Tag Archives: Theatre

Parade – Theatre Review

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I have wanted to see the musical ‘Parade’ for a long time. Sitting across the road from the Southwark Playhouse before the show, I overheard a man say to a woman: “Cheer up, you’re about to see the saddest musical every written!” And so I waited eagerly in anticipation.

Set in the 1910s in Georgia, we follow the tragic story of a Jewish factory owner, Leo Frank, as he is accused of abusing and murdering Mary Phagan (Jessica Bastick-Vines), a young girl who worked for him.

A drunken reporter, played by David Haydn, sobers up to return as a master of spin. He and Hugh Dorsey (Mark Inscoe), prosecution lawyer, rally up public support, and convince members of the community to bend the truth, and more often than not, to lie about their experiences of Mr Frank.

His only hope of rescue from a public hanging is his loving wife, Lucille (Laura Pitt-Pilford), who tugs at the heart strings of Governor Slaton (also David Haydn). He agrees to stand up for Leo, a man that he believes is an innocent outcast. Are these efforts enough to save him from the fury of the masses who need to see justice done, quickly?

Suffice to say, each and every singing voice was capable of setting the heart racing. The discordant harmonies of the chorus were touching, unsettling and emotive, and though I am not a trained singer, it was rare to hear an unsupported, pushed note from this experienced and talented cast.

Before we fully meet the protagonists, a distraught and dazed Frankie Epps (Samuel J Weir) recalls how young Mary’s ‘smile was like a glass of lemonade’. The song was delivered with a beautiful subtlety. The lyrics are so highly personal, that the performer needs a deep internal understanding of the character and his position in order to deliver them with complete truthfulness, which Weir was on the verge of.

Alastair Brookshaw (as Leo Frank) gave an equally strong vocal performance. I was touched on several occasions by the honesty of his performance, in particular when he sang to his wife, finding the confidence to simply say (possibly for the first time after years of marriage), ‘I love you’. However, the honesty was not consistent. The choice to listen intently to what the text tells us about his character’s nervous mannerisms was commendable. However, in times of extreme hardship, even the most agitated of people might break from their habitual mannerisms, look people in the eye, and show some humanity.

Both Laura Pitt-Pulford as Lucille Frank, and Terry Doe, in various roles, stood out as giving full commitment to the finer details of their performances. When Lucille begged for the Governor’s help, and when Riley (Doe) hit the deck, when singing about the injustice of a juridical system that prioritises murder of white victims in the courts, there was no rest from the illusion that they had created.

I have not commented on every performance, but that is no negative reflection on the others. A strong cast, fantastic set, and sharp direction by Thom Southerland and co. left us with something to think about. I wanted to be moved more, but I blame it on that man I overheard before the show, preparing me for floods of tears.

Acting Up! Returning to a Life Less Ordinary

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Well, it’s been a funny old year. About this time in 2010, I was sitting at a desk in a soulless office, writing websites, drinking coffee and watching my life and my ambitions swirl slowly down the drain. I’d only taken the job to pay for my wedding and already it had taken over my life, and not in a good way.

I was depressed. This wasn’t me. I’d been touring theatre and producing shows since I was 17. I was a performer, a creative thinker. Now here I was, getting fatter, grumpier and watching my life hit a brick wall in teeth-shattering slow motion.

So I stopped. One day I just walked into work and told my employers, in an embarrassingly polite, wet liberal way, where they could stick their job (“Sorry! I hope it’s not too inconvenient, I know you’re busy.”)

Some people said that I was insane. Mind-bogglingly, eye-wateringly insane. I’d just resigned from a secure, reasonably well paid job in the middle of a recession. Insane!

But there were others who said something quite, quite different.

They said “Well done”. They even used the word, and I’m embarrassed to repeat it because I still don’t really believe them, “brave”.

Truth be told, I’m not insane. I’m not particularly brave either. I just made a choice. Move sideways into another dead end job or move forward into a career that I actually enjoyed. Simple really.

But has it worked? Am I happier, more fulfilled, more engaged and more successful now that I’m back in on stage and screen?

Well over the next few weeks I’m going to be sharing my experiences, thoughts, triumphs and failures with the readers of Frost Magazine. There have been good times, bad times and just-plain-weird times. I’ll also be sharing a bit of the wisdom I’ve learnt from casting directors and actors along the way.

But first, I’ll leave you with a question; What is the most impulsive choice you’ve ever made,… and did it work?

You can find out more about Tim Austin at his WordPress page; http://actortim.wordpress.com.

Check back next Wednesday for more Acting Up!

