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THEATRE NEWS SEPTEMBER 2015 - ISSUE 3

WITH

McQueen OPENS IN THE WEST END

WILMA ASKS

Are West End Ticket Prices Ridiculous Or Are We Just Silly For Paying them?

VOTING NOW OPEdsN in West End Wilma Awar

Carly Bawden HAS TEA WITH WILMA

WILMA REVIEGEWFESSTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH FRIN

Great Deals On Tickets To West End Shows

“Best West End Show” sponsored by eStage

“Best Off-West End Show” “Best Touring Show” “Most Underrated West End Show”

“Rising Star Award” sponsored by Planet Hollywood

“Most Welcoming Venue” sponsored by SeatPlan

“Best Cabaret/Solo Performance” sponsored by The Hippodrome Casino

“Best Vocal Performance” sponsored by London Weekly News

“Best Family Show” sponsored by R&H Theatricals Europe

“Best Actor in a Play or Musical” sponsored by Applaud

“Best Actress in a Play or Musical”

PUBLIC VOTING NOW OPEN! CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Last few tickets still remaining for this years awards so book now and come and join the fun!

CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Featuring performances by Gina Beck, Evelyn Hoskins, Kieran Brown and Tim McArthur

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

WORDS FROM THE EDITOR Hello dears!

It’s been another busy month in the land of theatre. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival took place and I went up there for a few days to check out some of the shows that were on offer. You can read some of my reviews in this issue as well as other reviews from London and around the UK! Voting is now open for this years Wilma Awards, recognising the best in theatre from the past year.

You can see more details on the previous page.

Make sure you vote for your favourites and keep your eyes peeled on westendwilma.com for the winners on Friday 30 October!

Elf the Musical has gone on sale for its Christmas run in the West End but with tickets reaching almost £250 per person it has caused quite the backlash with the theatre going public which has caused the show to release some cheaper seats for the event.

I wrote a blog asking ‘Are West End ticket prices ridiculous or are we just silly for paying them?’. You can read it in this issue.

Have a great month and I’ll speak to you in October!

Wilma xx For enquiries please email

wilma@westendwilma.com

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CASSIDY JANSON TO PLAY CAROLE KING IN BEAUTIFUL CLOSE TO YOU - BACHARACH REIMAGINED TO REPLACE 39 STEPS X FACTOR STAR JOE MCELDERRY TO STAR AS JOSEPH IN UK TOUR JENNA RUSSELL & BRADLEY WALSH TO STAR IN PETER PAN MCQUEEN – THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET CARLY BAWDEN HAS TEA WITH WILMA NEWKINKY CAST ANNOUNCED FOR SUNNY AFTERNOON JIM BROADBENT STARS IN A CHRISTMAS CAROL WILMA ASKS: NINA CONTI SWEET DREAMS : SONGS BY ANNIE LENNOX SING FOR YOUR LIFE - UNDERBELLY BETTE MIDLER AND ME - GILDED BALLOON THE IRAQ PACK DIANE CHORLEY DUCHESS OF CANVEY – UNDERBELLY WILLEMIJN VERKAIK LIVE IN CONCERT PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME SWEET CHARITY - CADOGAN HALL

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CASSIDY JANSON TO PLAY CAROLE KING IN BEAUTIFUL FROM 30 NOVEMBER 2015

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assidy Janson will join the West End production of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical to play the title role from 30 November 2015. Also joining the cast will be Diane Keen as Genie Klein, King’s mother. Alan Morrissey will continue as King’s husband and song-writing partner Gerry Goffin as well as Lorna Want as song-writer Cynthia Weil, Ian McIntosh as song-writer Barry Mann and Gary Trainor as music publisher and producer Don Kirshner.

The Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning Beautiful – The Carole King Musical also announces an extension to the current booking period, having just released over almost 350,000 new tickets taking bookings at the Aldwych Theatre to 26 November 2016.

Beautiful – The Carole King Musical is the untold story of her journey from school girl to superstar; from her relationship with husband and song-writing partner Gerry Goffin, their close friendship and playful rivalry with fellow song-writing duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, to her remarkable rise to stardom.

Along the way, she became one of the most successful solo acts in music history, and wrote the soundtrack to a generation.

