Author Archives: admin

Lennon, Theatre Review. The Royal Court. (2012).

Cast: Stephen Fletcher, Chris Grahamson, Daniel Healy, Adam Keast, Maria Lawson, Paul Mannion, Jonathon Markwood, Andrew Schofield, Nicky Swift.

In 1981 the Everyman Theatre staged a show that at the time could have been considered evocative and pouring oil onto a very raw and passionate flames. The timing couldn’t have been worse, coming soon after the worst riots to hit parts of the city in generations and so soon after Liverpool lost one of its famous, iconic and much loved sons. Looking back with the benefit of thirty years since the death of John Lennon, the musical has become more of a celebration of the man’s life, rather than the wake it would have been in 1981.

Lennon, Theatre Review. The Royal Court. (2012). full post

(410 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Wolf Red, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 7th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Cast: Elinor Randle.

Not all wolves wear fur, some are guised as men and it seems that sometimes a very exceptional woman can be unmasked as the wolf in woman’s clothing.

Wolf Red has to be considered as one of the most remarkable one woman shows to ever grace The Unity Theatre. From the moment the audience walks in and the mist swirls and descends around them, the thought of decomposing leaves and frayed sanity mingle together to reveal on a rotted stump Elinor Randle, hunched over and in the grip of perceived madness from there she delivers one of the most perfect opening monologues possible. It was eerie, certainly creepy and just on this side of exuding brilliance.

Wolf Red, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(398 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

The Misanthrope, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast:  Neil Caple, Simon Coates, Leander Deeny, Daniel Goode, Alison Pargeter, George Potts, Zara Tempest-Walters, Colin Tierney, Harvey Virdi.

For the third time, Moliere, Roger McGough and Gemma Bodinetz combined to make an evening at the Playhouse Theatre so anticipated and enjoyable. Heavily surrounded by a cast that adds that final burst of brilliance that makes The Misanthrope a play a distinguished and tremendous addition to the canon of Moliere plays to now have been performed on the stage in the city. 

The Misanthrope, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(398 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

Sink Or Swim, Theatre Review. The Studio, Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Paul Duckworth, Graham Geoffrey Hicks, Shaun Mason.

Sink or Swim, a play conceived from falling in love with a postcard and with the care and attention that productions deserve, has grown up to be one of the funniest, enjoyable and thought provoking plays likely to be seen this year.

The Studio upstairs at The Playhouse Theatre added the claustrophobic weight needed to give the three actors, the sublime Paul Duckworth, the charming Graham Geoffrey Hicks and the impressive Shaun Mason, the lack of room on stage to make Sink Or Swim a production that sees into men’s souls and how they deal with the most extreme part of survival.

Sink Or Swim, Theatre Review. The Studio, Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(362 words, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

My Perfect Mind, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Edward Petherbridge, Paul Hunter.

Standing on the shoulders of giants is never easy, but the view that you see, the distance and insight made possible because of their shining example is worth more than mere currency, it is the opportunity granted to learn and take note. Such is the effect that the return to Unity Theatre of Told By An Idiot’s My Perfect Mind has on the audience that it time to come it will surely be looked upon as a classic piece of theatre of the early 21st Century.

My Perfect Mind, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(507 words, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)

The Mousetrap, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast: Steven France, Karl Howman, Bruno Langley, Elizabeth Power, Bob Saul, Graham Seed, Jemma Walker, Clare Wilkie.

It all starts with a radio announcement in which a murder has been announced…The Mousetrap is perhaps the most eagerly awaited plays to come to Liverpool for a long time. Unless people have been able to see down in the heart of London’s theatre land at any point in the last 60 years and with a waiting list longer than it took to write it for the then Queen Mary’s 80th Birthday that means the vast majority of the population in the country still have not had the pleasure, then the Agatha Christie play remains a huge pull of the theatre goers heart strings as it celebrates its diamond jubilee going round the country.

The Mousetrap, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(448 words, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Wild Flowers, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Russell Parry, Dominic Pitt, John Bradburn, Wendy Jones, Des Flanagan, Mark Jones, Ashleigh Barton, Josie Parks, Louise Clark, Tony Russell, Jade Oxby, Franny Conlin, Wayne Lester, Peter Highton, Ken Adderley, Mal French.

It’s hard to find a production these days that is professionally polished and smooth to watch but still retains its personal touch; the little feeling you get when you recognise a character or two from your own life. It is possible to see audience members forget they are watching the latest production of Wild Flowers from the company of the same name. However they are and with original tunes and such developed characters, what a production it is!

Wild Flowers, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(391 words, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)

The Sunshine Boys, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Andrew Schofield, Alan Stocks, Helen Carter, Michael Fletcher, Stephen Fletcher, Liam Tobin.

Sometimes there are no words that can ever justify the praise or warmth you wish to impart to people or future audiences on how good a play or performance is.  You just have to watch the crowd’s reaction and listening to the cheering of those that had made their way Epstein Theatre to watch The Sunshine Boys too know that the production is just simply amazing.

The Sunshine Boys, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(478 words, estimated 1:55 mins reading time)

Lennon, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: John Power, Matt Breen, Tom Connor, Jessica Dyas, Kirsten Foster, Ross Higginson, Adam Keast, Jonathan Markwood, Mark Newnham.

Even almost 33 years after John Lennon was cruelly and untimely taken from his fans and from the city of Liverpool and the world, his iconic memory still has the power, the absolute authority of spirit, in which to inspire and encourage rousing feelings of love and joy and ultimately the sadness of a life cut short well before his time.

Lennon, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(559 words, estimated 2:14 mins reading time)

The Real Chariots Of Fire. Television Review. I.T.V.

Originally published by L.S. Media. July 4th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating * * * *

With the countdown to the Olympic Games well and truly running ever downward, the amount of television space that is going to be dedicated to all things Olympiad over the next few weeks will be hard to avoid.

The Real Chariots Of Fire. Television Review. I.T.V. full post

(441 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)