Review: SWEENEY TODD: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street @ Birmingham Rep

 ★★★★★

There can be few entries into Stephen Sondheim's catalogue of theatre classics that are revisited as often as Sweeney Todd, the story of the serial killer barber. Originally finding a place on the Broadway stage in 1979 starring Len Cariou, Angela Lansbury and Victor Gaber, it has graced stages all over the world. The piece has even been adapted into a Tim Burton movie starring Johnny Depp.

Now the Birmingham Rep have gathered a dazzling cast together to bring Sweeney to life once again.  For those still in the dark,  the story centres around one Benjamin Barker who has arrived back into London docks.  Many years ago, his wife was snatched from him by Judge Turpin, who then exported him to Australia on trumped up charges.  But now he is back under a new identity - Sweeney Todd - to get his revenge. The freshly named Todd revisits his former East End lodgings, now a meat pie shop  run by Mrs. Lovett, who admits she makes 'the worst pies in London'. She unwittingly tells him the tale of the former tenant upstairs who was sent away by a Judge and whose wife was then lured to his home and raped at a masked ball.  Revealing himself to be the same Benjamin Barker, Todd then learns from Mrs. Lovett that his wife Lucy poisoned herself and his daughter is now the ward of Judge Turpin.  And so the scene is set for Sweeney Todd to become London's newest barber and for Mrs. Lovett to find some horrific new ingredients for her famous pies...

 

Director Joe Murphy and designer Elin Steele have gone for an operatic grandeur with their granite monolith design, as the cast are presided over by a huge stone angel appropriately bearing the scales of justice. The rising platform of a stage allowing some striking tableaus to be lit. It looks and feels as epic as the story being told, with rich atmospheric lighting by Rory Beaton.  

Heading the international cast is former Phantom of the Opera, Ramin Karimloo who makes his Sweeney a dark brooding figure, whose burning desire for revenge has kept him alive through the nightmare of hard labour in Australia. Naturally with stellar vocal delivery and charismatic presence, he makes a powerful and tortured Todd. Getting the big laughs from her first appearance, Australian cabaret performer Meow Meow finds the coster girl inside Mrs. Lovett,  recognising Benjamin Barker then making a pact with the devil as she comes to realise Barker's distress could offer something in her favour. She's all sweeping gestures and big hair, a lady who spots an opportunity and goes for it.  Meow Meow balances the show perfectly, as Karimloo carries the emotional burden. Then there is David Bedella, multi Olivier-award winning actor as the morally bankrupt Judge Turpin.  Mr. Bedella's gravelly voice is recognisable anywhere, and here he gives us a predatory rapist who has no empathy as a person or as a symbol of British justice.  The lovesick matelot Anthony is here sung with aplomb by Shem Omari James, lovesick for Todd's daughter Johanna (Jo Stephenson, in equally thrilling soprano form).  Together they strive to provide young love and the hope of a better future, and its a foregone conclusion their fate will be rather different.

 

Julius D'Silva returns to the Rep following his excellent turn in What's New Pussycat, playing with foppish relish the Beadle, co-hort to sinister Turpin whose fate is obvious from the outset.  This is a morality tale after all. The eleven strong cast all intermingle to become various Londoners throughout the evening, it is an ensemble in the truest sense.

Stephen Sondheim's idiosyncratic score takes us on a rich journey.  It swoops and it soars, giving the seven piece orchestra under the direction of Leo Munby full reign, from the dramatic stark white lit opening of 'The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd' to the tenderness of 'Not While I'm Around', the orchestra knock it out of the park. It is also notoriously difficult to sing, however this cast make it look effortless.

The Birmingham Rep have provided the city with a world class production of a legendary show, one of their finest presentations in our combined 40+ years visiting the theatre (Rob first visited in 1984!). The instant and sustained standing ovation for the performers said it all. Sweeney Todd has never tasted so sweet.

