Lowther Pavilion, Lytham
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Blackpool Grand Theatre
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Fleetwood Marine Hall
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Thornton Little Theatre
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THEATRE REVIEWS
A Night At Our Musicals
Blackpool and Fylde Light Opera Company
Following their wonderfully successful trip over the rainbow in May last year with their award-winning production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’, Blackpool and Fylde Light Opera Company (or BFLOC as they are known) opted for a musical revue style concert for their 2024 production. However, with so many musical revue’s popping up, this one offers the audiences of the Fylde coast something different. It is a stroll down BFLOC’s memory lane featuring numbers from 24 of their previous productions. Including the first production ‘The Student Prince’ that was first performed in 1950!
The performances are taking place over multiple venues, Poulton Community Hall, Mikel Hall’s Theatre School and Our Lady Star of the Sea in St Annes.
The strong company of 28 worked so well together on the stage considering the potential complexities in having three venues to think about staging such a concert. The classic opening number ‘Another Op’nin, Another Show’ kicked the show off well and despite the company not being ‘mic’d’ you could clearly hear they them which unfortunately was not always the case throughout the show with some sound imbalances. However, this didn’t spoil anything at all.
With a concert revue ensemble style show it is always enjoyable being able to hear voices and see people that are sometimes hidden and what Director Danielle Woodhouse and Musical Director George Baldwin have achieved with this production is really lovely in giving everyone an opportunity to shine. There was no ‘Back Line’ so to speak. Voices and character can often get lost when singing to a track and there is a danger of Karaoke, this didn’t happen, every number had its own story and character. Every soloist, duet and trio brought heart and musicality to what they were singing. The moments of choreography in this concert were small yet very effective including a complicated crossing manoeuvre and some great ‘tanker-ography’.
There were moments that stood out from the crowd; the ladies, Hannah Ayres, Livs Ball and Louise Moore, who sang ‘I Just Might’ from ‘9 to 5’, the three ladies, Charlie Ashton, Louise Moore and Cherry Shedwick, who sang ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from ‘Carousel’ showed such class and harmonies with their vocal ability, telling the stories so effortlessly. Eryka Nickson gave a wonderfully punchy performance of ‘I Hate Men’ from ‘Kiss Me Kate’. Jack Price brought some comedy with his great character leading the company in ‘Gaston’ from ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and the number that got the house roaring was the disco extravaganza that was Hannah Ayres and Kaitlin Ward superbly handling the mighty ‘Enough is Enough’ from ‘Boogie Nights’.
In summary if you are wanting a feel good evening of music, talent and that warm feeling you get when someone sings that note in your favourite musical song, you would not go wrong spending just £10 or (£12 on the door) to go and see this show. Revues are the best way to introduce yourself to musical theatre, this show will do just that.
Bravo BFLOC keep shining!
Showing
Saturday 4th May 7:30pm Poulton Community Hall
Sunday 5th May Mike Halls Theatre School 6pm (Relaxed Performance)
Friday 10th May 7:30pm Our Lady Star of The Sea Parish Centre
Daniel Jackson – Drivetime – Fylde Coast Radio
Songs from the shows - Great British Musicals
Thornton Cleveleys Operatic Society
Thornton Little Theatre 2024
We were privileged last night April 25th; to join a full house at Thornton Little Theatre to watch Thornton Cleveleys Operatic Society (TCOS) showcase hits from British musicals like "Billy Elliot," "Oliver," and "Buddy,".
What an amazing evening – you truly could not believe that this was a show put on by amateurs; the performance was really that good.
The amateur cast delivered a heartfelt and enthusiastic performance, capturing the essence of each musical number. While there were moments of rawness in vocal delivery and stage presence, the passion and dedication of the performers shone through. The energy of the ensemble added vibrancy to the production, creating an engaging atmosphere for the audience.
