Theatre: The Last 5 Years

Tonight we went to see Starshowcase's production of The Last 5 Years at theatre severn in Shrewsbury.

The staging was simple, a composite set with different areas for different scenes.  This worked really well until the midway point when they flew in an outdoorsy scene which looked as though it was borrowed from a panto.  It just jarred with the rest of the setting which was very simplistic.

Jamie was played by Chris Jenkins and he was very convincing as the talented young writer travelling forward through the relationship. I loved his voice and the seemingly boundless energy that he brought to the role.  Cathy was played by Kirsty Francis, she too had a striking voice and she was great at the emotional elements to the role as well as having a cheeky look which was totally endearing.

The dynamic of the musical is that it is the story of a relationship with Jamie travelling through the relationship from start to finish and Cathy starts at the end and travels backwards. 

So apart from a couple of teeny tiny blips this was a great production. My major complaint was as the people of Shropshire who did not turn out to see what is a fab piece of contemporary musical theatre the auditorium was depressingly empty. We took my parents who definitely enjoyed it though they were surprised at the lack of an interval.

If you get the chance go see it.

Squeeing about Sondheim

In the UK there are a season of classical concerts called the proms. The idea was conceived in the 1890s for the then newly built Royal Albert Hall to host a season of concerts at an affordable price so that people who couldn't ordinarily afford to come to a classical concert would be able to. That tradition continues a good one hundred and fifteen years later. Prices for seats start at £7 and if you stand they are only £5.  The proms have become an institution and each year they showcase a lot of music and the BBC broadcasts as much of it as it can between BBC2  BBC Four and the radio stations.  Last night's was a celebration of Stephen Sondheim.

Stephen Sondheim is a composer and he writes musicals, however, his musicals are a very different beast to the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein or Andrew Lloyd Webber for that matter.  His music is what some people like to call challenging and some of it isn't all that easy to listen to, he's discordant, rhythmically unpredictable, playful with music and lyrics but then he writes wonderful songs that kind of burrow into your head and heart.

Happily if you're in the UK you can catch up with this gem for the next seven days. It even involves the ORGAN.

Sondheim Prom - Iplayer

Keep an eye out for Bryn Terfyl being an amazing Sweeney Todd. He frightens the pants off me. And Dame Judi Dench showing everyone how to sing Send in the Clowns. Plus Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell doing selections from Sunday in the Park with George... I could go on and on and on.

Keep Buggering On.

Celebrating the end of term.

I'm not a teacher, but I do work in education behind the scenes with the administrative side of things so this is the busiest time of year for my team right now. So much so I'm sick of the sight of my colleagues and I've got my head down answering queries so that I can blow the joint Friday afternoon and head off to London for the weekend.

This short break in London is my treat for surviving the year and while I'm there with my partner we're going to indulge our mutal love of musical theatre and music and we're seeing Wicked for the second time and the Divine Comedy at Somerset house.

I literally cannot wait. Firstly because weighing up all the shows I've seen and loved; I would rate Wicked as one of my all time favourites. I love the themes of being an outsider and of friendship and love. I really enjoy the way it's told with humour and there is a big sense of spectacle in seeing the production. I was lucky enough to see it when it first opened in London with Idina Menzel (who originated the role of broadway) reprising her performance of Elphaba. I can remember being utterly blown away by her voice and I've been a huge fan of her's ever since.

This time Rachel Tucker, who was one of the wannabe Nancys in I'd Do Anything is taking on the role. I'm hoping she's going to be great. I have to say I enjoyed her performance as Meat when we went to see We Will Rock You but whether she can measure up to Idina Menzel I'm less convinced.  Having said that I am more than willing to eat my words come Saturday afternoon. I am very excited about seeing Lee Mead as Fiyero; I saw him in Joseph a couple of years ago with my Mum (her birthday trreat) and we were both very impressed.  I'm hoping to score an autograph.

The evening will be taken up with the Divine Comedy or rather Neil Hannon and a Piano in the courtyard at Somerset House.  Again, I've seen the Divine Comedy before at the Lowry a number of years ago now in the Quays Theatre which is a really intimate space and really draws you in at a gig.

It's a really full Saturday we're having which is great.

Three days and counting.

Keep Buggering On

My blog manifesto

Well hello, glad that you've managed to drop by.  This is going to be my blog for talking about TV, Film and Musical Theatre. I'm an enthusiastic consumer of all three and I'm going to try and talk about my loves in an entirely coherent and hopefully entertaining way.

Right I'd better come out of the closest, I'm a fangirl, albeit not a rabid one. I'm not necessarily comfortable within fandoms because of the bad kind of insanity that lurks within them. I've seen what happens when rabid fangirls get mad and if I'm honest I really don't want to be a part of it.

What you will find here is honest opinion on the TV, films and theatre that I'm watching.  If you're (un)lucky you'll get to hear how the musical theatre group I'm a member of is getting on too. What I'm hoping to talk about are my favourite shows, films and productions past and present.  That and the fact that I'm heading to Dragon*Con this year. I warn you know I will become unbearable about this fact.

I think that's enough for now.

Keep buggering on.