First Supper Review – Theatre

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The Expeditionary Force presents The First Supper @ The Etcetera Theatre, Camden as part of the Camden Fringe Festival.

Sketch shows, especially ones on the fringe, are often filled with either gurning comedians constantly winking knowingly at the audience or a bunch of students throwing catchphrases and ‘wacky’ characters against the wall in the hope that one of them sticks and they’ll become the next Fast Show or Little Britain.

The First Supper by The Expeditionary Force fortunately avoids both stereotypes by assuming something rare in comedy – that its audience is as intelligent as they are. However, even if the audience was as clever as Mike Shephard, Jack Baldwin and Luke Sutherland, they’re probably not as verbose.

This sketch show happily wallows in obscure historical references, literary puns and fast talking absurdity. And, fortunately, it’s well written enough that you don’t need to know, for example, that the people who lived in the ancient Greek city of Byzantium did not refer to themselves as Byzantium to get the joke.

The gags and sketches are not your typical set up, catchphrase, punchline. First Supper often has no distinct ‘gag’ but instead, finds humour in the situation and performances. When Baldwin’s Anubis, the jackal–headed god, is introduced to the parents of his new girlfriend, it is his stoney-faced delivery of lines like: “I held her bloody heart in my hand and judged her,” that get the laughs.

The quality of the sketches does rely heavily on the performances of the three actors. Shephard brings huge energy and verve, while Baldwin, often playing the group’s straight man, offers beautiful comedy timing. Sutherland, however, often feels misused. He has an innocence that fits perfectly in some sketches, but when called upon to provide energy, they feel a bit flat.

And this highlights one of the main problems, not with the show, but with fringe show audiences. If the energy is not in the room, comedy like this suffers. It works on the premise that, even if the audience doesn’t get every reference, the energy will carry them along. If the energy falls, so does the comedy.

But these are minor quibbles. The First Supper is brilliantly written, laugh out loud funny and intelligent comedy.

However, this means that no one will probably ever see it past the sell-out audiences at the Camden Fringe. It’s too clever for mainstream audiences and too absurd for the Radio 4 crowds. But we can hope that this does break out from the fringe and into the mainstream.

Beatlemania Heads To The West End

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The Fab 5 live on as Backbeat, the stage version of the award winning 1994 film about the early years of The Beatles, will have its West End premiere in the autumn. The play was written by Iain Softley, the film’s creator, and is directed by David Leveaux. It will open on 10 October 2011 (Previews will be in September) at London’s Duke of York Theatre, it will run until 24 March 2012. Tickets are already on sale.

The film starred Stephen Dorff as Stuart Sutcliffe, Ian Hart and Sheryl Lee. The film was co-written and directed by Softley. The stage play has its world premiere at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre in February 2010. It is set during the ‘Hamburg Tears’ in the early 1960s before the band become, as Lennon put it, ‘more famous than God’. It focuses on the relationship between Stuart Sutcliffe, who left the Beatles just before the became famous, after falling in love with Astrid Kirchherr, a German photographer, Sutcliffe handed his guitar over to Paul McCartney and died of a brain hemorrhage in Hamburg aged just 22. His portrait features on the album cover for Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Casting got the West End show has yet to be announced.

Backbeat will includ some Beatle songs including ‘Twist & Shout’, ‘Rock & Roll Music’, ‘Long Tall Sally’ ‘Please Mr Postman’ and ‘Money’.

Producer Karl Sydow commented today: “Backbeat at the Duke of York’s Theatre will allow people the experience of being at the birth of the Beatles. It tells a story that many music fans may not know, set to a musical backdrop that absolutely defined the early Sixties. Next year will mark 50 years since the Beatles released their first single, and I am proud to be bringing their early days to life in the West End.”

July Cultural Highlights: Amanda Eliasch has it As She Like It.

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Frost’s favourite theatre production in July was Amanda Eliasch’s semi-autobiographical play As I Like it. Amanda wrote the play and Nicky Haslam did the set, a dream combination if ever there was one. It was directed by Lyall Watson, who Amanda knew from RADA. The set was opulent and glamorous, much like the play itself. Amanda is a socialite, photographer, fashion editor, blogger and poet. You can read the review in my theatre column here:
http://www.lastminutetheatretickets.com/blog/index.php/5908/as-i-like-it-review/

Frost enjoyed the Kanaloa & Gallo Summer Red Party.

As did Jo Wood, Henry Holland (who was also DJ), Pixie Lott, Jo Wood, Alice Dellal, Henry Holland, Francesca Hull, Gabriella Ellis, Natt Weller, Leah Weller and Diana Vickers and her boyfriend George Craig

Summer, wine, interesting people, what more could you want?

