Sister Act: The Musical (Aberystwyth Arts Centre Production)

For a fabulous summer season, Aberystwyth Arts Centre is the place to be! From the creative team that adapted Chicago, Hairspray and Little Shop of Horrors comes a funky and fantastic production of Sister Act. Based on the 1992 comedy film of the same name (starring Whoopi Goldberg), Sister Act originally hit the West End back in 2009, following on with a 2011 Broadway run and subsequent tours. Previous productions have seen Whoopi Goldberg herself take on the role of Mother Superior, however the role was originated by Sheila Hancock. Goldberg also produced the musical along with Stage Entertainment. Other well known cast members included Blue’s Simon Webbe (West End) and Raven-Symone (Broadway). Musically the show differs from the film version, with a lively score created for the stage by the wonderful Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid & Aladdin) with lyrics by Glenn Slater.

There’s plenty of glitz and glamour galore on the Theater-Y-Werin stage as an energetic and talented cast of both West End performers and local names (including members from popular choir Sgarmes) bring this vibrant show to life!

Sister Act centres on Deloris Van Cartier, a gifted club singer with bigger dreams of fame and recognition who has the misfortune of witnessing her married boyfriend commit murder. In order to protect her identity she is placed in a convent led by the restrictive Mother Superior. Deloris soon shakes things up as she becomes in charge of the church choir, teaching the nuns a few things about soul and disco much to Mother Superior’s dismay. Along the way Deloris discovers her true potential as she provides inspiration for the nuns and brings a whole new outlook into the church, despite her unconventional ways in the eyes of religion.

Director and Choreographer Anthony Williams’s exceptional production features a string of catchy and upbeat musical numbers. Stand out’s include the infectious ‘Fabulous Baby’, ‘Take me to Heaven’ and ‘Raise Your Voice’ all belted out by the phenomenal  Jenny Fitzpatrick  in the lead role. Fitzpatrick is sensational to watch, she completely owns the stage playing a feisty and funny Deloris, she brings a sense of compassion to the role creating a strong likeability factor with the audience. Returning to the Aberyswtyth stage is Broadway performer Lori Haley Fox as Mother Superior, Fox memorably starred in Williams’s productions of Hairspray and Chess and is equally as sensational. The antagonistic relationship between diva Deloris and the conservative Nun is played wonderfully, Fox delivers a sense of frustration as her character is continually tested by Deloris’s presence. Jodie Jacobs as Sister Mary Robert also gives a stand out performance, from the shy, reserved nun to a young woman determined to find herself thanks to Deloris’s influence. Aaron Lee Lambert plays cop Eddie Souther (‘Sweaty Eddie’), the under-confident former school-friend who’s harboured a crush on our protagonist for some time, his rendition of  ‘I could be that Guy’ is a particular highlight. As for the villain’s, Robert Grose gives a slick performance as the slippery Curtis Jackson, the murderous mob boss hell bent on silencing Deloris, ‘When I Find my Baby’ is a darkly menacing number and a personal favourite from the show. His bumbling lackeys TJ (George Rae), Joey (Andrew Gallo) and Pablo (Richard Castro) provide much comic relief and come into their own with the hilarious number ‘Lady in the Long Black Dress’.

The set design is outstanding, capturing the ambience of the candle-lit church while transitioning into seedier settings of the bars and streets of Philadelphia contrasting both sides of Deloris’s life. The 1970’s aesthetic works well and is a welcome addition to the story, the costumes are stylish, the effects spectacular and the choreography disco-tastic. The cast, crew and live band do a superb job overall.

On the whole the show is incredibly light-hearted and uplifting, it plays to the codes and conventions of the musical and is unapologetic for it, that said it does include some heart-wrenching and enlightening moments such as ‘The Life I’ve Never Led’, ‘Here Within These Walls’ and ‘Sister Act’. However if its a feel-good musical you’re after then look no further, Sister Act is guaranteed to bring joy to everyone who goes to see it. Highly recommended. Especially proud to see a show of such a high standard year after year on my own doorstep.

Hayley Alice Roberts.

 

Little Shop of Horrors (Aberystwyth Arts Centre Production).

Written: 8th August 2013.

As a major fan of Little Shop of Horrors, I will summarize its history before reviewing Aberystwyth Arts Centre’s 2013 summer season adaptation. This review does contain spoilers, therefore anyone not familiar with the show should look away now!

Little Shop of Horrors has become a well-loved, cult hit musical over the years since it debuted on the off-Broadway stage back in 1982 at the Orpheum Theatre located in Manhattan. This Science-Fiction, Horror, Romance, Musical Extravaganza originated from the 1960 B-Movie  of the same name directed by Roger Corman; then was subsequently developed into a musical by composers Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (of Disney fame). Lee Wilkof and Ellen Greene starred as leads Seymour and Audrey in the original production and these beloved characters have since been played by many talented actors as I will further discuss . The main plot focuses on hard done by florist Seymour Krelborn, living in the grimy, urban Skid Row his luck changes when he discovers a ‘strange and interesting plant’ who he names Audrey II after the girl he desires. The unusual plant soon reveals its blood-thirsty intentions as it seduces Seymour into killing for fame and fortune with dire, moral consequences. Little Shop of Horrors was given the big-screen treatment in 1986 in the Frank Oz screen version starring Rick Moranis in the lead role of Seymour, Ellen Greene reprising her role as Audrey (a first for its time where the original stage actress would transition the part to film), Steve Martin as the demented dentist Orin Scrivello, Vincent Gardenia as Mr. Mushnik  and Four Tops singer Levi Stubbs voicing carnivorous plant Audrey II. The film was certainly ahead of its time with Lyle Conway’s magnificent Audrey II puppets and through no fault of its own was forced to differ considerably from the stage version with the change in ending due to the original test audience reactions. It has however recently been restored in full color in time for the brand new blu ray release. If I had to choose, I prefer the stage version’s ending as it brings Seymour’s story arc full circle, behind the tongue-in-cheek comedy and family-friendly horror its a story of moral consequence. Seymour is a likeable character but he does unforgivable things to get where he wants to be, “You know the meek are gonna get what’s comin’ to ‘em” as ‘Greek Chorus’ Ronette, Chiffon and Crystal sing.

The film spurned a short-lived animated TV series, Little Shop (1991)and has been parodied and satirized in modern popular culture such as in South Park and Family Guy.

Little Shop is one of the musicals that I’ve had a frequent history with and have seen on stage a handful of times. It has been tailored to both the professional theater as well as amateur productions. Its been with me throughout my childhood, my first experience being with the 1986 film, then a school production in 2003. In 2004 I saw my first professional version of the show at the Jersey Opera House with former Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw as Audrey and John Altman aka. Eastenders ‘Nasty Nick’ as the Dentist which proved a treat! The last production I saw was performed by a local Youth Theatre a few years ago. Admittedly, it has been nice to re-visit the show and in a sense see a refreshing take on it in Anthony Williams’s current production.