Cassidy Janson was last in the West End playing Ruth in Dessa Rose at the Trafalgar Studios. She has also been seen in Candide andTick Tick Boom for the Menier Chocolate Factory, Blood Wedding at the Courtyard Theatre, Rooms: A Rock Romance at the Finborough, Lend Me a Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre playing the principle role of Maggie, Company at the Southwark Playhouse and played Kate Monster/ Lucy the Slut in Avenue Q at the Wyndhams Theatre. Janson was a member of the original London cast of Wicked and played standby Elphaba. On film her credits includeThe Hike, Tail’s End, Day Trip to London, Full Circle and Coma. Janson has recently guested with The Jive Aces performing at Glastonbury and Ronnie Scott’s and her television appearances include Casualty.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS TO SEE BEAUTIFUL THE MUSICAL

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CLOSE TO YOU BACHARACH REIMAGINED TO REPLACE 39 STEPS AT THE CRITERION THEATRE

CLOSE TO YOU, a new musical featuring Burt Bacharach’s songbook, makes its highly anticipated West End transfer to the Criterion Theatre from 3rd October.

Performed by a young, multi-talented cast led by the visionary musician and performer Kyle Riabko, the show features Riabko’s thrillingly new yet beautifully faithful interpretations of Bacharach’s classics. Blending nostalgia and innovation, generations old and new can now revel in all the hits as if for the very first time.

The show redefines the songbook musical by fusing this extraordinary reinterpretation of over 30 timeless Bacharach melodies with innovative choreography, taking the audience on an emotional and exhilarating journey.

Burt Bacharach has given the show his wholehearted and enthusiastic support, exclaiming, “It’s brilliant. Kyle has done something truly unique with my music. I loved it!”

CLOSE TO YOU will make hearts sing and spirits soar with such classics as Alfie, Anyone Who Had a Heart, I Say a Little Prayer, Magic Moments, The Look of Love, Walk on By, Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, What’s New Pussycat, I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself, This Guy’s in Love With You, What the World Needs Now is Love and, of course, Close to You. Photo: Johan Persson

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

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X Factor Star Joe McElderry to star as Joseph in UK Tour X FACTOR winner JOE MCELDERRY gets set to put on a dazzling coat of many colours as he steps in the title role of the UK’s longest running musical JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. Joe was just 18 when won the sixth series of The X Factor having been mentored by Girls Aloud star Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and beating off fierce competition from Olly Murs and Stacey Solomon.

Joe then soared to number one on the UK Singles Charts with his rendition of Miley Cyrus’s The Climb and his debut album Wide Awake went straight in at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. He has since gone on to have two more top ten albums, and he became the first X Factor star to release four albums, with a fifth in the making.

Joe, who hails from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, is also the first and only celebrity to win three reality TV shows! He was crowned the winner of the second series of ITV’s Popstar to Operastar before strapping on his skis and slaloming his way to become champion of Channel 4’s celebrity ski competition The Jump last year!

Joseph marks Joe’s first major theatrical appearance following a one-off West End gala performance as the lead in The Who’s Tommy in 2012.

Having garnered sensational reviews and standing ovations at every performance since its inception almost 35 years ago, Bill Kenwright’s Amazing’, ‘Superb’, ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Brilliant’ production of this sparkling family musical has now sold an estimated 20 million tickets. This vibrant and exciting retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours sings out to young and old alike with a score which is crammed wall to wall with hits, including Jacob and Sons, Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do. Joe McElderry will play Joseph in theatres around the UK from Spring 2016 Dates and theatres to be announced soon Photo: Mark Yeoman

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JENNA RUSSELL & BRADLEY WALSH TO STAR IN PETER PAN AT THE ADELPHI THEATRE

Peter Pan, one of the greatest fairy tales of all time, makes its return to the London stage at the Adelphi Theatre on Sunday 25th October for a matinee and evening performance.

Entertainment stalwart and star of stage and screen, Bradley Walsh (Coronation Street, Law and Order UK, The Chase), will take to the stage to perform the iconic role of Captain Hook. Also announced, Olivier Award-winning actress Jenna Russell (Call The Midwife, Songs For A New World, Soho Cinders) will take on the role of Mrs Darling.

Based on J. M. Barrie’s classic, the production features music and lyrics by the Olivier Awardwinning writing duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe (Honk!, Mary Poppins, Betty Blue Eyes, Soho Cinders) and a book by the late Willis Hall. Join Peter and the Darling children as they travel to a land full of imagination and possibility featuring the mischievous Lost Boys and, of course, the villainous Captain Hook.

Join Peter Pan as he flies towards the second star to the right, and by morning you’ll be transported to the magical Never Land where there are “no tedious distances between one adventure and the next”.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

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McQUEEN – THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET In A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge is taken on a journey through the night by ghosts to help him to see the good in the world. McQueen, which opened its West End transfer last night, reminds me of that story.

