The Archives: King Lear II

King Lear

The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford

Cast

The King of France … Ben Addis

Goneril … Frances Barber

Knights … Adam Booth

                   Richard Goulding

                   Gerald Kyd

Lady-in-Waiting … Zoe Boyle

Doctor … Russell Byrne

Maid … Naomi Capron

Regan … Monica Dolan

Cordelia … Romola Garai

Duke of Gloucester … William Gaunt

Albany … Julain Harries

Oswald … John Heffernan

Duke of Burgundy … Peter Hinton

Duke of Kent … Jonathan Hyde

Servant … Melanie Jessop

Curan … Seymour Matthews

Fool … Sylvester McCoy

King Lear … Ian McKellen

Edgar … Ben Meyjes

Gentleman … David Weston

Duke of Cornwall … Guy Williams

Edmund … Phillip Winchester

The second and considerably more high-profile of the two King lear's I attended, Trevor Nunn's production was impressive for many reasons. Firstly was the initially subtle decay of the set, which was suddenly brought to the audience's attention during the dramatic heath scene, where the royal curtains suddenly come crashing down revealing a bare stage. But of course, the true genius of Shakespeare's work will always be the very human conflict which occurs. 

McKellen's Lear hits all the right points, initially he is pompous and cantakerous, but as his mind begins to unravel and his world falls apart, we feel for him. He also manages to pull of the line that many Lears struggle with 'Howl, howl, howl' which, in the wrong hands, can be quite laughable, but hear it is utterly heart wrenching. Not sure about the need for full frontal nudity though... The sisters are good, Frances Barber's pantomime villainess Goneril, Monica Dolan's cruel Regan, who gets some sort of ecstasy from seeing poor Gloucester eyes ripped out, and even Cordelia, played with more of an edge than usual by Romola Garai. Other standouts were Jonathan Hyde as Kent, Sylvester McCoy's Fool, and Phillip Winchester's as the always excellent Edmund. Overrall, an incredibly enjoyable staging of one of Shakespeare's best pieces.

"A capacity for innocent enjoyment"

Pirates of Penzance

Sunday 13^th March 2010 at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Cast

Major General Stanley… Simon Butteriss

Samuel… Mark Evans

Mabel… Rebecca Bottone

Isabel… Rosie Bell

The Pirate King… Alistair McGowan

Frederic… David Curry

Edith… Abigail Iveson

Ruth… Alison Jiear

Sergeant of Police… Bruce Graham

Kate… Anna Lowe

The second of Alistair McGowan's Gilbert and Sullivan productions that I attended, I knew even less about Pirates of Penzance than I did the Mikado, other than the fact that it featured the Modern Major General's Song, which has nothing to do with a scary hippopotamus.

Well, what can I say about Pirates of Penzance? As with McGowan's Mikado, it was only partially staged, although the characters were wearing more appropriate costumes this time. Thankfully McGowan had a greater amount of stage time in this production, which he used to the fullest. The other standouts from a comic point of view were Bruce Graham as the apologetic Sergeant of Police and Simon Butteriss as a suitably doddery Major General. The scene in which the three parties hide out in Stanley's home was the highlight of the evening, during which time McGowan and his pirate band dropped from the stage and ran across one of the rows, rifling through one patrons Tesco bag as they went. As for the rest of the production, it was a thoroughly entertaining afternoon, with a team of talented actors showing us why, even in this age of musicals and reality shows, Gilbert and Sullivan need not be forgotten.

Theatre Links

Bruce Graham also played Pooh-Bah in McGowan's production of The Mikado.

DeWitt's Dream Cast- "Do You Hear the People Sing?"

Les Miserables

The Winners...
Jean Valjean... Simon Bowman
Javert... Roger Allam
Marius... Michael Ball
Fantine... Rebecca Seale
Cosette... Rebecca Caine
Eponine...Samantha Barks
Thenardier... Alun Armstrong
Mme. Thenardier... Katy Secombe
Enjolras... Ramin Karimloo


And the runners up...
Jean Valjean... Colm Wilkinson
Javert... Norm Lewis
Marius... Gareth Gates
Fantine...Patti LuPone
Cosette... Lucie Jones
Eponine... Frances Ruffelle
Thenardier... Martin Ball
Mme. Thenardier... Jenny Galloway
Enjolras... David Burt

"One day more to revolution..."