Andy Serkis and Host Of Stars Celebrate Young Actors Theatre

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Who and Where The launch of Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland audio book along with the all star cast including Simon Callow, Chloe Moretz, Andy Serkis, Sandi Toksvig, Paul Whitehouse, Celia Imrie, Dexter Fletcher, Asa Butterfield and other members of The Young Actors Theatre, Islington.

When On Wednesday June 15 / 18:00 / Young Actors Theatre

Frost had a wonderful time at YATI’s launch for the Alice in Wonderland audio book, the theatre made us feel like we had fallen down the hole after Alice, the cast did a reading and performed some songs, and all the while we sipped cocktails and munched canapes. It was a fun (alcoholic) tea party indeed.

I had a chat with the wonderful and polite Andy Serkis, who told me that the Young Actors Theatre had given him his start when he was 18. Asa Butterfield, fresh from a Martin Scorsese lead, put all his success at the door of the theatre, saying that he would never be where he is now without them.

In a bid to raise much needed funds and awareness of the continuing work that Islington’s YATI carries out with budding actors and performers from within the local community, the non subsidised community theatre and acting school has given its young professionals the chance to experience the demands and fun of recording this enduring classic, alongside some of the country’s best-loved actors and performers, all of whom have generously donated their contributions to support this fund-raising initiative, to support the launch of the developing potential fund and create a brand new audio book version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

In the current climate, it is more important than ever for small, community based organisations such as YATI to be pro-active in generating the income to continue to fund an environment where young people from all walks of life can transform their lives

‘YATI is not only an important part of the local community’ says Andy Serkis, (The Mock Turtle), ‘but is also an invaluable resource for young actors and performers from all walks of life to get an introduction into the acting profession’ before adding;

‘How better then to celebrate the ongoing achievements of the theatre than to bring members past and present together with some of the country’s best actors working today to record a new and fun version of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’

Andrew Harries, Artistic Director of YATI, says; ‘This is a pivotal time for YATI and we want to celebrate the achievements of the theatre. We have more classes and opportunities for young people in the community than ever before and our members are experiencing an impressive amount of professional success with appearances in The Kings Speech, Attack the Block and Horrid Henry – and that’s just the past 12 months.

And what better way to raise awareness of the theatre, gain the support of the wider community and invest in the futures of as many young people as possible than with the launch of this exciting and fun new version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It is great to see YATI students acting alongside some of the nations best loved talent.’

The Young Actors Theatre deserves public funding for all of the hard, amazing work they have done over the years.to support them, buy the CD, volunteer or give them some much needed cash, Young Actors Theatre

Kate Middleton Has a Contender For The Title of Nations Princess

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Kate Middleton, 29, has a contender for the title of the nations favourite princess say new price comparison site Theatrebillboard.com

The UK can’t get enough of Amanda Holden! After winning over the nation’s hearts on her return as lead judge on Britain’s Got Talent, tickets to see her perform as Princess Fiona on the new West End’s ‘Shrek The Musical’, have been flying out of the box office.

The 40 year old actress and presenter, who stars alongside David Hasslehoff and Michael McIntyre as a judge on ITV’s top talent show, will be making her debut in Shrek The Musical from the 6th May at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

According to price comparison website Theatrebillboard.com, advance ticket sales have risen a dramatic 250% for the West End musical, since the weekend’s launch of the new series of Britain’s Got Talent. Amanda has been cast as Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, and will be showing off her own talents alongside co stars Nigel Harman, Richard Blackwood and Nigel Lindsay who plays Shrek.

Mike Walker, Marketing Director for Theatre Billboard.com says “Amanda has won over the nation’s hearts in recent years and this huge boost in tickets sales following her recent television appearance just goes to show that the public can’t get enough of her at the moment.”

The peak in volume of ticket sales for the musical, since Amanda’s taken a leading role on our screens leaves us in no doubt that Kate’s not the only princess winning the hearts of the people this Spring..but her Prince Charming definitely has better table manners!

Theatrebillboard.com, is a price comparison site, offering customers an easier and impartial way to search for the best price on theatre tickets with potential savings of up to 60% on ticket prices.

Theatrebillboard.com enables customers to search, compare and buy theatre tickets to over 350 top shows in a matter of minutes, comparing prices and deals from all the major ticket vendors online including Last Minute Theatre Tickets , Ticketmaster, lastminute.com and See Tickets.

For more information, latest deals and offers, visit www.theatrebillboard.com.

Londoners Life 8 by Phil Ryan.

