Thursday, 6 December 2018
Review - Caroline or Change
Review of Caroline or Change
Situated right next to Embankment underground station, the Playhouse Theatre is small enough to create a feeling of intimacy, that works well for this musical.
Set in the early 1960's the audience sees a reflection of the major changes happening in America, through the life of Caroline Thibodeaux. Caroline is a black maid working for the Gellman family in Louisiana, America. She needs her job although she hates it, but cannot leave for fear of not finding anything else. The pay is poor and she struggles to pay her bills and support her children.
The Jewish family Caroline is working for have their own problems. Eight year old Noah is living with his father Stuart, and step mother Rose. His mother has died and the impact of this is still visible. The father is distant from everyone, the son doesn't even want to be touched by his step mother and Rose is struggling to find her place in the family.
The struggles of the extended Gellman family are highlighted when they come together to celebrate Chanukah. Whilst I found this scene almost a stereotype of a Jewish family, there was a real feeling of empathy towards Rose. She is trying to be the perfect wife and mother. She feels isolated and frustrated, but is desperate to hold the family together.
Meanwhile we see Caroline struggling in the basement where she does the laundry and her only escape is through the radio. As she works, Noah tries to spend his free time with her, finding comfort in her company, but this leads to a moral and financial quandary during the story.
The musical won the Olivier for Best New Musical in 2007, and you can understand why. The music is varied in style from blues to Motown, and the vocal performances from the whole cast are excellent. Sharon D Clarke, plays the struggling Caroline beautifully, and you feel the heat and oppression of the basement that holds her inside it both literally and figuratively.
The show is only playing a limited run until April 6th 2019. If you want to see something original and quirky, with a real blend of humour and pathos played out against a fabulous score, then this is definitely worth seeing.
For tickets visit: https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
Thursday, 29 November 2018
Fame - Does It Live Forever?
Review of Fame The Musical
My first obsession and love in the eighties was Fame. Nothing would move me from the TV every week, I bought all the albums, and Fame was my first concert. At a function recently when someone played Star Maker, all of us of a certain age still remembered the words, so with this nostalgic love I was both excited and nervous to see the new stage version.
The story is based around students attending the New York School of Performing Arts as they follow their dreams of becoming actors, dancers and musicians, and it didn't disappoint.
The musical numbers were full of energy with great choreography. Jamal Kane Crawford who plays Tyrone was phenomenal with a real stage presence as well as some amazing moves!
The new songs carried the narrative perfectly, and whilst all the cast were excellent, Mica Paris singing in the second act as Miss Sherman was powerful and moving.
This was a real ensemble piece with fantastic musicians on the stage, great comedy from Albey Brookes (Joe) and wonderful chemistry between Keith Jacks (Nick) and Molly McGuire (Serena). However, for me the stand out performances came from Simon Anthony (Schlomo) and Stephanie Rojas (Carmen). The vibrancy and life of Carmen that is taken away by drugs is so movingly and believably portrayed and Schlomo's heartbreak watching her is achingly real.
Fame more than lived up to my expectations. It has been brought into the twenty first century without losing the essence of what it was and I enjoyed every minute.
The show can be seen at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury this week, as it travels the country during a nationwide tour which culminates at the Peacock Theatre in London in September 2019.
Does Fame live forever - hell yeah!
My first obsession and love in the eighties was Fame. Nothing would move me from the TV every week, I bought all the albums, and Fame was my first concert. At a function recently when someone played Star Maker, all of us of a certain age still remembered the words, so with this nostalgic love I was both excited and nervous to see the new stage version.
The story is based around students attending the New York School of Performing Arts as they follow their dreams of becoming actors, dancers and musicians, and it didn't disappoint.
The musical numbers were full of energy with great choreography. Jamal Kane Crawford who plays Tyrone was phenomenal with a real stage presence as well as some amazing moves!
The new songs carried the narrative perfectly, and whilst all the cast were excellent, Mica Paris singing in the second act as Miss Sherman was powerful and moving.
This was a real ensemble piece with fantastic musicians on the stage, great comedy from Albey Brookes (Joe) and wonderful chemistry between Keith Jacks (Nick) and Molly McGuire (Serena). However, for me the stand out performances came from Simon Anthony (Schlomo) and Stephanie Rojas (Carmen). The vibrancy and life of Carmen that is taken away by drugs is so movingly and believably portrayed and Schlomo's heartbreak watching her is achingly real.
Fame more than lived up to my expectations. It has been brought into the twenty first century without losing the essence of what it was and I enjoyed every minute.
The show can be seen at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury this week, as it travels the country during a nationwide tour which culminates at the Peacock Theatre in London in September 2019.
Does Fame live forever - hell yeah!
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