Les Misérables

Wednesday 9^th March 2011 at the Queen’s Theatre, London

Cast

Jean Valjean… Simon Bowman

Javert… Norm Lewis

The Bishop of Digne… Gavin James

Factory Foreman/Brujon… Jeff Nicholson

Fantine… Rebecca Seale

Factory Girl/Whore… Chlöe Hart

Factory Worker/Old Woman/Crone… Rachel Bingham

Factory Worker/Montparnasse… James Smoker

Factory Worker/Bamatabois/Claquesous… George Miller

Madame… Lucy Garrioch

Whores… A.J. Callaghan

                  Helen Owen

                  Francesca Leyland

                  Natalie Day

Crone… Chlöe Brooks

Little Cosette… Rebecca Barclay/Cleo Demetriou/Amelia White

Thénardier… Martin Ball

Madame Thénardier… Katy Secombe

Young Eponine… Simay Celik/Luisa Daniels/Anna Maynard

Gavroche… Sebastian Croft/Daniel Huttlestone/Oliver Gilmartin

Eponine… Samantha Barks

Cosette… Lucie Jones

Babet… Simon Shorten

Enjolras… Killian Donnelly

Marius… Gareth Gates

Combeferre… Gavin James

Feuilly… Scott Garnham

Courfeyrac… Jonathan Williams

Joly… Dylan Williams

Grantaire… Martin Neely

Lesgles… Jay Bryce

Jean Prouvaire… Matthew Seadon-Young

As a production I had been looking forward to watching for quite some time, I was delighted when my school decided to take us to see Les Miserables. I was somewhat nervous when I took my place. Would it live up to my expectations? Fortunately, my doubts were unfounded, despite a shaky start (which was all but forgotten as soon as Rebecca Seale launched into "I Dreamed a Dream"), some bad acoustics and the fact that due to our seats, the top of the stage was completely obscured by the balcony, the show was a spectacular experience.

I am not usually one to notice staging effects to any great degree, but the barricade and walls of Paris were truly a sight to behold. The utilisation of the revolve stage was particularly well-done, although at the dramatic conclusion to Javert's soliloquy, it did look almost as though he was being sucked down the plughole like a recalcitrant insect. 

But of course, the true wonders of the evening were the magnificent cast. A staunch believer that the Original London Cast was the greatest, I am now thoroughly prepared to reconsider this view in certain instances. Simon Bowman was vocally marvellous as Jean Valjean, but more noteworthy was how convincing his portrayal was of Valjean at different stages in his life, so much so that, following the initial Prologue, I could scarcely recognise him as the now respectable Monsieur Madeleine. While Roger Allam remains for me, the definitive Javert, Norm Lewis now ranks a very close second, his smooth baritone bringing menace, but also a deep soulful quality to the complex character. In an interview, Lewis once stated he would love to play the Phantom of the Opera, I say, when can he start? 

Despite dismissing him as a reality television star, I actually found Gareth Gates' performance as Marius to be suprisingly effective, as was Killian Donnelley, who made myself, as a patron, want to go up and join the revolution. The Thenardiers were an absolute riot, their physical comedy and comic delivery keeping the audience laughing, which happens very little in a play whose once labelled "The Glums". My final merits for the evening go to the stunning Samantha Barks as Eponine (a certainly tied first favourite), and Martin Neely as the drunken, but occassionally eloquent Grantaire. Les Miserables (for goodness sake, no abbreviations) remains the king of musical theatre, long may it reign!

Theatre Links

• Norm Lewis, Samantha Barks and Jeff Nicholson performed in the 25th Anniversary Concert. Simon Bowman performed as one of the Four Valjeans in the encore.
• Martin Ball  was the original Doctor Dillamond in the London production of Wicked.
•  Norm Lewis originated the role of King Triton in The Little Mermaid.
• Killian Donnelly originated the role of Jamie in Kinky Boots.

"If I see one more pelvic thrust...!"