Following on from last year’s popular and successful Hairspray, Williams has chosen to stay within the 1960’s themed genre by selecting Little Shop and bringing it to the Theater-Y-Werin stage. What struck me was the darker turn the production took in terms of its lighting and set design giving off a sense of grimness. Revolving sets between the bleak exterior of Skid Row to the brightness of Mushnik’s flower shop and the blood-splattered dentist’s office transitioned smoothly into each other capturing the story beautifully and strongly helped to contrast the desires for escapism the lead characters sing about in well-known numbers such as Somewhere that’s Green and Skid Row.  The sound effects used such as the dentists drill and Audrey II chomping on human body parts are done very well to a convincing effect. The sets came across as very stylistic and well designed. One issue in the performance I attended on August the 7th was the instrumental music did drown out the singing in some instances.

Each performer within the show displayed masses of talent. James Gillan plays Seymour, the geeky florist as meek and conflicted as he must commit horrible acts in order to ‘better himself’ until his last minute heroic actions and eventual sacrifice. Gillan has a nice singing-voice and performs his solo and duet numbers e.g. Grow for me and Git It in a 60’s pop style manner. Sarah Earnshaw fits the part of Audrey beautifully, she makes the role her own and provides compassion and empathy for the character which makes her death scene all the more heartbreaking, I definitely choked up. Earnshaw and Gillan have convincing chemistry, their rendition of Suddenly Seymour is both powerful and emotional. Jimmy Johnston plays a self-indulgent Mr Mushnik with much humor, his duet with Gillan Mushnik and Son is one of the show’s comedy highlights and a fantastic opportunity to showcase their dancing skills. Richard Hurst takes the challenge of playing a number of parts throughout the show, a tradition for the actor playing the dentist and does it well, he is mostly humorous but ventures to the dark side during his scenes with Audrey as the abusive boyfriend to disturbing effect. Edward Baruwa voices the man-eating plant and sings soulfully in a performance just as fantastic as Levi Stubbs. Brett Shiels is the other man behind the botanical monster, both of them give Audrey II a grand stage presence that really stands out. I had a smile on my face every time the carnivorous plant appeared. Amy Coombes, Rachel Ann Crane and Mary Fox are sensational singers and remain charismatic throughout the show; they belt out the title number and give off a morbid vibe dressed in funeral attire and clutching lilies at the end of the first act. An interesting addition is Sam Giffard who opens up the show as a character titled ‘Demonic Child’, an otherworldly, sinister presence who informs us of an impending “deadly threat to the human race”. Reminiscent of Regan from The Exorcist (1973), with pigtails and a lollipop in hand, she laughs maniacally and is in place as a conscience for Seymour, chillingly appearing at the window each time he provides Audrey II with human flesh. To my knowledge this character hasn’t appeared in any other version but definitely provides an eerie tone.

Anthony Williams’s Little Shop of Horrors is a must-see, he has managed to bring in traditional elements from past versions including the spectacular finale and the omission of Mean Green Mother From Outer Space (a song written for the film which admittedly I did miss!) while putting his own vision into it. I now look forward to seeing more of this talented cast in The Magic of the Musicals on August 18th, a yearly show that showcases the individual talents of its current summer season casts. The show is dark, creepy, funny and entertaining. Don’t miss it unless you want to be fed to a hungry plant!!

Hayley Alice Roberts.

Repo! The Genetic Opera (Film, 2008)

Written: 7th August 2012.

**WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS**

“Zydrate comes in a little glass vial, And the little glass vial goes into the gun like a battery, And the Zydrate gun goes somewhere against your anatomy, And when the gun goes off, it sparks, and you’re ready for surgery”- Graverobber

“Repo! The Genetic Opera” (2008) is a deliciously daring cult film that has spawned an unexpected phenomenon in terms of fandom especially since it was received negatiely by some critics upon its release. The consensus on Rotten Tomatoes.com claimed the film was “Bombastic and Gross”, many like myself would argue, gross in a good way! The film was picked up through touring across America. Director Darren Lyn Bousman and the cast and crew took part in extensive Q&A’s in order to promote their stylish horror rock opera. The cult following the film has achieved is phenomenal, fans embrace “Repo!” in a similar vein to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975). The dedication and effort the fans put into purchasing or making costumes for screenings demonstrates how passionately they regard the film that in terms of mainstream cinema is an acquired taste!

The story is set in a futuristic world where an organ epidemic threatens to eliminate the human race. The only hope for survival lies in “GeneCo” an organisation that is able to provide organ transplants through a payment plan. However, in a surgery addicted world many fail to make these payments and GeneCo sends out a Repo Man who takes back what they cannot afford, “He will rip the still beating heart from your chest!”. The results of mass surgery addiction has also accumulated a black market that creates a powerful anaesthetic called “Zydrate” that emerges from the brains of the dead and is handed out by a mysterious figure known as the Graverobber (Terrance Zdunich) who partly acts as a narrator. Following the backstory the plot takes a more intimate turn as it shows the personal lives of the characters involved and how they are ultimately entwined. We meet Nathan (Anthony Head) a desperate widower and father with a dark past who searches for a cure for his teenage daughter Shilo’s sickness, a blood disease he believes he has caused, Shilo (Alexa Vega) refuses to be a victim and dreams of being able to live a normal life. Little does she know, Nathan is in fact the Repo Man by night which takes the film onto a whole new complex and emotional level. The Villain comes in the shape of GeneCo’s CEO Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino) who is dying of a terminal disease and does not trust his three kids Luigi (Bill Moseley), Pavi (Ogre) and Amber Sweet (Paris Hilton) to carry on his legacy. Rotti has manipulated Blind Mag (Sarah Brightman) GeneCo’s star opera singer who will soon lose her eyes if she does not agree to a final performance and give up the stage for Amber Sweet. In order to discover more about this intriguing plot that becomes more twisted as the film goes on, I advise you to seek it out immediately!

  As a musical, “Repo!” works on so many levels and has a little bit of everything, infectious rock anthems, beautiful, melodic opera pieces and a number of intriguing characters that push the plot along. It has the essence of a dark tragedy similar to other musicals of the same nature such as “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and “Jekyll and Hyde” as it tells the tale of a man driven into madness and carnage due to unfortunate circumstance. It does play on the conventions of musical theatre by using a narrator as an outside POV and the typical characters such as the young female who searches for something more that what she’s confined to. The fact that its a hybrid along with the horror genre ramps up the visual squeamishness of the piece with the blood and gore, that looks great against the dark backdrop. But its not all grim as it sounds there’s a nice balance of black humour added in especially with the Largo brothers who argue over their future inheritance and a musical number where the Repo man sings as he’s removing an organ out of his victim and the victim still manages to join him in song! The film is very stylish, it cleverly uses a comic book approach in order to depict flashback sequences which is refreshing rather than just using a black and white effect and the actors, its also reminiscent of graphic horror novels such as “Creepshow”. The way the film is shot is incredible with sweeping camera work on the detailed world we are embroiled into. The gothic costumes really make the film stand out and highlight its uniqueness while encouraging fans to try out some extreme and out-of-this world looks. The main attraction however has to be the cast who deliver outstanding performances, Anthony Head showcases his talent for both singing and acting as he sticks his knife into this dark role, he manages to create a sense of fear and empathy at the same time and just defines this tragic figure through his performance. Sarah Brightman is sensational as always in her first film role, conveying her talent for opera and providing the film with some haunting and eerie music pieces. Alexa Vega plays Shilo with an innocence and vulnerability and also has some fun teenage moments of angst in there. Paris Hilton is surprisingly good in this, her singing fits in well and she clearly has fun with the role. Terrance Zdunich is appealing and menacing and brings in an air of mystery with the Graverobber, questioning can the audience and Shilo trust him?