Alexander McQueen is alone in his home, drunk and high on drugs and only hours before he has to present the concept for his new show to people. His concept so far, is nothing and suicide is potentially his best option.

Dahlia, one of his shop assistants breaks in to his house (or his imagination) and together they embark on a journey through the night, visiting McQueens favourite places, old work houses and friends who have died. But can McQueen save himself from his tortured soul and find inspiration for a new collection or will he end it all to get out of the misery that being a genius can create?

Visually, McQueen is stunning. Dancers dressed as mannequins parade around to classical rock music, getting in to his psyche and creating scenes of nightmare.

Costumes are kept to a minimum but where they are used they are sublime. This show isn’t an exhibition of his work, it is an exhibition of his mind.

Stephen Wight is the spitting image of Alexander McQueen and quite dishy with it. From the moment the audience enters the auditorium, he is pacing around the

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stage and barely leaves it for the two hour show, keeping the audiences attention at all times. Carly Bawden approaches the role of Dahlia in a different way to Dianna Agron originally did in the St James Theatre production earlier this year. Carly plays the role more as an excited groupie whereas Dianna gave a more psychopathic feel to the role. Both interpretations work well although Carly is the most relatable for an audience. TracyAnn Oberman brings humour to the role of McQueens deceased friend Isabella Blow and their confrontational scenes together are the strongest moments of the show.

It is shows like McQueen that make me eternally grateful for the job I have. You have to see a lot of shows to find one as exquisite as this but kissing a few frogs is certainly worth it when you find your prince. A sublime masterpiece!

Reviewed by West End Wilma Photo: Specular

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

CARLY BAWDEN

HAS TEA WITH WILMA, TALKING ABOUT STARRING IN McQUEEN You are about to play Dahlia in the West End transfer of McQueen. For anyone not familiar with the story, what is the show about and how does your character fit in?

It’s a celebration of the incredible mind of Alexander McQueen; Its brilliance and darkness.

My character meets him after breaking in to his home to steal a dress. They end up going on a whirlwind journey together through London over the course of one night. The play takes you into the dreamscape world of his mind, like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. What ensues on this journey is for the audience to find out!

Have any changes been made from the original production at St James Theatre or is it exactly as it was?

Although it was a quick rehearsal process the creative team and cast were very supportive of me having the freedom to find the role for myself, so hopefully I’ve brought something new to the table. There have been a few tweaks to the script here and there and of course with new company members comes a new dynamic to play with, but apart from that the play is still in its original glory.

Do you have any dream stage roles that you would like to have a go at playing?

Playing Eliza Doolittle was an incredible experience.

There are some wonderful female roles out there, but I’m particularly excited by the thought of characters that haven’t yet been created.

If you could be the opposite sex for the day, which male theatre role would you like to play?

Sweeney Todd, Albert in War Horse, Moritz in Spring Awakening or Hedwig (Quite a few apparently!)

Have you ever had any funny/disastrous on-stage experiences?

So far I haven’t had any horrific disasters (I will now I’ve said that) but you can usually count on me for a bit of clumsiness.

For Assassins we had these thick mud-filled puddles dotted around the stage. I was really giving it my all one night and dramatically walked to the side of the stage and squelched right in to one, wearing sandals. It went everywhere and I was slipping and sliding around trying to subtly get it off

myself in a really quiet moment. Most of the cast saw me do it and I was pretty embarrassed. We also never left the stage during the show, so I did the whole performance with a clay foot. We wondered who was going to christen the puddles. Yep, it was me. My sandal also broke during a show and I had to discreetly limp off to get it taped to my foot quickly. Oh, and I fell off the rocking horse one night. Not ideal when you’re trying to be a bad ass Charles Manson cult member. The band were wetting themselves. The company were so fun and due to us being onstage all the time we always had front row seats for each other’s mishaps.

Why do you think people should come and see ‘McQueen’?

I don’t think the man himself ever liked it to be said, but it’s true; he was a genius. He had a mind and talent like no other. This play celebrates who he was, as Alexander the designer and as Lee the human being, and takes you on an adventure inspired by his work and talent. It is a chance to dive in to the world of McQueen and get lost in it for the evening and I’m so excited to be a part of it.

Thanks for having Tea With Wilma McQueen is playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket until 7 November 2015.

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NEW KINKY CAST ANNOUNCED FOR SUNNY AFTERNOON The multi-Olivier Award-winning hit British musical SUNNY AFTERNOON, which tells the story of the rise to fame of The Kinks, has announced the actors taking over from its award-winning original cast.

