @ 7.30pm, Wed & Sat @ 2.30pm

Ticket Price: £17.00 - £43.50

Booking Line: 0844 8447 1660

Website: www.edinburghplayhouse.org.uk

OFFICIAL WEBSITE -  www.wewillrockyou.co.uk/tour 

Further Queen information - www.queenonline.com

The tour is a Phil McIntyre Entertainment presentation with Queen Theatrical Productions.

Musical biopics can, like the music biz itself, be a bit hit or miss.  But with the production team from the highly acclaimed “Dreamboats and Petticoats” behind them, the cast of Laughter in the Rain are sure to be right on target!

The show tells the life story of Neil Sedaka (charismatically played by Wayne Smith) from his birth in Brooklyn in 1939 through his song writing partnership with Howard Greenfield, his move to England as his fan base waned in the USA and his successful comeback culminating in the number 1 US hit “Laughter in the Rain” in 1975.  With no set, the story was told through narration by central characters and short dramatic scenes between musical numbers played out in chronological order.  Of course, the music was always going to take centre stage in this show and the audience were not disappointed by the variety and quality of the selections from the Neil Sedaka back catalogue.  Throughout his life, Sedaka has been a prolific writer and performer with 14 singles in the 3 years to 1962 alone – including 9 US top 10 hits and one number 1 in the coveted Billboard chart.  Songs from this period included “Oh, Carol”, “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” and “Breaking Up is Hard to Do”.

The narrative holds little in the way of drama but tells the story of Sedaka’s career ups and downs well.  Interest comes in the form of the partnerships that were so important throughout his life.  His mother was a strong influence as she managed his affairs through his most successful era and introduced him to his writing partner, Howie Greenfield (played by Edward Handoll supplying those trademark close harmonies throughout).  This, too, was a strong partnership as the friends taught each other the formula to produce hit after hit.  The two men hooked up with a third partner in the form of producer Don Kirshner.  But his strongest lifelong partner has been his wife, Leba; who he married in 1962 – surely breaking some records for music business marriage longevity!?  Despite the simple presentation, the cast conveyed a sense of history-in-the-making as the significance of Sedaka’s contribution to music unfolded.

All in all, a highly entertaining show.

Performances:

Laughter in the Rain
Mon 10th – Sat 15th May
Mon – Sat eves 7.30pm
Wed & Sat mats 2.30pm

Tickets: £11 - £29
Box Office 08448 717 648 (Bkg fee)
www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)

The composer-parodist Mark Bunyan presents his new revue Unburied Treasures at the Rosie. His new show is directed by Karen Rabinowitz who also choreographed Bunyan’s musical Just Good Friends. The mood of the revue is set by the stage design – a black coffin with flowers is sitting on a platform. We soon learn from Jo and Mo (Haydn and Mozart) in a cheerful song that they became victims of posthumous decapitation - their heads were stolen by phrenologists eager to study the bumps on their skulls. Macabre indeed – and very funny! The show features the posthumous adventures of famous corpses from Christopher Columbus to Evita, with appearances by Errol Flynn, Mozart, Haydn, Daniel Boone, Shelley, David Livingstone and others along the way. The talented cast is comprised of Adam Walker, Jack Summers, James Smoker, Jessica Sherman and Tom McLean play the dead celebs with gusto and sing their hearts out for the dead in songs like Happy in Hollywood, Lincoln – A Melodrama, and The Bones of Boone. Musical direction by Peter Wilson.

April – 9 May, Tue – Sat 7.30 pm, Sun 3.00 pm
Tickets: £ 12 / £ 10 (concessions)
BOX OFFICE: 020 7704 6665The Rosemary Branch, 2 Shepperton Road, London N1 3DT

The sound of Motown is transported to Glasgow this week as the stars of the 60s take to the stage in this first class tribute concert.

There are a number of ways to bring the hits of the past to a stage show.  The success of the ABBA based hit, Mamma Mia!, has seen a resurgence of productions with a fresh story to tell weaving old songs around the drama.  But this is difficult to do well and easy to do badly.  Dancing in the Streets takes the simpler route by delivering a straight forward tribute concert (similar to Rat Pack – Live from Las Vegas) … and delivering it with some style.