Unique, mesmerizing, visually astounding and unforgettable, there is no doubt that “Repo!” will hold a special place in cult cinema for many years to come. Everything about it just works, the music, the acting, the emotional depth of the story. Watch it once and you’ll be addicted just like Amber Sweet is to surgery!

Hayley Alice Roberts.

Hairspray (Aberystwyth Arts Centre Production)

Written: 5th August 2012

Head down to the Aberystwyth Arts Centre this summer and witness the best musical that has ever graced the Theatre-Y-Werin stage, “its Hairspray!” Set in 1962 Baltimore, “Hairspray” tells the tale of Tracy Turnbland, a big girl, with big hair and big dreams to dance on national television as part of “The Corny Collins Show” in which she wins a guest spot and becomes and overnight sensation. The message presented is uplifting as Tracy an unlikely hero fights for integration and sets the standard that anyone can achieve their dreams no matter who they are or what they look like! “Hairspray” also depicts a changing era in history with the traditional attitudes of the 1950’s becoming more relaxed and accepting. However not everyone can quite shake the old ways away as bigoted TV producer Velma Von Tussle and her bratty daughter Amber attempt to thwart Tracy’s plans for a freer society.“Hairspray” is based on the John Waters 1988 film of the same name which starred a young Ricki Lake as Tracy and became a cult classic early on, however the more familiar adaptation would be the 2007 musical version starring John Travolta and Queen Latifah. John Waters film was adapted for the stage in 2002. The show has its little quirks such as the tradition of Edna Turnbland being played by a man as a homage to the late drag-Queen Divine’s performance in the original.

Anthony Williams’s production that is running until September 1st is absolutely sensational and demonstrates that you don’t need to travel far for a West End standard style show. It is difficult to even pick one fault with the entire performance. Each cast member did fantastic jobs with their roles creating a strong consistency throughout the duration, with the mix of professionals and local talent keeping the show refreshing. The singing and dancing were on top form, with the infectious songs being performed brilliantly. The cast had so much energy during the flawless dance numbers which were constantly so much fun and impressive to watch. The production is very colourful and light-hearted on the whole but it does squeeze in some powerful serious moments too. Marion Campbell’s rendition of “I know where I’ve been” as Motormouth Maybelle sends shivers down the spine, she has one of the most incredible singing voices, Andrew Agnew is very entertaining as Edna, Tracy’s downbeat mother who comes out of her shell later in the show, Jenny O’Leary’s Tracy is wonderful as she really carries the performance in the lead role making the character relate-able. Lori Haley Fox also plays the villainous Velma Von Tussle superbly, Arun Blair Mangat shows what a fabulous dancer he is as Seaweed and Oliver Ormson is sweet as Link, Tracy’s love interest. It is clear that the younger performers in the cast have real potential to become big stars one day. As previously stated it is difficult to single the cast members out as they all did fantastic jobs and have worked well together to bring the show and characters to life, its evident a lot of heart has gone into making the production as phenomenal as it is. You will laugh, cry, clap and find it a challenge to not move your feet. The set is limited due to the size of the stage and doesn’t provide many computerised technical aspects as seen in more recent musicals such as “Ghost”, however the use of a screen at the beginning of the show demonstrates how it is keeping up with the way modern shows are bringing in a cinematic quality to their productions. Also, for those more familiar with the 2007 film, the show gives out a bit extra by performing the omitted numbers including “Mama, I’m a big girl now”which provides the audience with a closer look at Tracy, Amber and Penny’s relationships with their mother’s, “The Madison”, “Cooties” and“The Big Dollhouse” which is one of the most comedic moments in the show, this aspect also helps to define the characters and develop them more than a film can due to timing restrictions.

It is guaranteed that “Hairspray” is the ultimate feel-good musical that also teaches its audience strong political and social messages while being quirky at the same time.  Last night’s show received a standing ovation following the impressive finale, so show the cast and crew the praise they deserve by joining them in dancing and singing along to“You can’t stop the beat”. Also catch the cast perform in “The Magic of the Musicals” where they showcase their individual talents on August 19th.

Hayley Alice Roberts.

Hunky Dory (Film, 2012)

Written: 23rd March 2012.

From acclaimed Welsh director Marc Evans (“Patagonia”, “House of America”) comes a feel-good musical, comedy set in sunny 1970’s Swansea! “Hunky Dory” (2012) is the tale of a free-spirited drama teacher Viv (played brilliantly by Minnie Driver) who encourages her class of teenage misfits to partake in an unusual adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” set to a rocking 70’s soundtrack with music from David Bowie to Electric Light Orchestra. Deemed as the Welsh version for the “Glee” and “High School Musical” generations the film maintains a strong sense of realism vs. escapism, believable characters and a whole lot of charm that arguably could be reminiscent of “This is England”. The premise may sound strange and out there however it will pleasantly surprise its audiences.

A strong sense of the 70’s comes across well with the bright yet grainy effect throughout the film as well as the music capturing the nostalgia. The cinematography aids a new feel and helps challenge the traditional image of Wales (namely bad weather and fields of sheep!) with the use of sunny landscapes conveying Swansea as the place to be!

The young cast of new and upcoming welsh talent deliver stunning performances  as rebellious, confused teenagers struggling with growing pains, school, relationships and summer heat. Each of them have a unique and mesmerising vocal range when it comes to the musical performance segments creating a surrealist notion to the piece. In a sense the vast amount of characters in the film could be further explored in a television series format due to several of the minor character’s sub-plots being unresolved. The characters are empathetic and identifiable providing a great deal of potential for future storytelling. Minnie Driver gives an outstanding performance playing a down to earth, happy-go-lucky Welsh woman, capturing an endearing humanity to her role as a teacher who truly understands her pupils teenage conflicts.

“Hunky Dory” is a must see and guarantees an uplifting feel good factor. Welsh cinema is truly making a name for itself thanks to gem’s like this and of course the critically acclaimed “Submarine” (2010).

Hayley Alice Roberts.

Phantom of The Opera (Live)

Written: 2nd October 2011.