Danny Horn (Doctor Who; The Dead Dogs) will play Ray Davies, with Oliver Hoare (Antony and Cleopatra, Chichester) as Dave Davies, Tom Whitelock (Times Square Angel, Union) as bassist Pete Quaife and Damien Walsh (Dreamboats and Petticoats) as drummer Mick Avory. At certain performances, the role of Ray Davies will be played by Ryan O’Donnell (Romeo and Juliet, RSC; Quadrophenia).

Cast includes: Niamh Bracken, Christopher Brandon, Jason Baughan, Harriet Bunton, Alice Cardy, Oliver Hoare, Danny Horn, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Jay Marsh, Megan Leigh Mason, Ryan O’Donnell, Stephen Pallister, Charlie Tighe, Gabriel Vick, Damien Walsh and Tom Whitelock.

With a book by Joe Penhall, music and lyrics and original story by Ray Davies, and directed by Edward Hall, Sunny Afternoon has established itself as a firm favourite with audiences and critics alike since it opened at the Harold Pinter Theatre in October 2014.

Sunny Afternoon was the best performing show at this year’s Olivier Awards, winning four awards. The

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production won Best New Musical, John Dagleish won Best Actor in a Musical, George Maguire won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, and Ray Davies of The Kinks won for Outstanding Achievement in Music.

The original cast, including Olivier Award winners John Dagleish and George Maguire, will remain in the show until 3 October 2015.

Forty-nine years ago this year, The Kinks were sitting at Number One in the UK charts with their single ‘Sunny Afternoon’. The band’s popularity has not faded since the 1960s, with crowds of all ages filling the Harold Pinter Theatre night after night.

Featuring some of The Kinks’ best-loved songs, including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola, Sunny Afternoon shows the music of The Kinks is still as popular as ever, more than 50 years since the band’s rise to fame.

Following a sold-out run at Hampstead Theatre, this world premiere production, with music and lyrics by Ray Davies, new book by Joe Penhall, original story by Ray Davies, direction by Edward Hall, design by Miriam Buether and choreography by Adam Cooper, opened at the Harold Pinter theatre on 28 October 2014.

Lighting is by Rick Fisher, sound by Matt McKenzie and the Musical Supervisor and Musical Director is Elliott Ware.

The official cast recording album, produced by Ray Davies at his Konk studios, is released on BMG Chrysalis and is available to buy here.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

JIM BROADBENT STARS IN A CHRISTMAS CAROL Academy Award-winning actor Jim Broadbent makes his long-awaited return to the stage to play Scrooge in a new version of A Christmas Carol adapted by Patrick Barlow from Charles Dickens’ classic story of greed, grief, ghoulish ghosts and eleventh-hour redemption.

From Scrooge and Tiny Tim to Bob Cratchit and Mrs. Fezziwig, Patrick Barlow’s imaginative adaptation of A Christmas Carol will bring some of Dickens’ most memorable characters to life at the Noël Coward Theatre this winter. Jim Broadbent will be joined by an exciting group of performers, to be announced shortly.

Coming together to create this innovative new work are some of our most loved and mischievous maverick theatre-makers. The play is written by Patrick Barlow (who also wrote the huge, long-running hit The 39 Steps) with whom Jim Broadbent performed for many years in Barlow’s cult comedy troupe The National Theatre of Brent. A Christmas Carol is directed by Olivier award-winning Phelim McDermott, Artistic Director of Improbable, one of Britain’s most

inventive theatre companies, who is responsible for the iconic production Shockheaded Peter. McDermott also directed Theatre of Blood at the National Theatre in which Broadbent last appeared on stage. Joining them is the critically-acclaimed designer Tom Pye (The Testament of Mary, The Death of Klinghoffer, The Low Road) and Toby Sedgwick (War Horse, The 39 Steps) as Director of Movement, Peter Mumford will design the lighting and Gareth Fry will design sound.

A Christmas Carol and The Mackintosh Foundation are proud to be supporting St Martin-in-the-Fields’ Christmas Appeal by donating 50 pence for each ticket purchased. The appeal raises money to assist homeless people with shelter, food, help and advice. Customers, as part of the purchasing process, will be asked if they would also like to donate 50 pence with each ticket purchased. Registered charity no 1156305/261359.

Click here to buy tickets Photo: Andy Gott

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WILMA ASKS:

Are West End Ticket Prices Ridiculous Or Are We Just Silly For Paying them?

Social media has gone crazy in the last 24 hours since the full cast was announced for this years family musical Elf, coming to the Dominion Theatre 24 October 2015 – 2 January 2016. The show, which made its debut last Christmas in Dublin will star Ben Forster and Kimberley Walsh. So why the uproar?