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Londoners Life 8 – by Phil Ryan

Well, in London, Christmas and the New Year are truly over now. It’s the end to that weird kind of period of semi-social vacuum. Londoners generally indulge in the early sales tradition (strikes permitting) and catching up with all the less important friends on their list. It’s a brief respite that many enjoy. But now we’re all back with a vengeance – coping with the new EVERYTHING IS GOING UP mantra that the London authorities are now teaching us to swallow.

From Oyster Cards to restaurants, the price of everything is on the increase. But the London way is to shrug and just carry on as usual. I watched people on the London News just rolling their eyes at the various reporters’ daft questions. As if to say: “Huh? This is London – plus we have no choice. Asking us how we feel is a pointless exercise. We don’t have time to feel! We’re Londoners. Busy busy.”

So what are my London predictions for this year?

Well, house prices don’t seem to be heading down, no matter what the market does. So expect the rental market prices to keep heading skywards. And the price for first-time flat buyers to remain tantalisingly out of reach – unless you’re 12 and from Qatar or Russia – in which case you’ll buy the building from your pocket money. Plus you’ll sadly notice an explosion of posher estate agents appearing in your area. Luxury properties will remain immune to the price issues and continue to rise. You’ll see the expansion of trendy middle class folk fleeing to Lidl and Aldi (as seen in all the fashion mags where various ladies enthuse about their products) and you’ll see lots more branches of said lower cost German brands appearing.

I visited a friend the other day and they were enthusing about their tins of low cost and catchily named schweinekartoffelaffensuppe from those lovely well-known folk at Krauten Valley Fabrik GMBH and some huge packets of weird looking cakes called Kuchenzuckertortestrassezitrone from Panzer Backerie 17. The kids love them apparently, but are now all diabetic.

You can expect a lot more London local high streets to empty of smaller shops and fill with shuttered fronts as the huge shop opening programme of Tesco and Sainsbury continue to suck the life from them. In my own area, we have two mini Tesco’s about eight minutes from each other, now to be joined in a month’s time by a Sainsbury’s sandwiched in between them. Convenient, yes. I suppose. Food quality, sadly crap!

So, expect more small shops to bite the dust in droves, aided by the ever-increasing ramping up of parking revenues from London Councils now sending ever growing hordes of Parking Attendants, or whatever new name they’re calling them, out onto the streets scaring customers away. Check out the new parking times arriving near you soon. In many areas, meters will soon run from 8.30am until midnight. As I say – you can drive where you like in London – you just can’t stop. Well, not without giving up your life savings anyway. Which means more local small shops will vanish thanks to the Council’s greed.

Unsurprisingly, because of the economic factors you’re going to see a lot more churchgoers this year. Especially among the young and fashionable. It’s a trend that’s expanding. Cool churches with bands and singers. More of an open mic night with Jesus. So Sundays are going to get busier in your area. But the crowds will all turn the other cheek which is nice.

Apart from that the Olympic juggernaut will roll on – relentless ads of people telling us how fantastic it’s going to be interspersed with the truth about ludicrous and impossible ticket prices, private roads for Olympic fat cats and the fact that the Government will be flogging all the buildings and venues to Overseas companies at knockdown bargain prices when the whole ghastly thing is over.

And expect the Underground to get worse if that’s possible. Regular upgrade closures and strikes will really be the order of the day. Hmm. That’s about it. Oh yes, I nearly forgot. Expect the West End to overflow with even more film to musical adaptations this year. I see ‘Shrek the Musical’ is on its way (good God!).  I was looking forward to ‘Saw IV the Musical’ myself but apparently it’s not been written.

So predictions over. Something I’m noticing is that real theatre is now virtually on its knees in London. It’s only kept alive by smaller groups and brave theatre collectives thankfully, but the big boys seem to have thrown in the towel generally. Three new plays came into the West End last year. Wowee! (we should take Kevin Spacey’s passport away to stop him leaving – he’s almost singlehandedly propping up real theatre – give him a knighthood or something I say)

Finally, while I’m on the subject of entertainment, this is the year of relaunches of various new London Clubs,  including the Blitz Club and possibly some new remakes of closed venues. But it will be interesting to see if the money and the appetite is there to support such ventures.

The London appetite for nostalgia shows no signs of abating as I also notice lots more old fashioned Tea Rooms opening up. Proper ones too, I’m pleased to report. Not the organic designer kind. Real cakes. Normal teas.

So that’s it. Predictions REALLY over. Doom and gloom with glimmers of hope here and there. But will any of this stop us having a good time? No. Not in the least. It’s a London thing.