I have finally seen London’s longest-running West End musical; Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera”. To celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary a special live performance was conducted in the Royal Albert Hall and broadcast around the world in a cinematic screening format. I was fortunate enough to attend a screening at my local the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. It is safe to say that I now completely understand why “Phantom” is considered one of the greatest musicals of all time.

Prior to the performance, a short documentary was viewed led by the show’s creative team including Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron McIntosh; informing the audience of how the musical came about and the process of putting it together. For first time viewers it provided a useful background of the show’s history and an outline of what was about to be portrayed on screen. Here, I provide a link for more information on the history and the show itself: http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/musical005.html.

The production quality was absolutely outstanding. Set designer the late Maria Bjornson’s Gothic vision of the scenery and costumes were magnificently captured.  The whole look of the show and the mise-en-scene was elaborate and appealing from the visually stunning theatre world to the dark, brooding feel of the Phantom’s lair.The Phantom’s make-up was superb and genuinely looked horrific. This production would be depicted as a hybrid due to the fact that even though it is a theatrical performance, it also slots in to a cinematic context. In those terms, it was shot beautifully. The character’s emotions during the major musical numbers were emphasised with medium-close ups, heightening the intensity. Tracking and panning shots throughout the theatre contributed to demonstrating the surroundings of both the sets and the audience. It was clever how point of view shots were also used, placing the audience in the position of the Phantom watching the stage; adding to the eeriness. The sound was sharp and created the sensation of being in the theatre with the live audience especially in moments of applause. On the whole the production was traditional theatre at its best, unlike the more recent musicals such as “Ghost”, it did not rely on digital imagery to establish its locations.

Performance-wise the whole cast were flawless. Ramin Karimloo (who played the Phantom) and Sierra Boggess (Christine) were absolutely breathtaking to watch. The Phantom is a very complex character, creating conflict for the audience from one moment to the next. He gives off an unsettling feeling but a sense of empathy is also conveyed; particularly throughout the second act. Ramin Karimloo delivered the essence of the character brilliantly. By the finale I was saddened by his vulnerability and misunderstood nature. Sierra Boggess’s voice was earth-shattering, transitioning the audience into complete escapism. “Phantom” is one of those stories that mesmerises people and the wonderful cast contributed in order to make that notion happen.

There is no doubt that the whole score in “Phantom” is beautiful. The title number is powerful, and results in a goosebumps, hair standing on the back of the neck moment. My personal favourite “The Music of the Night” is haunting but also feels very calming at the same time. “All I Ask Of You” is a beautiful love song, lyrically describing the emotion well. “Point of no Return” was an intense lead up to the climax. “Phantom” most definitely has one of the best scores in musical theatre history.

Following the finale, Andrew Lloyd Webber made an appearance to thank and pay tribute to all those involved in his greatest achievement. For the anniversary it was very fitting. Surprisingly the audience were treated to renditions of the show’s most famous numbers, performed by past Phantom’s and a special appearance by the original Christine, Sarah Brightman which made an incredible conclusion for the celebration.

As a new fan of “Phantom” it will be on my to-do list for next year to attend a live performance in London. I can now fully appreciate why it is one of the longest-running shows of all time. Its chilling love story and stunning score makes “Phantom” a magical musical. If I was to describe it in one word: Phantastic!

Hayley Alice Roberts.

Tribute to Patrick Swayze.

Written: 14th September 2011.

Today marks the second anniversary of the death of the incredibly talented Patrick Swayze (18th August 1952-14th September 2009). He is one of my inspirations and role models therefore I thought it would be fitting to write a tribute on his life and his most famous film which is one of my all time favourites “Dirty Dancing” (1987).

Note: I am not going to be writing a biography on Patrick Swayze in this review as that information is available through many online sources; I want to discuss why I admire him and his impact on my life personally.

Patrick was an incredible dancer and displayed so much energy; he also made dance seem completely flawless. This was however not the case; through reading his autobiography “I’ve Had The Time of My Life” in which he co-wrote with his wife Lisa Niemi I discovered that Patrick suffered from a severe knee injury which occurred during his football days. For something that could have destroyed his career as a dancer Patrick never gave up and continued to fight through the pain in order to pursue his dreams; his determined quality is something I really admire. Patrick Swayze and my love for the film “Dirty Dancing” has been partly responsible for inspiring me to pursue dancing again; as a child I danced for nine years in the fields of Ballet and Modern dance however gave it all up when I was  fourteen years old in order to focus on my studies; for the past three months I have been regularly attending Zumba classes; I constantly make sure I push myself as hard as I can just like Patrick did. The message he put forward was to always work hard in order to achieve the best possible success which I think is completely inspiring.

For those of you who are regular readers you will be aware that I’m not a great fan of romantic films or the sub-genre “chick flicks” therefore I find it difficult to put my finger on it regarding how much I love “Dirty Dancing”. The film has faced a lot of criticism over the years and wasn’t initially successful on its release however gradually a cult following has built up and I’d say for me its definitely a guilty pleasure. I feel some people do overrate “Dirty Dancing”; its not a perfect film, the characters are stereotypical and the plot is predictable but what keeps me engaged is the creative dance sequences; I never phase to be impressed during the lift in the lake scene and of course the climax. I think the film conveys a positive message indicating themes of self expression and standing up for what you believe. The feel-good factor is a definite pull for me; the film captures the 1960’s well and the soundtrack is a character in its own right as it pushes the plot along. Patrick Swayze’s character Johnny is one of my favourite leading men in cinema history; he is very appealing as he oozes confidence and also holds the bad boy image to an extent; Johnny’s character is also on a deeper level as he displays a vulnerable side and appears withdrawn when he is out of his own social circle. I still get goosebumps when he recites the iconic line “Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner”.

I am incredibly saddened by Patrick’s death as its so unfortunate for someone so talented to suffer from a terrible illness in the prime of their lives; his legacy will always live on however his death is a great loss to the dance and performance industry.

Hayley Alice Roberts.

My Top 10 Favourite Musicals.

Written: 13th August, 2011. 