Romeo and Juliet

Tuesday 8^th March 2011 at the Curve, Leicester

Cast

Nurse/Prince… Louisa Eyo

Benvolio… Bryn Holding

Tybalt/Friar Lawrence… Richard James-Neale

Mercutio/Paris… Chris Lindon

Lady Capulet… Mary Rose

Juliet… Rachel Spicer

Capulet… William Travis

Romeo… Oliver Wilson

A free ticket to the theatre never goes amiss, especially not when combined with a free theatre ticket. And although the reviews had been mixed, it was thoughts like these which resulted in me accepting my eccentric headmaster's offer to attend this performance. 

The Pilot Theatre used a floral motif for their piece as Lady Capulet takes the place of narrator, occupying a sort of purgatory as she mourns the death of her daughter. This device was an interesting concept, but sadly it did not always reflect itself entirely on stage. The setting was minimalist, a cast of eight took on the numerous roles, a move which required several costume changes. Fortunately, the changes worked well,  in the case of Chris Lindon's Paris, I did not realise until perusing the program afterwards that he was the same actor who had played Mercutio. The modern approach was also well handled, (Romeo sporting a Spider-Man mask at the ball) although for once I have to agree with my headmaster, sometimes the bawdy gestures became excessive: "If I see one more pelvic thrust...!".

The Archives: "The net that shall enmesh them all"

Othello

2007 at the Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham

Cast

Othello … Cyril Niri

Iago … Neal Foster

Desdemona … Rebecca Santos

Bianca / Clown … Jane Riley

Cassio … David Blair

Roderigo … Paul Westwood

Emilia … Emma Christer

Lodovico …Mark Lingwood

Brabantio … Terence Booth

Montano … James Low

Perhaps my personal favourite of Shakespeare's plays, I was delighted when we were told it the one we would be studying for SATs and even more delighted when we were taken to see a performance of the show in Birmingham. Of course, while Othello is the titular character, the audience tends to become more enamoured with Iago, and this performance was no exception. Neal Foster, to my mind resembling a young Jonathan Pryce, was disarmingly charming in his scenes with the other characters, but truly fiendish when left to his own devices. Cyril Niri's Othello was cut a powerful figure, yet there is something inherent in the character that prevents the audience from feeling too much sympathy for him- he seems all too ready to accept Desdemona's guilt. Ultimately, for all his crimes, it is Iago that holds sway over the audience, Iago who leaves the strongest impression in the audiences memory.

The Archives: A Deal With the Devil

Hot Stuff

22nd December 2005 at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester

Cast

Lucy Fur … Ceri Dupree

The Boss … Melvin Whitfield

Julie … Yaa

Joe Soap … Craig Purnell

Miss Hot Stuff … Yildiz Hussein

Wuthering Kate/Glam Girl … Karen Rush

Peters/Glam Boy … Dougal Irvine

Ballroom Dancer … Lisa Dent

                                  Luke Hallifax

An infamously devilishly "jukebox musical" with it's origins in my own hometown, Hot Stuff is a show that returns every so often, much to the joy of theatre patrons across the city. It was created by Paul Kerryson, who I had auditioned for that very year, but had failed to secure the part of Young MacDuff (although I did receive a callback). In Christmas 2005, I was fortunate enough to watch the first of the show's reprises.

The show is a typical Faustian tale about a deal with the Devil, who is also the show's charismatic narrator. A young, would be rocker named Joe Soap is enticed by the villainous Lucy Fur (Ceri Dupree, in one of the most outlandish drag acts since Divine) into selling his soul for fame and fortune. The deal is sealed when he rejects his safe but boring girlfriend Julie for the sassy Miss Hot Stuff. Particular highlights of the show were the arrivals of the Seven Deadly Singers (notably "Wuthering Kate" a Kate Bush parody who was sorely missed from the show's second run in 2010), Joe's progression from Lenny Lurex (a spaced out  rocker in the style of David Bowie) to Jimmy Filth (spitting the words to a punk rock version of Jerusalem in a homage to Sid Vicious' My Way) and finally Lucy's heralding the arrival of the more severe Eighties by appearing in full Mrs. Thatcher costume. The true gem of this show however, was that it became less of a performance and more of an experience, from the end of the first act to the closing of the second, audience members began to join in with the singing, eventually dancing by their seats as though at a rock concert.

