Spymonkeys, Moby Dick. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 21st 2009.

Cast: Aitor Basauri, Petra Massey, Toby Park, Stephen Kreiss.

If a classic book is worth recreating on stage then it is worth doing absurdly and with much gusto and insanely as possible.

In all honesty, not even straight theatre would tackle Herman Melville’s classic Moby Dick without some trepidation and a crateful of memory loss inducing alcohol to forget the whole idea. It would be too overblown, expensive and almost impossible to re-create but such is the excellence of the four-strong cast that they were able to play nearly every part that was required of them with quickest of costume changes possible and with some of the greatest use of the imagination possible and not a quibble between them.

Spymonkeys, Moby Dick. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(350 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

The Caretaker, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 4th 2009.

Cast: Jonathon Pryce, Tom Brooke, Peter McDonald.

Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker celebrated it’s fortieth birthday this year and thankfully the Everyman decided to take full advantage of the timing by making it part of their production schedule for the autumn. Not only that, but by making sure that one of Britain’s best and well loved actors was involved, the Everyman has hit upon a recipe for success and one that insures the crowds will flock to this production.

The Caretaker, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Living With Macbeth, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 8th 2012

L.S. Media rating * * * *

Cast: Kevin Brannagan, Paul Braithwaite.

How do you live with yourself if you can’t live with one of the greats? Kevin Brannagan and Paul Braithwaite explore this premise in the first play of the new season at the Unity Theatre, the enticing Living With Macbeth. 

Living With Macbeth, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(429 words, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

Treasured, Theatrical Review. Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating *****

Cast: Nicola Bentley, Nick Birkinshaw, Laura Campbell, Brian Dodd, Christopher Hollinshead, Brendan Ball, Louise Bennett, Bill McGarry, Barry Powell, Jean Silcock, Okechukwu Ugonna, Stephen Wooder, Barbara Whitehead.

One hundred years on from its fateful maiden voyage, the Titanic, the greatest ship that the world had ever known, still has the power to enthral, educate and leave people stunned and shattered by what they learn.

Treasured, Theatrical Review. Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. full post

(374 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

Cold Call, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Ross McCall, Holly Wilson-Guy, Matt Austin, Tom Hosker.

After wowing critics and audiences alike in September with her one-woman spectacular Wolf Red, Elinor Randle has turned her hand once more back to directing and in the biting satirical play Cold Call; she again strikes the perfect balance between brilliant absurd humour and worrying 21st century behaviour.

Cold Call, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(355 words, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

The Sacred Flame, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast:   Sarah Churm, Jamie De Courcey, Robert Demeger, Katrina Innes, Margot Leicester, Al Nedjari, David Ricardo-Pearce, Beatriz Romilly.

When is a murder not murder? It seems in the world of post First World War senselessness and when all those involved and affected by a loss of someone much loved, it can be easier to brush the whole sordid affair under the carpet.

The Sacred Flame, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(429 words, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

Inspector Norse, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Maggie Fox, Sue Ryding.

For anyone who remembers the excellent and surreal comedy that The Goons, provided radio listeners in the 1950’s, the two women that makes up the strangely compelling and brilliant Lip Service Theatre Company are very much in a similar and genuinely thrilling mould.

The Unity Theatre last had Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding in the outstanding production of Withering Looks and this latest sideways look at Nordic Noir drama, the very funny Inspector Norse (Or the Girl With Two Screws Left Over) is yet another reason to catch these two intelligent women who seem to be able to delight audiences with ease and with one raised eyebrow.

Inspector Norse, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(351 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

Jigsy, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Seen through the eyes of one man, a jovial lecture from one of the kings of Liverpool comedy as he reminisces about the old days on stage and the old ways of his beloved home city, Jigsy has seen them all, drank with the best and poked gentle and perhaps deserving fun at some of them too.

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

(412 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Scotty Road-The Musical, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Scotland Road is one of the most iconic and celebrated roads in Liverpool, it has been home to a community who have looked at its heyday with a certain fondness and others have looked at it with begrudging respect that it held so many people together despite any backlash from other areas that ran it down. People have lived there; worked there and grown up there, it is only right that eventually a musical would be based on Scotty Road.

Scotty Road-The Musical, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(468 words, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

Mam! I’m ‘Ere!, Theatre Review. The Dome, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Rachel Rae, Eithne Browne, Andrew Schofield, Helen Carter, Alan Stocks, Stephen Fletcher, Keddy Sutton, Paul Duckworth, Catherine Morris, Lauren Southwick.

The Dome may not be the most obvious venue for a theatrical production to make its maiden debut in the city; however the acting company that gave their all for the sensational Mam! I’m ‘Ere! more than made the grand old lady very proud and the audience dance and sing with vigour and with a lot of joy.

Mam! I’m ‘Ere!, Theatre Review. The Dome, Liverpool. full post

(421 words, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)