Rob & Ian

The production runs until 15th August. Ticket information can be found at the Birmingham Rep Website 

Production images by Manuel Harlan

 

Further listening:

Our recommendation is this delicious 2012 London cast recording featuring Michael Ball, Imelda Staunton, John Bowe and Peter Polycarpou.

Review: SOMETHING ROTTEN! (British premiere) @ Manchester Opera House

 

 ★★★★★

The exchange of shows between the West End and Broadway is pretty brisk,  but occasionally we have to wait a while longer for shows to cross the Atlantic.  And this is the case with Something Rotten! It originally premiered on Broadway in March 2015,  so it has taken the Bard and his merry band over a decade to reach our shores. But the wait has been worth it.

Nick Bottom (Jason Manford) and his actor brother Nigel (Cassius Hackforth) run a theatre troupe but risk their funding being pulled if they cannot come up with another play after their patron hears that William Shakespeare (Richard Fleeshman) is premiering Richard II just as the Bottoms are about to present his previous play Richard III. Bea, Nick's wife, (Marisha Wallace) forbids him to open their savings box and instead says she will go out and earn, even if it means taking jobs meant for men. Meanwhile, Nick encounters Thomas Nostradamus (Cory English), cousin to the famous Italian Nostradamus who claims to predict the future. He asks what the next big thing will be.  He declares that the musical is the new future for the theatre.  But when he is asked to predict what Shakespeare will do next and he misinterprets Hamlet as Omelette things start to take a dramatic turn....

And so begins this madcap show set in the 15th century and with nods to Shakespeare's heroes and heroines throughout. But never fear, you don't need to know much about Shakespeare's literary triumphs to enjoy this wonderful romp of a show.  

 

Leading the charge in the central role of Nick Bottom is Manchester's own comedy legend Jason Manford, and of course Manford is a double threat because not only is his comedy pedigree first rate but he's also a fine singer (check out his album of show tunes A Different Stage) so is really able to invest in the character at every level.   He is matched with full swagger and a dollop of camp by another Manchester stalwart, Richard Fleeshman as Will Shakespeare. Presented as a full on pop star, singing his sonnets to adoring fans, he exudes charisma and sexual allure and makes his solo 'Hard To Be The Bard' into an erotic masterpiece. Marisha Wallace has come home in a sense, she was once part of the original Broadway ensemble of Something Rotten! and now she is back as Nick Bottom's wife Bea, donning disguises in order to get work meant for men. Marisha has a big voice and she certainly makes the most of her limited solo time in 'Right Hand Man', it would have been nice to hear more from her mighty vocal chords. Cassius Hackforth makes for a sweet Nigel Bottom, aspiring writer and perhaps the equal of Shakespeare whilst Carla Dixon-Hernandez waits for him as Portia, daughter of a Puritan Jeremiah (Paul Ryan) who thinks the theatre is the work of the devil. Their duet 'I Love The Way' gives the piece its romantic heart. Central to the proceedings is Nostradamus (no, not that one) giving us the always welcome stage presence of Cory English (last seen time travelling in Back To The Future in the West End). English and Manford lead the show in its biggest number 'A Musical' which brings the house down, Nostradamus' interjections throughout are hilarious. The ensemble work their socks off in all the numbers, really giving this production the feel of a large scale show as they become whirling dervishes on the stage.

Colin Richmond has designed a set of Elizabethan houses which stamp on us from the off the time period, matched with Rebecca Bower's sumptuous costumes, giving this a classy vista on which director and choreographer Tim Jackson works his magic. The score by brothers Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick has everything.  Ballads, pop, gospel, Broadway musical comedy...  its an intoxicating brew which serves the show its biggest treats. There are earworms aplenty.

 

Its easy to see why Something Rotten! was such a hit on Broadway, making it all the more criminal that we have had to wait so long to witness its brilliance. The show arrives at just the right moment, given the almost daily wave of bad news from around the world we all have to contend with, Something Rotten! restores the joy into our lives and reminds us of the magic of live theatre. Its a homage to the timeless nature of Shakespeare's plays and is a love letter to the art of musical theatre. There no way Bottom can top this! West End open your doors, your next hit musical is on the way.