Ever since I can remember I have had a love for theatre and have been lucky to have the opportunity to see a wide variety of plays, pantomimes and of course musicals, as seen in previous reviews I have experienced two of the best nights of my life this year and that is down to the sheer brilliance of going to the West End in London and seeing some stunning productions. The Musical for me is my favourite type of show, I love the surrealism and the use of music to tell a story to explain a characters emotions. In this review I am going to be looking at my favourite musicals from both stage and screen; so sit back, relax, enjoy and all that jazz:

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10. “Ghost-The Musical” (2011-present)

I am not going to spend a lot of time on this one as I have previously written a review on the whole show which can be found here, http://mshayleyr1989.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/are-you-still-mine-a-review-of-ghost-the-musical/ and here http://www.eurythmics.me.uk/ghost-the-musical-audience-reviews/ ; however I currently can’t get enough of this show and it has been one of my biggest talking points as of late. As a musical it is very current and edgy and ambitious in terms of its use of digital imagery to create the setting for the story. The story is incredibly powerful and emotional; and due to it being a recent musical I have been fortunate enough to see the complete original cast who’s performances were beyond incredible; the leads Richard Fleeshman (Sam Wheat); Caissie Levy (Molly Jensen) Sharon D Clarke (Oda Mae Brown) and Andrew Langtree (Carl Bruner) created believable characters that kept the audience engaged. It would be my absolute dream to have the opportunity to see this show again as I have never experienced anything so magical in my entire life. I now own the cast album and fell in love with the music that captures both the tragic nature and the comedy of the show; the music seems to have a mix of rock and more soulful sounding songs especially Oda Mae’s numbers. I was delighted to hear that the West End run of the show has been extended till late 2012. All I can say is go see this show; I promise the experience is worth while and you will be absolutely spellbound. Believe.

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9. “Singin’ In The Rain” (1952)

 Well what can I say?! “Singin’ In The Rain” (1952) is one of the all time classics. I initially saw this on stage in my home town back in 2004 prior to seeing the film, and I thoroughly enjoyed the production especially the iconic scene which featured actual water on stage; after viewing this I was spurned on to rent the film which I loved just as much. I have never actually been a huge fan of the older musicals in all honesty, maybe its a generation factor in some ways but I completely detest a lot of the Rogers and Hammerstein musicals such as “The Sound of Music” (1965) and “The King and I” (1956) ever since I was a child; I do however respect that they are considered classics and loved by many people but that’s just my opinion; I think what I liked about “Singin’ In The Rain” is the story; the fact that it is set in back-stage Hollywood and tells the story of the history of how the “talkies” came about; the decline of silent cinema and how technology in terms of the film industry was changing and advancing; I think the plot was what mainly held my interest. I also love how classic Hollywood this musical is; featuring entrancing dance sequences and memorable songs that can easily get stuck in the head; my personal favourite being “Good Morning”. Gene Kelly was such a fantastic dancer and his performance in the film as Don Lockwood has to be one of the best in terms of musical cinema. I think what I also enjoy about the musical is that it tells the story of the underdog who achieve’s stardom by the end; I am discussing the character of Kathy (played by Debbie Reynolds) here and I think her version of “You are my lucky Star” is one of my favourite songs in the entire musical. “Singin’ In The Rain” will definitely give you a glorious feeling!

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8. “Blood Brothers” (1983- present)

 For me, “Blood Brothers” has always been a very underrated musical or as I would depict it “a play with songs”; I say this as I rarely hear people discussing it these days. Amazingly the show has remained on the West End for over twenty years and as far as I’m aware also has a touring production around the UK and has played all over the world at one time or another. Again with “Blood Brothers” similarly to the other musicals I have discussed I think the most powerful element it has is its story. The show or play mirrors a Shakespearean tragedy where the audience are taken on a lifelong journey with the characters of Mickey and Eddie; despite knowing the heartbreaking outcome we still remain transfixed with how their journey unfolds to the bitter end. What I like about “Blood Brothers” is that it feels very real, the characters are representative of people we could all know in real life and I love the true British grit it portrays; I love how it plays both tragedy and comedy very well; in terms of comedy I think its clever and daring to have the children versions of the protagonists played by adult actors; It really does give actors a chance to play such a range from child-like to the more darker parts of the play. I thought it was so clever ending the first half so upbeat with the number “Bright New Day” indicating that everything is now looking up for this working class family while lulling the audience into a false sense of security. A connection of empathy between the audience and the characters is created especially regarding Mrs Johnstone; watching her unfortunate struggle unfold is painful and her most iconic number “Tell Me Its Not True” is a massive tear-jerker. The character of the Narrator fascinated me acting as a negative conscience throughout the entire play for Mrs Johnstone; I liked his dark and superstitious nature and I think I enjoy his songs the most as he brings us back to the reality of what is happening to these characters. I have seen this show twice on the West End back in 2007 and 2008; although I would say the songs are incredibly repetitive it still has to be one of the most powerful pieces I have ever witnessed on stage.

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7. “Hairspray” (2007)

 Unfortunately I have not as of yet had the opportunity to see “Hairspray” on stage; therefore I am going to purely discuss the film version that was released in 2007. This film was part of the musical-movie revival we had throughout the noughties possibly starting with “Chicago” (2003) or slightly further back with “Moulin Rouge” (2001). Ultimately I think “Hairspray” delivers a positive message demonstrating the struggle for acceptance that occurred for the African-American race during the 1960’s; I also like that the film focuses on the protagonist determined to make a positive change for the better. I think the film was brilliantly cast and all the performances are fabulous; Nikki Blonsky (who played Tracy Turnbland) offers so much potential up against the legendary performers that are John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken and Queen Latifah. The music in the film is infectious; “You Can’t Stop the Beat” is probably in my top favourite musical songs of all time; “Ladies Choice” is my second favourite number in the musical and ironically Zac Efron reminds me of a young John Travolta; I think all the musical numbers have so much energy and admittedly I do have a fascination with the dancing styles of the 1950’s and 1960’s; Queen Latifah’s rendition of “I Know where I’ve been” is the most powerful performance with lyrics inspired by the civil rights movement and for a moment does take a serious note and tones down the complete surreal nature of the film. Despite being fun and entertaining I feel that “Hairspray” is in place to educate audiences; you can’t help but feel you have taken something positive away with you after watching it. I think its important that it portrays a protagonist that isn’t conventional and that anybody can achieve their dreams if they work hard at it and make a difference. I hope that one day I will be fortunate enough to see a touring production of this musical as I would be interested to see how it is portrayed on the stage.

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6. “Mamma Mia” (Stage: 1999-Present) (Film: 2008)

“Mamma Mia!” is my favourite feel-good musical of all time; having seen both the film and stage version, when I come out of either I can’t stop smiling. Some people may be sceptical as its a “Jukebox Musical”; however if all you are looking for is a simplistic, light-hearted story and enjoyable music then “Mamma Mia!” is for you and those are the reasons I enjoy it so much. I can relate to the portrayal of the Mother and Daughter relationship so I think that is what the biggest pull of the story is for me; and of course like many I have grown up listening to ABBA music and I honestly believe that it hasn’t dated. Regarding the film version, I think the locations where it was filmed are absolutely breathtaking; the choice of cast was perfect and throughout the whole film it looks like they are having so much fun making it; Meryl Streep particularly impressed me with her rendition of “The Winner Takes it All” resulting in a powerful cinematic moment. What I liked about the show is that it gave so much more than the film and added more dimensions to the story; I loved how songs such as “Knowing me, Knowing you” and “One of Us” were included in their contexts and how the second act opened with a number called “Under Attack” a dream-sequence in which gave the audience an insight into the character of Sophie’s anxiety’s surrounding her wedding and finding her father. “Mamma Mia!” is complete escapism and is incredibly feel-good as I have previously stated; I think its going to be eternally popular and like other musicals such as “Grease” (1978) it will be one that can be watched over again and again!