While at the time I lamented the fact that there was no DVD available of the show, it would be impossible to capture the live experience of this show. This of course made the idea of a second run five years later a most enticing prospect indeed.

The Archives: The West End Beckons

Chicago

9^th July 2005 at the Adelphi Theatre, London

Cast

Announcer/June … Kathryn Dunn

Velma Kelly … Charley Isabella King

Roxie Hart … Brooke Shields

Fred Casely … Tobias Walbom

Sergeant Fogarty/Judge … Simon Breen

Amos Hart … Robert Hands

Liz … Kay Murphy

Annie … Katy Carroll

Hunyak … Cameron Leigh

Mona … Sarah Soetaert

Matron ‘Mama’ Morton … Zee Asha

Billy Flynn … Clarke Peters

Mary Sunshine …Alex Weatherill

Go-to-Hell Kitty … Ebony Molina

Harry/Bailiff/Court Clerk … Dean Street

Doctor … Simon Breen

Aaron … Chris Ellis-Stanton

Martin Harrison … Scott Ryan Vickers

The Jury … Steven Grace

McVicars Announcer … Sergio Priftis

First trip to a West End theatre, made for my sister's birthday, only two days after the July bombings, so were understandably nervous using the Underground. As this was our first time, we had not learnt the benefits of booking seats close to the front, and so watched much of the show through binoculars. 

There is really nothing like a West End show. Chicago was known for being one of the first shows to exhibit 'names' in the parts, some time before Andrew Lloyd Webber sold out by beginning a series of reality tv shows to create new 'names' for his musicals. Brooke Shields was the 'name' in the show when we went, and she played the role extremely well, although the plaudits of the evening have to go to Charley Isabella King who played a savage, sarcastic but hilarious Velma Kelly. An honourable mention also goes to Robert Hands, who elicited huge sympathy from the audience and a massive round of applause when he took his bow. The staging was also particualrly memorable, the cast would interact with the audience, often calling for their 'exit music' (in Amos' case, they ignore him, promptng sympathetic noises from the audience). 

As someone whose only knowledge of this show came from the 2002 film, I was pleasantly surprised to see how very different the live show was. It was my first trip to the West End, it wouldn't be the last.

Theatre Links

• Charley Isabella King was a backing dancer in the Chicago film, as well as the 2005 film version of The Producers.
• Clarke Peters (Billy Flynn) was the author of Four Guys Named Moe. He also portrayed Walter de Courcey in the 2008 concert of Chess. 

The Archives: King Lear I

King Lear

9^th April 2005 at the Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa

Cast

King Lear … John Hathaway

Goneril … Ann Williams

Regan … Angie Collins

Cordelia … Libby McKay

The Duke of Albany … Mark Roberts

The Duke of Cornwall … Michael Rayns

The Earl of Gloucester … Jeremy Heynes

Edgar … Nicolas James

Edmund … Michael Bibb

The Earl of Kent … Tom O’Connor

The King’s Fool …Michael Seeley

The King of France … Chris Hudson

The Duke of Burgundy … Michael Hammond

Oswald … Tony Dixon

Old Man/Doctor … David Draper

Discovered by chance one day when we happened to be visiting, the Loft Theatre has a cozy environment and a casual feel to it (so casual in fact, that no one noticed the audience migrating backwards during the second half to avoid an effluent patron). My mother's favourite Shakespeare play, the first production of King Lear that we saw had a much lower budget than the second. However, this in no means detracted from an enjoyable performance. Michael's Bibb's Edmund was a particular standout, he made a three course meal of his opening soliloquoy, while the two villainous sisters were played with equal relish. Interestingly, the first act closed with the Fool surrounded by Gloucester's men, a change to Shakespeare's original that would also be seen in Trevor Nunn's version some years later.

An Hour Upon the Stage: A Hat Too Far?