Rob & Ian 

For up to date information go to the OFFICIAL SOMETHING ROTTEN WEBSITE

 

Further listening:

There's only one option - the superb 2016 original Broadway cast album featuring Christian Borle, Brian d'Arcy James and Heidi Bickerstaffe.

Review: WAITRESS (UK Tour)

 

★★★★✩

Based on the 2007 movie, Waitress has become a much loved musical since it first debuted in  2015, with music by Grammy award winning Sara Bareilles.  This 10th anniversary UK tour is our first visit to Joe's Pie Diner in the American Deep South, so naturally we were keen to see how this show has become so beloved by fans of the genre.

The story centres on Jenna (Carrie Hope Fletcher) who is sadly not leading her best life and uses her skills at pie making to distract her from an abusive marriage to her husband Earl (Mark Willshire). Life gets further complicated when Jenna finds out she is pregnant.  Whilst attending a gynaecology appointment, she meets handsome Dr. Pomatter (Dan Partridge) and leaves him with one of her famous pies, which of course he loves. Old Joe (Les Dennis), owner of the diner, tells Jenna of a Pie Baking competition where the winner will get $20,000. Jenna tells her fellow waitresses Dawn (Evelyn Hoskins) and Becky (Sandra Marvin) that she will enter the competition and use the winnings to leave Earl and raise the baby herself.  Meanwhile it seems that Dr. Pomatter may have an interest in more than Jenna's pies...

Director Diane Paulus has delivered a slick production, aided by a versatile set by Scott Pask which incorporates the six strong band, under the assured leadership of musical director Francesca Warren. Sara Bareilles songs could well be released as NOW That's What A Call A Song About A Pie.  She does diversify along the way, and its a pop and power ballad smorgasbord.  There were no immediate earworms we walked out of the theatre humming, but the score is sure to be a grower.

 

Leading the charge in the cast is Carrie Hope Fletcher, musical golden girl and social media darling for teenage girls. As usual there are no dramatic highs and lows,  Fletcher finds a comfortable through line and sticks to it. Her angelic voice raises up her game, and her rendition of 'She Used To Be Mine' receives the biggest ovation of the night.  She is supported by the simply marvellous Sandra Marvin and Evie Hoskins as fellow waitresses Becky and Dawn. Both returning to the show, and worth their weight in pies. Dan Partridge brings Dr. Pomatter to life, dueting nicely with Fletcher and serving a genuinely welcome slice of romance for Jenna.  Les Dennis contributes his special magic sparkle to Old Joe, curmudgeon owner of the diner and delivers his solo moment 'Take It From An Old Man' with style. Mark Anderson as tax inspector Ogie, suitor for the hand of Dawn, proves himself to be a crowd favourite with his eccentric courting rituals.  It is a strong ensemble all round,  which finds the comedy and occasionally some pathos. Mark Willshire handles the role of the odious Earl well, making us loathe him and there are big cheers when the worm turns and he is handed his marching orders.

 

 

Its a sweet rom-com, which we enjoyed enormously.  As much for the performances as for the story and songs if we are honest.  Its easy to see why Waitress has developed a strong following, its a tale of good triumphing over bad and never giving up on your dreams. Universal themes which continue to dominate musical theatre. If you have an appetite for musical theatre, Waitress will leave you more than satisfied.