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5. “Grease” (1978)

 I first saw the film version of “Grease” as a child (however I think the innuendo’s completely went over my head!); nobody can deny that it is one of the classics and to an extent its themes of teenage growing pains still holds up and is still relevant to teenagers today. It is probably one of my most watched films and I have seen it on the stage on two occasions; professionally in Llandudno around ten years ago and as a toned down high school production. If looked at closer it has a lot to say about the difference in gender and how men and women are perceived differently in the film; for example in the song “Summer Nights” the lyrics entwine, however the male characters are placed in a separate location from the female characters and come off as more rebellious and crude, whereas the female’s especially Sandy (played by Olivia Newton-John) has a more innocent perspective on her romance with Danny (Played by John Travolta). The musical is also about friendship and being there when your really needed e.g. Danny filling in for Kenickie (Played by the late Jeff Conway) on Thunder road. My only issue with the musical as probably is with most people is the message it presents suggesting ultimately in order to win over a guy’s affections you have to “slut yourself up”, I think in order to enjoy the film for what it is its best not to take that part of the story too seriously, overlook it and just enjoy it for what it is; however I think Danny’s character also made an attempt to change for Sandy; therefore I think it should have been implied that no one should change for another person and accept each other for who they are deep down. “Grease” has some fantastic and memorable numbers that are addictive and catchy and people to this day still enjoy the “Grease Medley” at parties and disco’s. I also love the 50’s pop soundtrack during the school dance sequence as I am pretty obsessed with everything 1950’s; and as I stated previously, its just memorable and nostalgic.

4. “Chicago” (Film:2002) (Stage: 1975-Present)

 Out of all the “new musical movies” I think “Chicago” (2002) is the one that dazzle’s the most! Catherine Zeta-Jones (Velma Kelly) Rene Zellweger (Roxie Hart) and Richard Gere (Billy Flyn) all gave out incredible strong performances. “Chicago” has the right mix of intensity, class and to a certain degree is modern enough to keep younger audiences engaged in the story and the music. I love how the fantasy sequences bring glamour to the dreary prison setting. The “Cell Block Tango” for me is the best number and on both screen and stage it is done cleverly through dance and music; I love how all the scorned prisoners stories unfold and its darkly humours when they reveal how and why they killed their victims. The characters are larger than life and entertaining especially Mama Morton. Roxie and Velma are brilliant characters, despite being murderesses and criminals as an audience you can’t help rooting for them hoping they won’t end up on death row; its an interesting spin having the protagonist committing a horrific crime yet the audience still expressing empathy for them; I think I enjoy the twisted nature of that aspect. I have been fortunate enough to see two professional productions of “Chicago”; on the West End in 2003 and more memorably last year in my home town of Aberystwyth which I think was its first UK production of the show off the West End; definitely something to be proud of.  “Chicago” overall is dark, humours, impressive and down right entertaining and includes several memorable numbers; the opening of “All That Jazz” still gives me chills.

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3. “Once More With Feeling” (2001)

 For the regular readers of my blog, you will all ready be aware that I am a complete nerd when it comes down to “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003) so the fact that this unique musical episode is on this countdown will come as no surprise. “Buffy” is a show that has several moments where it could be imagined that the characters would burst into song and its no secret that creator Joss Whedon had been itching to make a musical for so long and the perfect opportunity came in its Sixth Season; the storyline’s fit in brilliantly with the concept of a musical, Buffy (Played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) being out of touch with life after her resurrection, Spike’s (Played by James Marsters) not-so-secret infatuation with Buffy, Tara (Played by Amber Benson) being manipulated by Willow (played by Alyson Hannigan) and her descending into dark magick, Giles (Played by Anthony Head) no longer feeling needed, Xander (Played by Nicholas Brendan) and Anya’s (Played by Emma Caulfield) wedding nerves etc. I love how the cast gave it their all and the numbers brilliantly fit in with the context of the show’s current storylines. My favourite numbers have to be “Rest In Peace” performed by Spike as he can no longer hide and his feelings as they just spill out in song, I also like it because its more of a rock sounding song and definitely edgy; “Under Your Spell” performed by Tara is the perfect love song, and the episode’s antagonist the demon Sweet is sensational, Hinton Battle who played him was actually a Broadway actor, its great they added someone with that level of musical talent into the mix. The most powerful moment for me is “Something to Sing about” in which Buffy can no longer hide her emotions and reveals to her friends that she had been contented and was ripped out of heaven; it always chokes me up. I love “Once More With Feeling” it was a ground breaking piece of television and an nice little homage and comment on musicals in general.

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2. “The Wizard of Oz” (1939)

 I have previously discussed in a previous review how “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) has been a huge part of me growing up and I think it has been the musical that I have seen on stage the most. I love the element of escapism, the powerful portrayal of women, the infectious, catchy numbers, the quirky characters and the ultimate message of discovering who you really are. I think that its an essential part of childhood and every kid should experience it. For me “The Wizard of Oz” has stayed with me my entire life; I think it has such a strong and positive message. Dorothy is a strong heroine, she is fiercely independent and a feminist of her time and for me is one of the best role model’s in cinematic and musical history. I love the film’s optimistic tone and the characters playing as metaphor’s for people in Dorothy’s (played by Judy Garland) life. The film was ground breaking in its day and it was the hope and escapism people needed; the second world war had broken out, America had seen a collapse in Capitalism, times were depressing and “The Wizard of Oz” reminded people of what really matters and the concept of home and how we get back to what’s important to us. It really did keep up morale and still holds up today in relation to the recent recession and fear of terror. Every time I hear Judy Garland’s rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” I get chills and feel slightly chocked up as its just a powerful, stunning song as well as being iconic. I love the parallel idea of the physical world and the fantasy world; the realism of the Wizard’s character as a metaphor for believing in something and it not turning out how you expected. I love how the film was ahead of its time, the special effects were amazing for its day, without the option if CGI the tornado scene was created by using wind machines and dust which is impressive. My favourite numbers from “The Wizard of Oz” aren’t conventional choices I love all of them however my favourites have to be “Optimistic Voices” and the deleted scene “The Jitterbug”; I love the jazzy sound of it. “Wizard of Oz” is my second favourite musical of all time as it has stood the test of time, its easy to relate to, its message is strong and important and it provides escapism, along with several catchy, fun numbers, its part of history and I don’t think it will ever date.

My Review of the West End Version: http://mshayleyr1989.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/youve-gotta-go-there-to-come-back-oz-on-the-west-end/

…And Now…Ladies and Gentlemen; Here is what I think is the greatest musical of all time….