The first thing to consider when conceiving a production like this has to be the theme.  In “Motown”, Director and Musical Supervisor, Keith Strachan, has tapped possibly the richest vein of musical hits in history!  With artists from Gladys Knight and the Pips to Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, The Temptations, (the list goes on) … the hardest decisions must have been what to leave out of the show!  But you can be sure that the numbers in the show will be hits that everyone has a specific memory of.

And that’s what the audience pay their money for … memories.  They want to be transported to the time and place that each song meant the most to them.  Time travel isn’t just for Doctor Who, you know.  It was certainly a reality for the majority of the audience in Glasgow last night!  The reason the “Dancing in the Streets” time machine works so effectively is in the delivery of those Motown hits.  The first class cast sounded (and often looked) like the original artists.  Dance moves were faithfully reproduced, backup singers swayed and clicked and clapped and ‘shooped’ just like their 60s counterparts and the band faithfully reproduced the Motown sound on every track.  Overall production values were excellent, too, with a classically styled static set incorporating the live band, excellent lighting effects (probably far superior to the 60s originals but effective and atmospheric nonetheless) and more costume changes than London Fashion Week!

Transport yourself to Hitsville, USA in the 60s for £25.50 (or less) - bargain!

Listings Info:
King's Theatre Glasgow: Mon 15 Feb – Sat 20 Feb
Mon – Sat  at 7.30pm
Sat mat – 2.30pm
Tickets: £12 - £25.50
Box Office 08448 717 648 (Bkg fee)
www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)

The Machine Gunners

The Customs House, South Shields

The themes of love, loss, loyalty, friendship, childhood and warfare are skilfully interwoven into a musical that tells the tale of a group of teenagers growing up on Tyneside during the Blitz.

Robert Westall’s The Machine Gunners was published in 1975 and won the Carnegie Medal for Children’s Literature, became a set text in schools, a million seller and a classic BBC TV series. This musical adaptation, written by Ken Reay and Tom Kelly with music by John Miles, was first staged at The Customs House in 1998 and then spent a month at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it received rave reviews. It returns to The Customs House, with a stellar cast, as part of the venue’s fifteenth anniversary season.

Fourteen-year-old Chaz McGill (played by James Baxter) is an avid collector of shrapnel and other forms of wartime memorabilia, which he finds amongst the debris of the bombsites in his home town, Garmouth. One day, he stumbles across the tail-end of a German fighter, its machine gun and its pilot.

Together with his gang of mates, Chaz decides to keep the German airman as a prisoner of war and he is secreted in a disused garden shed. Soon, though, the teenagers grow fond of Rudi and a set of unlikely friendships are formed.

The Machine Gunners is a piece of theatre that succeeds on every level. As dramatic as it is comedic, you cannot help but get caught up in the adventures of the youngsters, whilst also empathising with the fears and concerns of the adults.

Director Gareth Hunter has gathered together a cast comprising much of the best of North East talent. James Baxter’s portrayal of Chaz is carefully crafted and utterly believable. The relationship between Chaz and the other members of his gang, played by Tom Booth (Cem), Steven Stobbs (Clogger), Jamie Hannon (Nicky) and Rachel Teate (Audrey) is extremely convincing. Wayne Miller and Charlie Richmond also deliver great performances as Bodser the bully and John, respectively.

Neil Armstrong and Tracy Gillman strike up a great rapport as Chaz’s parents, whilst Annie Orwin maximises the comedy in her role as nosey-parker Mrs Spalding. Jamie Brown as Rudi, the German air-gunner, puts in a fine performance, as does Louis Roberts in the slightly limited role of Sergeant Green. Donald McBride and Tony Neilson complete the line-up as members of the Garmouth Home Guard.

Some of the songs stand up better than others, with ‘Gossip’, ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’ and ‘He Will Need You’ being the showstoppers. However, it is the story that completely sweeps you up and makes The Machine Gunners memorable for all the right reasons.

Steve Burbridge.

The Machine Gunners runs until Saturday 13^th February 2010.