The choice of songs from iconic British musicals was well-curated, offering a diverse range of styles and emotions. The solo by Daniel Jackson of ‘Some of us belong to the stars’ from "Billy" received an amazing ovation; “This is my lovely day” from “Bless this bride” sung by Barbara Hebden and Geoff Park brought tears to the eyes; and the nostalgic hits of "Buddy," (Chantilly Lace will never be done better); “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat”; “Sunset Boulevard”; “Aspects of Love”; “Blood Brothers” and “Miss Saigon” contributed to a dynamic and entertaining show. The repertoire showcased the versatility of the performers and provided ample opportunities for them to showcase their talent.
The direction and choreography demonstrated thoughtful creativity, effectively bringing each musical number to life on stage. Even choreographic complexity was executed seamlessly, and the overall staging enhanced the storytelling and added visual interest for the audience.
Considering the limitations of an amateur production, the technical aspects of the show were incredible. Simple yet effective set designs and lighting cues complemented the performances without overshadowing them. The costumes were appropriate to each musical's era and helped to immerse the audience in the world of each story.
TCOS’ showcase of songs from British musicals was a charming and enjoyable evening of entertainment. Despite the challenges inherent in amateur theatre, the passion and dedication of the cast and crew were evident throughout the performance. The production succeeded in capturing the spirit of the beloved musicals and providing a memorable experience for both performers and audience members alike.
We felt truly privileged to have witnessed such a beautiful production.
Hywel and Jude; Fylde Coast Radio Digital.
Legally Blonde - Winter Gardens, Blackpool - March 2024
The film of 'Legally Blonde' was released in 2001 and quickly became a cult classic, in recent years the early 00’s film has been transformed for the stage and retained its cult following, first on Broadway, then the West End and now Blackpool Winter Gardens.
The musical, based on the film, is the story of pink and fashion obsessed Elle Woods, who after learning that her 'perfect' boyfriend is dumping her to travel to Harvard Law, decides she simply must try to win him back. How? Enrol in Harvard Law herself and show him that she can really be “Serious” and not just a pink and blonde. Meeting a whole cast of fantastic characters along the way, realising blonde is really the way to be and that a just maybe, you can break stereotypes is this musicals story. Funny, Fast and very, very Pink!
The evening at the Winter Gardens Blackpool, the cast of Encore Productions opened with their debut musical Legally Blonde, and what a fantastic debut to start with. Encore may be a new company, but it was clear that there was experience up on the stage. The quality of the performances was outstanding. Directed by Katie Edgar and Choreographed by Natalie Pollard.
From the opening bars the fantastic band, led by the brilliant and capable Musical Director Ed Rugman, we were transported to the Delta Nu Sorority in UCLA. A colourful Greek chorus, each with their own character shining through was a wonderful start to this high energy show.
As each character was introduced it was clear to see all the work that had been put in and teamwork and support the cast had for each other on stage. The chemistry between the characters was obvious. The supporting members of the company are as important as any leading member and this supporting cast were visible and always busy, keeping their characters and enhancing every scene they were in. Including the very cute dogs!
The three principal Delta Nu’s ladies, Laurienne Imeson, Sarah Collinge and Kassidy Kiernan worked so well together but each shone as individual characters with strong voices and individual humour.
Declan Wilkinson and Hannah Dixon playing Warner Huntington III and Vivienne Kensington do a terrific job at playing the ‘bad guys’ along with Joff Keelan and Professor Callaghan leaving Eryka Nickson to bring a little comic relief to the group of interns.
The stars of the show must be the three biggest cheers of the evenings. First Paulette Bonafonte, this evening played by Jenny Daniels. With fantastic comic timing and experience that immediately shone through in every song Jenny was pure joy to watch. Blue Blezard as Emmett Forrest handled a difficult part very well, being awkward when he needed to be but the chemistry between his character and Aimee Duxbury as Elle was so clear when they were on stage together. Each of their scenes were so easy to watch. Aimee, as Elle, spent very little time off stage, there aren’t many shows like that, and Aimee handled this better than some professionals. Her voice was clear, I believed she could win and was proud when she did.