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1. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)

 I’m aware that this is not a conventional choice and I’m guessing many would disagree with me here but “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” or “The Rocky Horror Show” as the stage version is titled is my ultimate favourite; in some respects I view it as a more grown up “Wizard of Oz”; we have these protagonists Brad (Played by Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Played by Susan Sarandon) embarking on a journey of self discovery, having their minds opened (as well as other things!) and entering a whole new bizarre world. The “Transylvanian’s” could be viewed as the “Munchkins” of the piece; I love its Horror and Sci-Fi B Movie references, how it dares to be unique and outrageous. What’s wonderful about “Rocky Horror” is its such an interactive musical that allows the audience to engage with it; It wasn’t until I saw the touring version of the stage show last year in Llandudno that I experienced the full impact and the sense of community it brings; everyone dressed up, brought props and it was just good fun. The character of Frank-N-Furter (Played by Tim Curry in the Movie and David Bedella in the touring production I saw in 2010) is a complex one, he has appeal to both men and women and posseses masculine and feminine qualities; his entrance has to be one of the absolute best character introductions I have ever seen, “Sweet Transvestite” tells the audience everything we need to know about this sexually awakened transvestite alien; I love how it invites you to explore your true self and the best number for me has to be “Don’t Dream It; Be It”, I think its a unique yet poignant message which reminds you to just be yourself ad take the chance of becoming who you are while you can. I love the fun “Frankenstein Monster” sub-plot, the Meatloaf cameo and the awesome songs. I first saw “Rocky Horror” when I was twelve and have been doing the “Time Warp” ever since! Its wonderful, wacky, down right outrageous, fun, daring, shocking and completely cult and for all those reasons it is my favourite musical of all time! It most definitely thrills, chills and fulfils!

Thank you for reading; I would love to hear what you all think of my choices and what musicals you think should have been on my list!

Hayley Alice Roberts.

 

 

Ghost: The Musical (West End Production)

Written: July 8th 2011.

I went to London on Monday night in order to attend a performance of the spectacularly beautiful “Ghost-The Musical” at the Picadilly theatre. The Musical is based on the Paramount Pictures film “Ghost” (1990) starring Patrick Swayze (as Sam Wheat), Demi Moore (as Molly Jensen) and Whoopi Goldberg (as Oda Mae Brown), it was written by Bruce Joel Rubin and directed by Jerry Zucker of the “Airplane” (1980) films. The film is mostly iconic for its pottery scene! I am not a big fan of romantic films in all honesty as I find them too predictable and overly cheesy, however “Ghost” was something different; its a tragic love story, and the tragedy was portrayed with the  perfect mix of sadness and humour in this new musical version. I was ecstatic as for the first time in a West End Show I have seen the full original cast; the lead character Sam Wheat was portrayed by the incredibly talented Richard Fleeshman, he was formerly in “Coronation Street” (1960) playing the character Craig Harris from 2002-2006, Molly Jensen his partner was played by Broadway Actress Caissie Levy, her voice was so powerful which heightened the emotions as she played the grieving partner, Sharon D Clarke played the role of psychic Oda Mae Brown (originated by Whoopi Goldberg in the film) and was hilarious with adding the right blend of comedy to the show, her voice was also amazing bringing a more soulful sound to the music.

I have seen many spectacular shows on the west end over the years and all have been amazing but there was something about “Ghost-The Musical” that stood out and (excuse the pun) it does literally make you suspend your disbelief! The special effects were of a cinematic quality. I couldn’t believe my eyes when Sam actually walked through the door and vanished into thin air and of course near the end of the show when he is taunting evil Carl (played by Andrew Langtree) in his office, there was no one there and this guy was literally being flung across the room and messages were being typed on his computer from beyond the grave with no actor actually in sight. It was just phenomenal! The idea of having an illusionist on board of the production is ground-breaking in terms of theatre and creates a whole new dimension and a magical atmosphere. A lot of digital imagery was used throughout the show in place of 2D scenery and as previously stated it made the show that more cinematic; the scenery that stood out the most for me was the busyness of the New York setting, with the buzzing city atmosphere, at this point the actors added to this effect by walking on a conveyor belt which created a busy pace and movement. I found the whole tone and mood of the show was very bittersweet; I felt very choked up throughout the whole performance, but I think it was mainly because of the strong performances given by all the actors. The scene that sticks out in my mind is where Sam has found out the truth regarding his murder; his expression is pained, and his emotions are emphasised by digital imagery, the anger is displayed in his face as he powerfully sings “I had a Life”. Again, the digital imagery conveyed to the audience at the beginning of the show, the relationship between Molly and Sam, with a surge of photographs of them together, insinuating they have been together for a long time (hence deciding to move in together), and all the happy times they have shared. I thought one of the most beautiful images was of their hands clasping together displaying the strength of their relationship and then breaking apart the moment Sam dies, conveying that everything is now distorted and has fallen apart. The lightning in the show was also very effective, in order to portray that Sam is a ghost he constantly had a white light shone over him in order to separate him from the other human characters.

I really loved the songs in the musical, written by Dave Stewart, best known for being in the band the Eurythmics and Glen Ballard; they had a different sound to them in comparison to the Eurythmics style I was expecting. Most of them were stunning ballads; I especially loved Molly’s solo “With You”; Caissie Levy really created an empathy between the character and the audience demonstrating how lost Molly had become since losing the love of her life and the cruelty of having everything ripped away. In contrast Oda Mae Brown’s songs were a lot more upbeat and I think her number “I’m Outta Here” was much needed in order to lighten the mood at times, it was definitely your typical, fun, all singing all dancing dream sequence Broadway number; as I previously stated I liked the soulful style Sharon D Clarke brought to the performance. “Ball of Wax” sang by the hospital ghost (Played by Mark White) came in not long after Sam’s death and was also in the same vain of a showy Broadway fun number, however I felt the transition between the death scene and this number was done too quickly and maybe a more subtle song should have been used, as I wasn’t quite sure what the audience was meant to feel, obviously sadness and confusion for Sam but then almost immediately it was like the audience is supposed to be humoured; but that’s just my opinion; maybe I felt those scene’s didn’t really fit together. I liked how they kept “Unchained Melody” in as alongside the pottery scene, the song is an iconic feature in relation to “Ghost” and its just a touching song that describes Sam’s situation after being torn apart from Molly. After an emotional rollercoaster of the first half, I enjoyed how the three characters came together (Molly, Sam and Carl) to conclude it displaying each of their conflicts in “Suspend my disbelief/I had a life”, this was extremely powerful and left the audience anticipating the second half. The film version came out over 20 years ago back in 1990, therefore I liked how they had updated the story for the musical, for example when Molly is speaking to the police and they inform her Oda Mae Brown is nothing but a fraud they state the dates of all the times she committed fraud as during the last decade; I also loved the scene with the subway ghost when Sam is attempting to learn how to touch objects, “Focus” (performed by Adebayo Bolaji) was more of a rap number and definitely added a modern twist to the whole story. The villains depicted in the show were actually quite different from each other. Carl’s character was much more of a loose canon, very calculating and extremely smug, Willie Lopez (played by Ivan De Freitas) was more thuggish, I think having two different types of villains really complimented the show and added a sense of intensity.

