Tag Archives: Michael Starke

Sister Act, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 23rd 2012.

L.S. Media Rating *****

Cast: Denise Black, Michael Starke, Cynthia Erivo, Julie Atherton, Edward Baruwa, Gavin Cornwall, Gavin Alex, Jacqueline Clarke, Tyrone Huntley, Laurie Scarth, Daniel Stockton.

It is possibly the hardest job in the acting profession, to out act and outperform Whoopi Goldberg in possibly her most iconic role of Deloris Van Cartier from the hit 1992 movie Sister Act. In Cynthia Erivo, that was achieved with room to spare as she took on the role for the stage version of the film at the Liverpool Empire.

Sister Act, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Hairspray, Theatre Review. Liverpool Empire Theatre.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 19th 2011.

Cast: Les Dennis, Michael Starke, Dina Tree, Liam Doyle, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Wayne Robinson, Danny Bayne, Emma Dukes, Clare Halse, Sandra Marvin, Yvonne O’ Grady, Seliza Sebastian, Kane Andrews.

Set against the start of the heightened racial tensions that plagued America socially and politically during the early 1960’s, Hairspray is one of those musicals that stretches the audience’s idea of fun to new limits and leaves them gasping for more!

Hairspray, Theatre Review. Liverpool Empire Theatre. full post

(396 words, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

The Rocky Horror Show, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Cast: Kara Lane, Haley Flaherty, Mark Evans, Michael Starke, Brian McCann, Ceris Hine, David Bedella, Dominic Tribuzio, Nathen Amzi.

Over thirty five years since its inception, The Rocky Horror Show still shows no sign of slowing down and resting on its sparkly top hat or putting down its feather boa. As ever the public still love this story of mad transvestites, spooky houses and tongue in cheek gore which can thrill, chill and fulfil even the stoniest of hearts.

The Rocky Horror Show, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

A Nightmare On Lime Street, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre. (2012).

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Lynn Francis, Lindzi Germain, Jamie Hampson, Mark Moraghan, Michael Starke, Anthony Watson, Lenny Wood, Alicia Forrest, Niamh Fitzgerald, Olivia Galvin, Joe Slater.

An ancient evil is stirring beneath the bowels of Lime Street and it is up to Tommy and his daughter Julie to root it out. Fred Lawless’ latest Festive extravaganza, the brilliant A Nightmare on Lime Street, pays homage to the comedy horrors of the past and brings together a superb cast, a script of monster proportions and music to adore and smile throughout at.

A Nightmare On Lime Street, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre. (2012). full post

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

Rapunzel: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Emma Bispham, Ben Boskovic, Adam Keast, Ai Kumar, Rebecca Levy, Alice Merivale, Tomi Ogbaro, Adam Scott Pringle, Michael Starke, Dylan Townley, Zoe West.

It is no hair-lucination, the style and delivery will cause a wave of laughter for all ages, and with the deadly Danny Ruff on the prowl to corner the hairdressing market, the buzz of the razor’s edge as it cuts through the dastardly machinations is only enhanced by the terrific sound of laughter that fills to the trim of the Everyman Theatre as the city’s audience are once more treated to the Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto, and as the Francesca Goodridge directed and the Jude Christian written Rapunzel brings families together no perm is left untouched and no pun safe from being teased out.

Rapunzel: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(358 words, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

Haunted Scouse. Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Helen Carter, Paul Duckworth, Lynn Francis, Julie Glover, Michael Starke.

We deal with grief in our own way, but we must allow humour to part of the therapy in taking us from a place of heartbreak to one where we can look back at the times before the moment and take solace in the joy what came before, the small things that make a smile and a laugh the most beautiful response in the world.

Haunted Scouse. Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

The Responder. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Martin Freeman, MyAnna Buring, Adelayo Adedayo, Romi Hyland-Rylands, Mark Womack, Josh Finan, Emily Fairn, Philip Shaun McGuinness, Warren Brown, Ian Hart, Faye McKeever, Philip Barantini, Elizabeth Berrington, Christine Tremarco, David Loy, Rob Pomfret, Jude Cooper-Kelly, Kerrie Hayes, Dave Hart, Lois Cringle, James Nelson-Joyce, David Bradley, Karl Collins, Philip Whitchurch, Amaka Okafor, Marji Campi, Rita Tushingham, Maud Druine, Michael Starke, Jake Abraham, Paul Campion, Christian Waite, Victor McGuire, Kieran Urquhart, Sylvie Gatrill, Matthew Cottle, Dave Hill, Roy Brandon, Harry Burke, Pat Winker.

The Responder. Television Review. full post

(764 words, estimated 3:03 mins reading time)

Scouse Pacific, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. (2019).

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Jake Abraham, Jamie Clarke, Guy Freeman, Stephen Fletcher, Lindzi Germain, Abigail Middleton, Mia Molloy, Michael Starke.

Band: Howard Gray, James Bretton, Mike Woodvine, Greg Joy.

Billy Riley is the hero you may not have heard of but because of his ingenuity, his fortitude and love of a fish and chip supper, there is forever a part of the South Pacific that is Scouse, where bananas are abundant, where a certain newspaper gets used for its rightful position as a cleansing aid, and where the descendants of the ship-wrecked, press-ganged mariner burst into song as a right; some enchanted evenings are always worth remembering, especially in Scouse Pacific.

Scouse Pacific, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. (2019). full post

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

My Fairfield Lady, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Helen Carter, Jessica Dyas, Julie Glover, Danny O’Brien, Michael Starke, Matthew Walker.

Whether we like it or not, we are not eternally assessed by our efforts or our accomplishments, our standing or our points of view, but we are judged by our accents and manners, the way we talk is immediately weighed and measured and for most of us this unfair conclusion keeps us in a place to which their no escape, we are immersed into a world which prizes the idea of class, even though we fight against it at every possible moment.

My Fairfield Lady, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(418 words, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

The Star, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Eithne Browne in The Star. Photograph by Robert Day.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Eithne Browne, Michelle Butterly, Helen Carter, Kevin Harvey, Danny O’Brien, Jack Rigby, Michael Starke.

Musicians: James Breckon, Elliot Chapman, Danny Miller.

Looking up into the Heavens, one can see the gallery of happy faces, the stars are there to perform, and they find no reason to ever stop beaming their light on the world below. For audiences making their way to the Playhouse this festive season, The Star is shining brightly and it is one that captures all that is good about modern theatre and the remarkable memory it invokes of hearing about the good old days of the music hall experience.

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

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