A special mention must go to the amazing costume team, for the quick changes, attention to detail (I noticed the white outfits where copies of the colour outfits) and the sound and stage team for their obvious hard work too.
Verdict: I was initially nervous for this production as I am already such a fan of this show, it was in such a large venue, and this was a debut show for a new production company but all of those nerves were swept away within the first 5 minutes at most. This was not only one of the best amateur productions of Legally Blonde I have seen, but the performances we some of the best I have seen too. Every member of this company deserves every accolade that’s to come to them. Bravo!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Daniel Jackson
Fylde Coast Radio Digital
Madagascar The Musical - Winter Gardens, Blackpool - February 2024
A Wild and Wonderful Journey: Madagascar the Musical
It is always a pleasure to visit the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. I really love a good show. This time it was Madagascar The Musical. A whimsical tale of four loyal friends who unwittingly escape Manhattan's Central Zoo and find themselves shipwrecked in Madagascar! A true family show. Giving us grand staging, colourful main characters and a storyline to entertain the kids. Meanwhile a few subtle “ big kid” jokes (that go over the little ones' heads) are thrown in for good measure and entertainment.
From the start we were transported into a world of imagination, catchy tunes and boundless energy. The cast's performances capture the essence of each character with flair. Marty the zebra's exuberance, Alex the lion's swagger, Gloria the hippo's confidence, and Melman the Giraffe’s childlike charm are all brought to life with infectious enthusiasm. From the bustling streets of New York City to the lush jungles of the island, every scene is bursting with creativity and attention to detail.
With a magical touch an enchanting array of puppets spring from the wings. From the lovable penguins who take over the ship by overthrowing the crew, and finally wreck it on the shores of Madagascar, to the mischievous lemurs and all the fabulous wild animals in between, the puppetry in this production adds an extra layer of charm. You soon forget the humans behind the puppets and concentrate solely on the characters.
After Marty the Zebra wants to escape to the wild and his three loyal friends end up on the journey with him they embark on an adventure of self discovery Marty steals the show but it's Alex that gets the biggest wake up call.
After a lifetime of being fed Steak, now in the wild Alex the lion is hungry. In a dream he finds himself in a carnivore's paradise, where succulent steaks are served up on a silver platter. But these aren't just any old steaks—they're rolled in on trolleys and burst into song! A primal urge beckons to his wild instincts. When he next meets Marty he entertains the thought of dinner! eyeing the zebra with a hunger that he hasn't felt in years. But a reminder of a bond forged through years washes over him, reminding him of the importance of their friendship above all else.
The fabulous song "Best Friends": celebrates the unbreakable bond of friendship between them and includes the other two main characters, Gloria the hippo and Melman the giraffe, who seal their friendship with a little kiss.. It reinforces the central theme of friendship and loyalty over adversity.
Then just as the little ones’ attention span is drifting, King Julien, the eccentric lemur, “party lover and ruler of Madagascar” bounces on to the stage with a rendition of "I Like to Move It" taking the humour and energy to the musical up quite a few notches. This infectious and upbeat number soon gets kids of all ages (including me) out of their seats and “Moving It!”. It's a high-energy number that encourages the audiences to let loose and embrace their inner primal beat.
Whether you're a fan of the original film or discovering these characters for the first time this lively, vibrant and utterly bonkers entertaining theatrical experience will leave you smiling from ear to ear. So gather your herd and get ready for a walk on the wild side.
Calander Girls - Winter Gardens, Blackpool - January 2024
Wow is all I can say. On a cold blustery evening in January with the inevitable storms battering our coast line, there was a glimmer of feel good. Despite the Ladies from the WI battling health and friendship issues the Calendar Girls brought their Ice buns and Sunflowers in a ruckus and comedic fashion. Brilliant scripting and acting from start to finish which brought tears of joy and sadness to every member of the audience.