Tom Thumb

Christmas 2000 School Production at Alderman Richard Hallam

Cast

Fearless Frankie … Matthew Allen

Tree Markers … Chloe Barnes

                            Adam Brown

Mrs. Spoilachild … Ria Barot

Villagers … Laurel Blair

                    Nadine Bucknor

                    Arun Devshi

                    Christopher Fox

                    Sagar Ladha

                    Sophie McPhillips

                    Emma Newlands

                    Nikesh Patel

                    Amar Rai

                    Dipesh Tailor

Clowns … Samantha Bowler

                  Alex Carnall

                  Sam Carter

                  Kirsty Mason

                 Akshay Modhwadia

                 Sheikha Modhwadia

                 Callum Tye

                 Prianca Unjia

                 Arti Zinzuwadia

Soldiers … Ryan Brownett

                   Jake Dilkes-Clarke

                   Rhys Evans-Hughes

                   Matthew Hyatt

                   Amardeep Kular

                   Palvi Kumari

                  Alexander North

                  Sophie Park

                  Devki Parmar

                  Mitchell Powley

                  Bhavisha Radia

                  Jake Rowley

Woodcutters … Ellie Butler

                           Stephanie Edwards

                           Micah Forbes

                           Reece Fullerton

                           Sanjay Keshav

                           James Law

                           Bonnee O’Connor

                           Laura Wells

                           James Wright

Spoilt Sam … Amy Chamberlain

Sarah … Rupal Chavda

Mrs. Jellymould … Nisha Chopra

Bad Egg Seller … Christopher Clarke

Ragdolls … Nicholas Cleaver

                    Lauren Cross

                    Aaron Dilkes-Clarke

                    Anthony Gallagher

                    Emma Hurst

                    Stephanie Hurst

                    Kiranjit Sidhu   

                    Sophie Stephenson  

Mr. Thinbiscuit … Steven Daffern

Sniffer Stan … Rebecca Davies

Norbert Nikkit … Harris Davis-Taylor

Soapsud Sidney … Joseph Dreijers

Elves … Cathryn Ellison

               Chelsea Gough

               Shannon O’Brien

Potshot Pete … Jordan Ford-York

The Baroness … Aysha Hearst

Mrs. Teacake … Kiranpreet Kaur

Careless Clive/Clown … Shannon Marston

Seafood Sam/Clown … Latasha Mayes-Preston

Jumping Jack … Jade Norwood

Whiskers Walter/Clown … Jade Penlington

Squashed Tomato Seller … Daniel Roberts

Stockmaster … Kieran Roberts

Tom Thumb … Jack Ryan

The Baron … Alexander Shaw

Town Crier … Ryan Simmonds

William … David Stevens

Cuthbert Custard/Clown … Jayde Tooms

Twoteeth Terence/Clown … Victoria Wade

Grubby Gerald/Clown … Michael Wood

My first experience of acting on a stage, I took to the craft like a duck to water despite my natural shyness. The play concerned was our school's Year Three Christmas production of Tom Thumb, in which I played the lead's father, William.  The stroy goes that young Tom, who is only the size of a man's thumb (ironic, considering he was one of the tallest cast members) gets into a series of scrapes that result in him joining the gang of local ruffian Norbert Nikkit (who stole the entire show). I was eventually framed for one of the gang's crimes and ordered by the Baron to be put in the stocks. Of course everything turned out happily in the end. My costume consisted of a false moustache and green poncho, as well as a large brown hat, which my family complained completely covered my face, something which I used to my advantage. My friend Alex, who played the Baron, had to suffer worse indignities, he was forced to wear tights for the role, kindly donated by a girl in our class. They even came with little flowers embroidered on the bottom, which he was not pleased about, to say the least.

The Archives: Shakespeare in the Park

Macbeth

2001 at the De Montfort Hall, Leicester

Cast

Weird Sister … Tanya McKenzie

Weird Sister/Lady Macduff … Melisande Cook

Weird Sister/Fleance/Gentlewoman … Elisha Gazdowicz

Bagpiper … Alistaire Adams

                     David Brook

King Duncan of Scotland … Nicholas Smith

Malcolm … Ross MacDonald

Donalbain/Murderer … Richard Morrison

Sergeant/Seyton/Porter … Dez O’Connell

Lennox … James Lavender

Ross … Jeremy Wilkin

Macbeth … Robert J. Williamson

Banquo … Lee Byron-Jones

Lady Macbeth … Claire Marchionne

Macduff … Mark Forester

Old Man/Doctor … Michael Gabe

A particularly memorable performance as it was staged outdoors, with the audience in two large tents either side of the 'stage'. Due to this, there were no spiritual effects, the power of the audience's minds had to create the dagger which Macbeth sees before him that bloody night. There was nothing imaginary about the violence however, which unfolded dramatically before our eyes, of particular note was the finale, the duel between Macbeth and the vengeful Macduff. My sister and I sat on the far edge of the tent, and could see every actor making their exit, ocassionally they would smile (Lady Macbeth even gave us a little wave). After the performance, the actors were available to talk to, director and star Robert J. Williamson was extremely friendly and had several actors sign our program. We also met the Lord Mayor, which was nice.