 

 Rob & Ian 

 

 Details of tour dates can be found at the UK WAITRESS WEBSITE 

 

 

 Further listening:  

 

It can only be the 2016 original Broadway cast recording with Jessie Mueller and Keala Settle 

 

Review: PUBLIC THE MUSICAL @ Curve, Leicester

 ★★★★✫

Like many people we are constantly guilty of seeing what we already know we already like.  That is to say we revisit shows we have seen before and even the new shows we have scheduled for this year are based on an already successful IP (The Greatest Showman, Bank Of Dave, Pride) but every now and again you have to take a leap into the unknown and get to see a show whose journey is just starting,  trying to find a niche for itself in the overcrowded market place that is live theatre.  So here we are in Leicester checking out Public The Musical written by Hannah Sands, Olivia Zacharia and twins Kyla and Natalie Stroud (daughters of Eurovision winner and Bucks Fizz pop legend Cheryl Baker no less!)

The premise of the show is that four complete strangers get themselves trapped in an underground gender neutral public toilet, with no mobile phone signal and all at crossroads in their lives.  They face the prospect of spending the night together in this most inconvenient of conveniences, as they wait for the toilets to be unlocked come morning. In this motley collection of misfits,  we have Laura who is on the way to a wedding although they are not disclosing just what an important part they will be playing in the proceedings. Then there is Finley, a worker at the Hot Slice Pizza House and whose problems with anxiety threaten to overwhelm him. By contrast, Andrew is the successful city banker, the alpha male who lacks the sensitivity to be aware of others needs. And finally Zo,  the woke of woke-est activists and social media guru, getting by on the bank of Mum and Dad, and always making sure the opinions of others go challenged. They rub along uneasily together until Zo hands out her special 'gummies'...

 

On paper it is perhaps something of a bizarre idea, but this is the magic of theatre. From an acorn of an idea, wonderful things happen. And so it is with Public The Musical. We are drawn into the stories of Laura, Fin, Andrew and Zo and find out what makes them tick. The demons they are battling and the dreams they all carry.

 

Each of the actors inhabits their characters with great sensitivity.  Grace Towning is terrific at annoying us all as the opinionated Zo,  finding the self-centered obsessive behind her 'save the planet' exterior.  Ivano Turco is developing as an actor with every role he plays, having seen him triumph in Cinderella and Everybody's Talking About Jamie, its lovely to see him establish himself further in this more intimate piece.  He is at  his best when he is dealing with the crippling anxiety that Fin battles, and like all four displays a fine voice. Matt Corner, all clad in cycling lycra, is the straight forward voice of our capitalist society frustratingly trying to navigate correct pronouns.  He is climbing the banking ladder and is all about practicality and profit. But Corner equally finds the chink in Andrew's armour eventually, when his background comes to the fore. And then there is Cole Dennis, a lovely passive performance as the people pleasing Laura, very much doubting their future. Slowly this disparate band of toilet dwellers start to open up to each other about their fears and hopes, and this is the beating heart of this 90 minute lock in.

 

There are some impressive solos and group harmonies on display in the rock and pop score.  The songs themselves are all well written and possess nice melodies, although perhaps the piece does at the moment lack that one defining song to take home with us. It is still a piece looking for its 'Seasons Of Love' moment.

 

Amy Jane Cook has devised both costumes and the impressive versatile set. Yes just three toilet cubicles and sinks at first sight, but she ensures that the grotty underground convenience comes to life with some clever movement and lighting choices. Director / author Hannah Sands direction makes sure the piece keeps up the energy despite its protagonists effectively being trapped in a confined space. Drawing out the best in the performers and in storytelling theatre.

 

 

Whilst perhaps not 100% there just yet, Public The Musical is an impressive piece of theatre, which was received very warmly by the Leicester crowd. The four actors earning a well deserved standing ovation at the end. Hope then for the future of musical theatre beyond the movies-to-musicals rut the genre now finds itself in.

 

We loved it, and looked forward to seeing it blossom in the future. The title is perhaps not that inviting, but Four Strangers Get Trapped In A Toilet is perhaps rather more problematic.Whatever it calls itself, just go.

 

Rob & Ian

Further information on the show can be found at the PUBLIC MUSICAL WEBSITE. 

