As all good teachers know, you should always try and find something positive to say first before pointing out their failings. In this instance, the family Christmas offering of Grimm's Faerie Feast, presented by Proper Job Theatre Company at The Met in Bury, finding the positives wasn't the problem; it was being surprised and disappointed that there were so few positives on offer. However; I did like the IDEA. The concept, no matter how badly and ineptly executed, was a good one. The acting, at least from the two brothers and the Baron was good and consistent, and the musicianship of the whole company was proficient.
OK; hold on to your hats, this is going to be a bumpy ride!
There can barely be a human being in the country who has not heard of The Sound of Music, or seen the movie, or can knock out an attempt at ‘The hills are alive’
I have sat through the 1965 film, starring the wonderful Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, countless times throughout my life and I haven’t escaped the stage version either – by both professional and amateur groups and was privileged enough to see Petula Clark in the early 8o’s perform Maria in the West End of London . Since Connie Fisher took the lead role after she won the TV talent show, ‘How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?’ I have waited to see the new revamped stage production in anticipation.
This is a piece of theatre devised, written and presented by 13 members of Contact Young Company; an ensemble of not just actors, but singers, musicians, dancers, poets etc who are all under the age of 25, and come together to create professional shows in collaboration with existing renowned artistes and companies. For this particular production they collaborated with Common Wealth. (Evie Manning and Rhiannon White).
It is not often that I am unsure of what and how to write, but this piece has really stumped me. There are two huge issues at stake here which make it very difficult for me to put my ideas and thoughts in order. I might ramble a bit, so I'll do my best to be coherent!
The stage was minimally set giving nothing away about the spectacle that was about to traverse its boards. The band were warming up and familiar tunes could be heard floating above the hubbub of the waiting audience.
I was not disappointed, from the very beginning with the company’s first song - sung acapella; to the last rousing refrain of Ol’ Man River, the cast and crew produced a stellar performance that would easily have fitted in the West End or on Broadway.
It’s the time of the year where children young and old eagerly await the 25th December and all that Christmas brings. What better preparation for the festive season than a visit to the spectacular Winter Wonderland at Event City. With live theatre, a circus big top, more fun fair rides than I have ever seen in one place and of course Father Christmas there is literally something for everyone. For the older kids there is also a well-stocked bar.
ADP stands for Acting and Directing Partnership, although it might be better represented by Actors, Directors and Playwrights, since those are the three ingredients necessary to make the Manchester ADP Scripts Aloud Nights work
Held usually on the last Monday of each month they bring together local talent and perform very rough-around-the-edges script-in-hand excerpts or tiny playlets of new writing. Typically each director getting only a couple of hours to rehearse the Sunday before, and perhaps a quick run through Monday before going on. But don't worry, they are meant to be works-in-progress, and the pieces are only a maximum of 15 minutes each so it's not as tough as you might think.
A new Musical written by Rick Guard and Phil Rice.
Oh how often have I lamented that so few new Musicals appear on the scene! The Fringe Theatres are full of new writing - all plays. The mainstream theatres are full of bums-on-seats-guarantees. So there is little in between, and no new Musicals seem to be hitting the headlines. Enter Guard and Rice!! [It actually trips off the tongue a lot easier than Lloyd-Webber and Rice, although rice is grown in paddy fields not gardens!! No... Enough!!! I have been influenced by too many pantomimes, sorry... just couldn't resist it!!]
Entertaining, Enthralling and Enlightening
Charles Dickens was born in 1812 residing predominantly in London and Kent until his death in 1870. Renowned for his humour and satire, he was a keen observer of character and society and is considered by many to be the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.
His works include fifteen major novels, many of which were serialised for monthly magazines allowing him to evaluate and respond to his audience's reaction with each instalment as well as capturing topical events. He enjoyed an unprecedented popularity during his lifetime.
I have to admit to a first here. It is the first time I have seen this ballet, and was surprised also, that for such a famous and popular work, I didn't recognise any of the music either. A huge cultural omission which was last night rectified.
The ballet is advertised as 'the most beautiful of all romantic ballets', and was presented by students of The Northern Ballet School housed at The Dancehouse Theatre in Manchester. The company, calling themselves Manchester City Ballet, comprises students from all three of the school's years and has an age range from 16 - 21.
This is a piece of theatre for children from the age of 5, and tells the story of the young Moomintroll waking up during the winter hibernation and not recognising his surroundings. Everything is covered in white and everywhere is so cold. He steps outside the house looking for friends and meets a whole manner of strange creatures who bring this story to life. He witnesses the midwinter solstice bonfire, a forgetful squirrel freeze by the icy hand of The Lady of the Cold, and even nearly drowns trying to rescue one of his companions from the cracking ice. At the end of his adventure though he goes back home to Moominpappa and Moominmamma who have now themselves awoken because the Spring has arrived and they have come out of hibernation. He tells them of his adventure, and it has changed him. Moomintroll had been unable to run and be happy on his own until now, and at the end we see him doing just those things, thanks to his experiences in Moominland Midwinter.
"If there was a book of your life, would you be brave enough to look at the ending?"
What a fantastic line and what a fantastic premise. This was the kind of superb theme and writing that the actors and director had at their disposal. So why did I leave the theatre tonight feeling somewhat underwhelmed.
It would be very unkind and wrong of me to say that I did not enjoy this production, but it would equally be as fair to say that it did not live up to expectations.
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