In the film the final scene is probably my top tear-jerking moment in cinema, when Sam has finally made peace and is ready to cross over; I think nowadays what makes it that more emotional is because of the real-life death of the amazing Patrick Swayze; I actually find it difficult talking about that scene without getting emotional. By this point in the show the waterworks had really set off, and the scene did that moment in the film justice. Its just the little things in the scene such as the dialogue that makes it all the more poignant e.g. Sam’s line “I love you” and Molly simply replying “Ditto”; (if you’re a fan you will get what I mean!). As an audience we know that this is the last time they are ever going to see each other and its just so heartbreaking; that single image of Sam walking into the distance and fading away is just so emotional.

One thing I want to comment on is that Richard Fleeshman really impressed me, he has grown and developed so much as an actor and made a strong leading man, I think he definitely has a great future ahead of him. So there it is, my review on “Ghost- The Musical” I definitely recommend it to people who love the film however it is not necessary to see it first, the show is a whole, stunning, electrifying and emotional performance that I will never forget. Book Now and Always Believe…

Hayley Alice Roberts.

The Wizard of Oz (West End Production)

Written: May 22nd 2011

So I am shattered, I have just endured a gruelling bus journey from Aberystwyth to London and Vice Versa in the space of a day…and was it worth it?! HELL YES!! Andrew Lloyd Webber’s brand new adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” was outstanding amongst many other things. I went in with high expectations and wow it lived up to more than that. Last year I had followed the BBC reality series “Over the Rainbow” from beginning to end, which was the search to find the perfect contender to play the lead character of Dorothy, originated by the legendary Judy Garland in the 1939 film version. Initially when Danielle Hope won the programme I was slightly disappointed as I was in favour of Sophie Evans, the runner up to win as I felt she had been the contender who had grown the most out of the finalists and worked the hardest to constantly improve her performance; however after last night’s fantastic performance I now realise exactly why Danielle deserved the part! Her version of Dorothy was much more fiery and she added charm and vulnerability to the role, her version of “Somewhere over the rainbow” sent shivers down the spine.

  “The Wizard of Oz” has always played an essential part in my childhood, I used to watch the film over and over again, I knew all the songs and its probably one of my most quoted movies. As far as the stage version’s concerned I have only ever seen local amateur and student productions, I saw it twice as a child, once on the Aberystwyth Bandstand and then in the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, more recently I saw another amateur production of the show there, but none of them can even compare to the epic-ness and magic I saw before me last night.

The show’s quality was almost cinematic, most notably the use of a revolving stage that helped the scene’s transcend into each other smoothly, I had seen this effect done before when I attended a performance of “Dirty Dancing- The Classic Story on Stage” last summer, it is such a clever technique to use in theatre and makes the experience all the more spectacular. What made the show even more cinematic was the use of CGI especially in the storm sequence,  it encouraged the audience to be interactive with the action, there were a lot of special effects in the show such as real fire used and the witch stunningly flying over the audience. I liked the use of colour and lighting in the production, the sepia tone and brown colours of Kansas echoed the film’s opening, other productions have never made this effort resulting in no contrast with the bright colours of Oz, I loved how the stage lit up brightly when the famous yellow brick road made its appearance. I was glad Andrew Lloyd Webber stayed mostly faithful to the original but also liked that he added in his own touches. There were some new songs included written by lyricist Tim Rice, that slotted in perfectly, I think Webber wanted the audience to engage into other characters such as the Wicked Witch of the West and the Wizard as well as our main heroes through achieving this. One of my favourite songs from the musical which is not actually included in the film version is “The Jitterbug” it takes place during the woods scene before the witches castle; I like the intensity of the song and it has a jazzy sound to it, Webber did omit this from the stage version which left me slightly disappointed as its my favourite moment in the show, instead he replaced it with a number called “Red Shoes Blues” sang by the Wicked Witch, in which she casts voodoo on Dorothy so that she’ll dance until she dies leaving the witch to reclaim her sister’s ruby slippers, it still gave out a rather unsettling tone similarly to “The Jitterbug”. I think Webber added this song also due to competing with the ever-popular “Wicked” that is also currently on the West End, I’ve yet to see it but from what I can gather from it is the Witch isn’t just portrayed as your regular villain, she has a back story, she has motives for why she’s so wicked which did shine through in this version, the audience needs to empathise with her just as much as the protagonists as each character has a motivation, they all desire something Dorothy (a home), The Scarecrow (a brain), Tin Man (heart) Lion (courage) and for the witch its her ruby slippers. Even though I could see why this was done and I did enjoy it I would have personally have still liked to have seen “The Jitterbug” performed.

The sets were just incredible, the witches castle had a Victorian Steam Punk style to it and the flying monkeys looked almost demonic, making it much darker than any other version. Also the emerald city had a 1940’s New York and Broadway look, portrayed with the tall buildings and the fashion, evidently a hint to that style of show which “The Wizard of Oz” is, the characters are unaware that they’re in a musical but that particular set represented the classic interpretation we have of how most musicals look. There was new humour added into the show, most notably in the scene where Dorothy is saying goodbye before she returns to Kansas, she says to the Scarecrow “I think I’m going to miss you most of all”, nothing is questioned, but in this version the lion and tin man are put out by this and respond with “what about us? oh fine then” or something along those lines. For the first time in any version I have seen I wasn’t annoyed with the Lion’s character, I think in this version he is very underplayed and thankfully he doesn’t sing that irritating song in the emerald city about being king of the forest! I think every single cast member in this production gave strong performances so I can’t particularly single anybody out, I was so impressed with every element.

Regarding the mythology of Oz I have always been confused, I thought Oz was just a dream Dorothy had when she was knocked unconscious in the storm, but since “Wicked” emerged I had wondered how did that story work pre-Dorothy if Oz was something created out of one individual’s imagination?! Then I realised during the beginning of the film, the title card insists the audience is open minded, now I believe Oz is truly a real place (within the mythology- not real life!) which was done nicely in the show, as in the ending sequence Dorothy is on the bed with her dog Toto, suddenly her wardrobe doors fly open to reveal her slippers. Magical.

I think what appeals to me about the “Wizard of Oz” as a whole is that it gives out a strong message, metaphorically. You have to go there to come back, things aren’t always what they seem and you don’t realise what you have till its gone, I think most people can relate to this in life, I don’t think I appreciated my home town until I left for a short period and the grass wasn’t greener on the other side.

All I am going to say is that I recommend everyone to see this show if they get a chance, it is absolutely spectacular and well worth the cost, its a theatrical experience I will never forget. Its a visual masterpiece! 10000000/10! 😛

Here is a preview, trust me, you’ll be going straight to London once you see how stunning this is:

Hayley Alice Roberts.