The show delivers the heartwarming and empowering story of the ladies of the WI simply trying to raise money for the local Hospital family room, after one lady’s husband dies of Cancer. It is usual for the WI to produce a stunning photographic calendar each year, but these ladies had something different in mind. They would do it nude! The original true story sees the calendar soar in sales to over £3 million.
The performances are a number of things, brilliant, shaky and stella all at the same time which gave the audience a depth, to feel the realness of the characters, capturing the essence of friendship and courage portrayed in the original story.
The staging, lighting and score were simple yet amazing. The simplistic and rustic style of the WI village hall shrank the overpowering stage setting to an intimate and colloquial gathering of which the audience member was invited. There were no bells or whistles on set changes, just mere hints of location changes with drop down signage informing the audience we were now in a different place, but that seemed ok as the story kept moving, with us all going wholeheartedly along with it.
The score written by the brilliant Gary Barlow and Tim Firth kept the story grounded and real. We instantly knew who (or what) “ My Russian friend and I” refered to and “Yorkshire” is so catchy I’m singing along with it even now! It should be released as a single!
Whether you're familiar with the original story or not, the Calendar Girls stage show is a delightful and touching theatrical experience. There were just two things missing for me.
I would have loved to stand as part of the audience and belt out JERUSALEM! and
I would have loved to buy a CALENDAR from this performance!!
Lyn Muscroft on behalf of Fylde Coast Radio Digital.
When Dex Vinyl watched Phantom Of The Opera …
In Fleetwood (In Brief)
Being a huge Phantom fan when I discovered by accident that there was going to be a run of performances locally I just had to go and see it. I’ve seen Phantom 7 times in the West End, and I know how protective Lord Lloyd Webber and the Really Useful Group (his company) are over the rights to the performance. It is rare indeed that a license is given to any production that is currently on in the West End or Broadway (dependant on the country of course), let alone to an amateur group, indeed there have only been at present 9 granted in the UK.
At the start of the performance, the director took to the stage, which is unusual so we knew that there was going to be some kind of announcement, and there was … It is well known in theatre circles, that there is some kind of curse that follows Phantom around … the best analogy I can think of if Murphy’s Law … “What Can Go Wrong … Will Go Wrong”. For this production of Phantom, sadly the actress that was rehearsed and ready to play Carlotta Guidicelli - Cinzia Goldie had been struck down with a throat infection and had been instructed not to sing by medical staff. However al was not lost, Howard the director had found a replacement, Jess Sanderson, who had previously played the role a few years ago in a youth production. He warned us that as she was new (Jess joined the cast on the morning of Opening night) to this role and performance she may still be occasionally “On Book” which means that she may occasionally bring her score / script on stage with her. Our best wishes to Cinzia for a speedy recovery.
Well, let me tell you, right here and now, before we get into my full review, Jess was Off Book for the whole performance, and to my ear at least, note perfect!.
On to the review!
Opening night is always a stressful night for a new production, but when I was waiting in the entrance hall long before the show start time (I had an interview with the cast) I could hear last minute rehearsals happening on the stage, and from that moment on I was sure that the performance I was about to hear, was going to be excellent.
I was NOT disappointed. From the opening scene to the closing curtain, I could have been in a small theatre in the West End watching a cast, with no exceptions, that had been performing this material, on this stage for months.
The performances of all the principal cast were simply stunning, and being honest, I’m still trying to wrap my head around the performance, in terms of quality I mean, so please forgive me for being brief.
I have spent much more than £16 on a ticket to see Phantom before, and will no doubt again, but I know that I have seen performances in His Majesty’s Theatre that I have not enjoyed as much as I enjoyed watching TCOS last night.
DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW !
Limited Tickets available : https://uk.patronbase.com/_Wyre/Productions/POFO/Performances
Dex’s Rating … 8.5 / 10
When Hywel Interviewed
Emma Louise
Hywel interviewed Emma Louise from the Emma Louise Academy and you can hear all the news right here, just click the button!