Performance Photos

Theatre Notes

• Nicholas Smith (Duncan) was best known for playing Mr. Rumbold in Are You Being Served?, and recently the voice of Reverend Hedges in Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Wererabbit. 

The Archives: My introduction to the theatre

The first three productions I attended were all in my hometown of Leicester, and are all covered in the same post due to what little I can remember of them.

Oliver!

November 1999 at the Haymarket, Leicester

Cast

Fagin… Julian Forsyth

Nancy… Linzi Hateley

Bill Sikes… Eddie O’Connell

Mr. Bumble… Peter Edbrook

Mr. Sowerberry… Greg Pichery

Mrs. Sowerberry… Fiona Dunn

My family and I attended this production as an early Christmas treat, Oliver! being one of myself and my sister's favourite films as children. Directed by one Leicester's famed directors, Paul Kerryson,  this show was performed at Leicester's now empty Haymarket Theatre. I can remember little of this performance, only that I was somewhat petrified of Bill Sikes, and particularly fascinated by the staging, which revolved to reveal Fagin's den. The dramatic climax, in which the fleeing Sikes is shot, brought myself and many other patrons out of their seats.

Theatre Links:

• Julian Forsyth (Fagin) would later go on to play Dr. Dillamond in Wicked from 2010.
• Liniz Hateley (Nancy) was the original Mrs. Banks in the London Production of Mary Poppins.

The Wizard of Oz

December 2000 at the Haymarket, Leicester

Cast

Dorothy … Annalene Beechey 

Glinda/Aunt Em … Wendy Mae Brown

Scarecrow/Hunk … Simon Greiff

Tin Man/Hickory … Tom Canavan

The Lion/Zeke … Jon Clairmonte

The Wicked Witch of the West/Mrs. Gulch … Vicky Ogden

The Wizard of Oz/Professor Marvel … Mark Roper

The Crows … Ben Garner

                        Greg Pichery

                        Adam Woodhouse

Another early production at the Haymarket, which I attended with the local 'Beavers' the junior division of the Cub Scouts. I can remember little of this performance, but was particularly impressed by the arrival of the Wicked Witch on a motorbike, resembling a leatherette version of the teacher from "Angela Anaconda".

Theatre Links:

• Annalene Beechey would go on to play another Wizard of Oz related role, the understudy Glinda during the first run of Wicked in the West End.

 

Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat

December 2000 at the De Montfort Hall, Leicester

Cast

Joseph … Eaton James

Narrator … Vivienne Carlyle

Jacob/Potiphar … Michael G. Jones

Pharaoh/Simeon … Trevor Jary

Mrs. Potiphar/Handmaiden … Sarah-J Gough

Butler … Dan Greavey

Baker/Naphtali … Russel Hicken

Reuben … Dan Greavey

Issachar … Ryan Keeton

Levi … James Nash

Asher … John Melvin

Dan … Ben Stock

Zebulon … Stuart Tayler

Gad … Iain Pritchard

Judah … Karl Jones

Benjamin … Jason Heppenstall

Handmaidens… Lisa Quibell

                           Ellie Sprack

                           Jenette Humphris

The final of my early visits to the theatre, a week after my trip to see the Wizard of Oz, my primary memory of this performance was watching the Pharaoh, and asking my parents whether it had really been Elvis Presley playing the role.

Curtain Up!

Hello, theatregoers, this the first of (hopefully) many posts on my trips to the theatre and the shows which I attend, as well as a few in which I have performed myself. I hope you find it interesting, useful, or even entertaining. The blog will be chronological, but I'll be visiting the archives to look at some past performances as we go along.