Review of Broadway Lights And West End Nights at Northampton College

I have followed the acting course at the University of Northampton for the last five years now, but this Saturday I experienced the Level 3 Musical Theatre group at Northampton College for the first time, as they presented a performance by their first and second-year students. The evidence from this first encounter suggests that there is some very good talent on its way through this course.

The evening presented a nicely varied selection of performances from six shows, Avenue Q, Rent, The Lion King, Cats, Mary Poppins and Sweet Charity, both providing some lovely singing routines and a few of pure dance, allowing the students to show many of their, very obvious, skills.

From the collection of 21 routines presented, there were a few standout moments, the best of which for myself was Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer performed by Tom Kalek and Lily Cushway. This was a routine of such polish that I would happily have watched on any stage, never mind a student performance. Kaley and Cushway maintained an impressively solid vocal performance, in between some truly great physical sequences and their playful nature was perfectly judged for the characters as well. Simple put, a stunning piece.

Another really entertaining routine was Avenue Q's If You Were Gay performed by Tom Kalek again playing Nicky, and Rory Fraser as Rod, with Fraser especially strong in both singing and character in this one. The characters were also strong in the Mary Poppins sequence, especially Thalia Garth in the title role, combining brilliant singing and timing, along with the required stern controlling nature but the air of magical mystery of the character. During this piece also, Joby Blair put in a scene-stealing turn as Mrs Corry.

Perhaps the most controversial sequence of the evening from those I was with was the Rich Man's Frug from Sweet Charity. While not popular with many, I really loved the style and delivery of this sequence of both classic sixties dance, and more importantly the work of Mr Bob Fosse. The performers involved expertly got the sharp stalking and postured movement, and despite it not working for all, it really was one of my favourite pieces of the show.

Rich Man's Frug was perhaps seated within the strongest trio of pieces of the evening, as all three routines from Sweet Charity were especially strong, with a vibrant and bold version of the classic Big Spender from all the female company, and that vibrancy was taken up a further notch, culminating in perhaps the best song to end the evening, as Rory Fraser as Daddy led out a brilliant full company version of Rhythm of Life.

Technically it was a pretty impressive evening, in a great venue, which I have visited just once before. It was perhaps a little sad production wise that moving spotlights were not used, leaving the performers to just move from spot to spot. It did though have a wonderful look to the entire show, from the sharp black and white suits of Rich Man's Frug, the flower power garishness of Rhythm of Life and finally the striking catsuits of Cats.

No question though, this was an excellent couple of hours of entertainment with some brilliant individual performances, coupled with some excellently created ensemble pieces, and I look forward to my next encounter with these musical theatre students.

Performance viewed: Saturday 27th January 2018 at Northampton College, Booth Lane, Northampton
Broadway Lights and West End Nights continues until Wednesday 31st January 2018, with tickets available via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/northampton-college-school-of-the-arts-13442073431

Review of Of Mice and Men at The Playhouse Theatre Northampton

John Steinbeck’s classic novella Of Mice and Men has been a staple of many young people's education, and it is relatively common in curricula; as such, it is a popular choice for theatre groups, both professional and amateur, to bring to the stage. Therefore, this week, The Playhouse Theatre Northampton has brought its own version to the stage at Christ Church Hall as its latest offering. So, after close to ninety years since the first publication, is this still worth a trip to the theatre? For those unfamiliar with the story, published in 1937, Steinbeck’s tale, here adapted for the stage by the author, chronicles a moment in the lives of George Milton and Lennie Small, an unlikely pair of migrant workers, as they move from ranch to ranch. Constantly moving due to the mentally unstable Lennies' constant leaning towards doing something bad, they find themselves at a new farm where they hope to make the coin to pursue the dream of their own piece of land. However, as always for...

Review of The All New Adventures of Peter Pan at Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton

For theatres across the land, it's that time of year again. The time when the theatres fill with screaming children and a ridiculous amount of sugar intake and trips to the toilet. Yes, it is panto time, and before you say it, oh yes it is. This year, for the Royal & Derngate, it is time for a trip to Neverland (or Forever Land, that is, but more on that later) and a magical adventure with Peter Pan and the dastardly Captain Hook. Once again, following hugely successful previous runs, Evolution Productions brings this tale to the stage in 2025. And it has to be said, once again, they strike panto gold with The All New Adventures of Peter Pan , with a constantly lively, brilliantly colourful and awkwardly funny production that, as always with Evolution, is totally family friendly. Over the years here, Evolution and writer Paul Hendy have created the essence of pantomime (which just so happens to link to the tale within this story). Keeping all the traditions intact, a ghostly be...

Review of The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband at The Playhouse Theatre, Northampton

During the interval of The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband , last weeks production at The Playhouse Theatre Northampton, I got involved in a conversation between a couple sitting next to me. The lady was very much of the opinion that the play was a comedy, while the gentleman, had formed one that it was a tragedy. They were joking of course in the conversation, but it did highlight the differences that Debbie Isitt's dark comedy might have between the sexes. And also now perhaps the passing of time. When this was written in the nineties, Isitt's play was a forthright feminist play, heralding the championing over of the ladies over the man. One the ex-wife plotting to cook him, the other, the new lover, potentially already very tired of him after just three years. The husband, Kenneth (Jem Clack) elopes initially in pursuit of sex with Laura (Diane Wyman), after his nineteen years of marriage with Hilary (Corinna Leeder) has become tired and passionless. Then later, he elopes ...

A Small Mind At The Theatre

Search This Blog