Monthly Archives: August 2012

Bryan Adams, Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool. Gig Review.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. November 29th 2011.

L. S. Media Rating ****

If there are any albums that summed up the great sea change in the way that rock music was presented and looked upon 20 years ago, then music lovers need only look at the at the music of Bryan Adams and Nirvana. Bryan Adams released his Waking Up the Neighbours album after stunning success with the ballad (Everything I Do), I Do It For You. This song captivated the romantic hearts of the single buying music lovers and stayed at number one for an amazing 16 weeks. By the time his album came out, Britain’s youth culture was falling in love with a Seattle Grunge band in the shape of Nirvana.

Bryan Adams, Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool. Gig Review. full post

(664 words, 1 image, estimated 2:39 mins reading time)

Little Scouse On The Prairie. Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media November 30th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating *****

Cast: Paul Duckworth, Stephen Fletcher,  Lindzi Germain,  Rachel Rae, Andrew Schofield, Alan Stocks, Zeoi Cozens, Niamh  Fitzgerald, Kay Stanton, Sarah Walker.

Every great story deserves a sequel. Every drunk Irish Catholic Father who is best friends with four former gambling mad nuns and who escaped the island of Secosu merits the chance to have his story continued.

Little Scouse On The Prairie. Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(422 words, 1 image, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)

The Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 4th 2011.

L.S.Media Review ****

Cast: Mike Idris, Alice Bunker-Whitney, Rebecca Riley, Carl Roberts, Jamie Stuart, Beatrice McEvoy.

Last year the Unity Theatre put on the stunning Christmas show, The Red Shoes; full of delicate and brilliant acting and brought to the audience’s attention the acting talent of Mike Idris. This Christmas period has seen the Unity Theatre bring back Mr. Idris amongst a superb cast that includes the delightful Alice Bunker-Whitney and the emerging talent of Rebecca Riley in a tale of intrigue, daring and puppets galore – The Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor.

The Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(447 words, 1 image, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)

Staus Quo, Roy Wood, Kim Wilde: Quo Fest. Gig Review, Liverpool Echo Arena.

Roy Wood rocking the Echo Arena. photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 7th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating ****

One of the final songs of the evening summed up totally the reaction of the strong and enthusiastic crowd the whole evening. Whatever You Want indeed! Billed as Quo Fest, it was certainly a celebration of three great styles of music; dynamic, soaring and full of tunes designed to make you stand up all night and dance the night away.

Staus Quo, Roy Wood, Kim Wilde: Quo Fest. Gig Review, Liverpool Echo Arena. full post

(906 words, 1 image, estimated 3:37 mins reading time)

Cinderella. Mop! In the Name of Love,Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 9th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating *****

Cast: Rebecca Bainbridge, Jonny Bower, Carla Freeman, Robert Gilbert, Adam Keast, Chris Lindon, Kate Marlais, Griffen Stevens, Francis Tucker, Sarah Vezmar.

Dust off the tuxedo, air the sparkly gown and make sure that over the festive period you get down to the Playhouse Theatre and take in the spirit of the Everyman Theatre’s traditional and outrageously funny Rock and Roll Panto, Cinderella, Mop! In the Name of Love.

Cinderella. Mop! In the Name of Love,Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(562 words, 1 image, estimated 2:15 mins reading time)

Go West, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 15th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Even after 26 years, the musicians and vocalist that make up the band Go West, still have the power to entertain and thrill with their infectious lyrics and well delivered music accompaniment.

Admittedly the band took time from recording and touring out between 1992 and the start of the 21st Century, however time has not diminished the voice of Peter Cox and the ability of Richard Drummie to write exceptional new tunes and return to the early days of their career.

Go West, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(341 words, 1 image, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

Doctor Who, Army Of Death. Big Finish Audio Play 155 review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 18th 2011

Cast: Paul McGann, Julie Cox, David Harewood, Carolyn Pickles, Eva Pope, Mitch Benn, Joanna Christie, Trevor Cooper.

Army of Death is the final release of 2011 and brings together Paul McGann and Julie Cox together for the third time. After the two previous stories, The Silver Turk and The Witch from the Well, being so well written and crafted together, there could be a drop off in the style, a rush to get this season’s trilogy over with and for Big Finish to concentrate on the next set of stories involving Colin Baker’s Doctor and his new companion.

Doctor Who, Army Of Death. Big Finish Audio Play 155 review. full post

(608 words, 1 image, estimated 2:26 mins reading time)

Into The Woods, Theatre Review. The Black-E, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 18th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Cast: Jack McGraa, Elen Royles, Solomon Andrews, Elena Stephenson, Mark Rawle, Tash Hutchinson, Ellie Gray, Andrew Abrahamson, Sarah Brown, Stephanie Minshall, Camillie Machin, Jenny Martyn, Jack Malone, Jamie Barfield, Andy Godden, Frankie Burke, Rebecca Patterson, Shaun Holdom-Eyles.

Orchestra: Michael Bourne, Tom Sutherland-Grant, Tony Shorrocks, Sophie Patterson, Connie Hilton, James Warwick, Paul Fegan, Christian Ryan, Nicola Rossiter, David Mintz, Jonas Tattersall, Karolina Hentze, Misery Steele, Simeon Scheuber, Harry Leather, Matt Filer.

 

Into The Woods, Theatre Review. The Black-E, Liverpool. full post

(511 words, 1 image, estimated 2:03 mins reading time)

Sherlock Holmes, Game of Shadows. Film Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 21st 2011.L.S. Media Rating *****

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace, Stephen Fry, Paul Anderson, Geraldine James.

Everybody has their favourite Sherlock Holmes. It’s a question that gets asked frequently alongside, “So, who is your favourite Bond?” Conversations in pubs go on for hours up and down the country as each generation extols the virtue of, to their mind, the best person to portray the great detective Sherlock Holmes. The one with the best flaws, the little defects that make the man’s mind so fascinating. Of course it could depend on what era you grew up in. To a previous generation before my own, you hear the dulcet tones of Basil Rathbone being mooted, like a fine whisky that’s been kept in a special reserve for 40 years and only opened after a long and protracted battle of wits. There can be no escaping his clutches once you open the bottle.

Sherlock Holmes, Game of Shadows. Film Review. full post

(888 words, estimated 3:33 mins reading time)

Snow White And The Seven Dwarves. Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 21st 2011.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Cast: Tine Malone, Jamie Rickers, Pete Price, Craig Philips, Mickey Finn, Leanne Campbell, Lizzie Warburton, Chris Crookhall, James Waud.

To have one hit Christmas show over the festive period is good fortune, to have two is nothing short of incredibly superb.

Snow White And The Seven Dwarves. Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(415 words, 1 image, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)