 

Review: BANK OF DAVE - THE MUSICAL @ Lowry, Salford

 

★★★★✩

The legend of Dave Fishwick stands tall for the people of Burnley in Lancashire, and is indeed a glowing life lesson for the rest of the country. Now this champion of the underdog has his own stage show - Bank Of Dave The Musical which has its world premiere at the fittingly northern Lowry Theatre in Salford.

Based on the screenplay of the hit 2023 movie, the team of Rob Madge and Pippa Cleary (who were behind the mega success of Madge's own life journey My Son's A Queer, But What Can You Do?) have taken the core of that screen version and moulded it for the stage.  Bringing with it a whole load of song and dance numbers and jokes about bankers.

For those that do not know the tale, Dave Fishwick runs a successful van company in Burnley but finds that others are struggling with loans for businesses. He decides to lend money to these people to fund their business aspirations, and eventually hits on the idea to start his own bank with affordable repayments with any profits going to local charities. However first he has to get accreditation to be the first new UK bank in 150 years from the suits in London. And that is where the trouble starts. They don't want a working class boy from the North wading in on their territory, and a dirty tricks campaign is set in motion.  But they have not factored in one thing: Dave Fishwick!

                                 Fiction meets real life: Sam Lupton meets the real Dave Fishwick

This heartwarming tale of philanthropy is celebrated to the full in this new musical. Director Nikolai Foster (whose CV reads like a A-Z of British theatre) was raised in North Yorkshire, so directs this comedy with direct northern humour and grit that is so associated with the region. Despite containing every northern cliche ever, the characters leap off the stage. No more so than Sam Lupton as Dave himself.  We last saw Sam giving his Del Boy Trotter in the Only Fools & Horses musical, and here he commands the stage with the energy, gab and larger than life persona that has made the real version a force of nature. From curtain up to curtain call, Sam is the beating heart of this story and its a star performance.

 

However this show is all about the ensemble too. Hayley Tamaddon is Nicky,  Dave's wife and often the voice of reason to his wild schemes.  Hayley has a fantastic voice and is full of Burnley warmth.  Musical legend Claire Moore (can it really be 40 years ago we saw her as Sarah Brightman's alternate Christine in The Phantom Of The Opera?) plays Maureen, local landlady and with a secret that will play out as the show goes on.  Lucca Chadwick-Patel has the important role of lawyer Hugh, sent from his London firm with instructions to let Dave down gently as he tries to start his bank.  Patel's lovely fish(wick)-out-of-water performance as he arrives in Burnley is delightful.  A Southerner caught in the headlights of the oncoming North. Lauryn Redding meanwhile gives a fire and brimstone performance of local NHS nurse Alex, fed up with the system which doesn't allow her to give the care she knows the people of Burnley deserve. Again Lauryn is another fine vocal talent. Samuel Holmes is the odious Sir Charles Denbigh, and his solo rap 'Rich Boys Club' takes us to the seedy world of priviledge and entitlement. Every show needs a villain and Holmes makes sure he plays it to the hilt.  

Musically its a strong score, perhaps no hit song earworms on first listen, but if we get as far as a cast album further down the line, the songs will doubtless be growers.  We particularly liked the song where the Sat Nav questions Hugh's decision to drive beyond the M25! Set and Costume designer Amy Jane Cook has come up with a versatile staging which quickly takes us from offices in Docklands to a pub in Burnley, covering all points in between.  There is some lovely projection too, which is subtly done and doesn't overwhelm the live experience before our eyes. Design wise its a triumph.

Just like the movies,  its a feel good battle of the social stratas.  There's no doubt there is room for some trimming, but its lovely to welcome a new British musical that celebrates one of our great eccentrics something of a national treasure.

We'll follow the future progress of Bank Of Dave The Musical with great interest, and hope that audiences around Britain get to see this one of a kind story for themselves.   

Rob & Ian 

 

Further information about the show can be found at the BANK OF DAVE MUSICAL WEBSITE. 

Normally we would offer a suggestion of a cast album but as there is none available, why not delve into Dave's best selling book telling the full story of his battle with the banks.