Because ticket prices for this family show have hit an all time high ranging from £50 to a whopping £240… EACH! “Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit starring Will Ferrell, ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.”

So who is to blame? Can we really hold these shows accountable for being money hungry and exploiting audiences (4 tickets for a family to see Elf this Christmas could reach almost £1,000)? At the end of the day it’s business. When house prices surge and we find our home has doubled in value, do we consider ourselves greedy by taking thousands of pounds extra from someone? No, because we think if they are prepared to pay it then they think it is worth it and who are we to argue with the suckers!

So with theatre, unfortunately, while there are people in the world who are prepared to pay these ridiculous prices, producers will keep charging them. I don’t agree with the extortionate rates, however I think it’s very easy for the ticket buying public to blame the producers. If we didn’t buy the tickets, the shows wouldn’t succeed and prices would have to be put down.

Maybe this will be the show to make people take a stand.

Or maybe it will be a rip roaring box office success like the next most expensive show Book of Mormon (over £200 per ticket) and the producers will be very happy bunnies.

But if that happens, the audiences only have themselves to blame, for we are paying the prices they are charging.

West End Wilma

ELF REDUCE TICKET PRICES IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE In an unprecedented move, the producers of the smash hit musical ELF, opening at the newly refurbished Dominion Theatre in the heart of London’s West End, have bowed to overwhelming public and social media demand to introduce a more affordable ticket price to broaden the already wide demographic the show is attracting. The new price brand of £30 for a limited number of tickets are available now.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

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EDINBURGH REVIEWS

NINA CONTI

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PLEASANCE ONE

Daughter of actor Tom Conti, Nina Conti is a hilarious stage ventriloquist who has shot to fame with her clever face masks which are strapped to audience members faces and manipulated using a rubber tube held in her hand. She talks for the audience members without moving her lips and improvises embarrassing stories and anecdotes for them.

Nina has been acting since 2006 but it has only been the past ten years or so that she has begun comedy and the infamous ‘Monkey’ and ‘Granny’ puppets she has become known for.

Having seen Nina Conti on television shows before, I knew I had to go and see her at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. However, I wasn’t sure how funny the act I had seen on TV for five minutes at a time could be for

a whole hour long show. I needn’t have worried as by the time the show was after I was begging for more.

The hilarious thing about Nina is that she seems to find herself as hilarious as everyone else does. Not in a narcissistic sense but its as though she is sitting in the audience watching the show herself and she doesn’t even realise the words that are coming out of her mouth.

She reacts brilliantly which helps to give to illusion that the audience members are really talking and not her.

It’s hard to explain this improvised comedy show as it is different every night but I strongly urge you to look Nina up on YouTube if you aren’t familiar with her and then book to see her next available show. You will be crying with laughter by the time she has finished.

Reviewed by West End Wilma

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EDINBURGH REVIEWS

SWEET DREAMS : SONGS BY ANNIE LENNOX 

SING FOR YOUR LIFE – UNDERBELLY

A couple of years ago I saw a kooky young Australian man called Michael Griffiths perform ‘

You’ve probably seen those anti-abortion campaigners that go around protesting outside abortion clinics holding placards with pictures of dead foetuses on them? Sing For Your Life takes this approach regarding animal welfare and has turned it in to a comedy show.

In Vogue – The Songs of Madonna’ at the St James Studio in London. Here was a man, convinced he actually was Madonna (well just for fun of course) and put on an amazing show. “This is how you put on a cabaret show” I said. And so, when flicking through the Edinburgh Fringe catalogue this year, I squealed with delight to see a new show has been born. This time though it’s not Madonna he is idolising, it’s Annie Lennox.

Michael Griffiths is charismatic and charming as a performer, making the audience feel welcome and like you are sitting in his living room with him. On a very windy day in Edinburgh he made the audience feel at ease in the tent which sounded like it might fall down at any moment (It didn’t). His Piano playing skills are second to none and he touches the keys with love and passion. On top of all this, Michael is an amazing singer – he really does have the full package.

It’s funny how you can go in to see a show and think you only know a couple of the songs and then coming out realising you actually knew most of them! This is what happened with me and Annie Lennox. ‘Here Comes The Rain Again’, ‘No More I Love You’s’, ‘Walking On Broken Glass’, ‘Why’ and of course ‘Sweet Dreams’ are just some of the songs most of us will remember. Mixed in with these are cleverly written anecdotes about Annie’s life and relationship with Dave Stewart.

The hour long show is captivating, warm, well written and exquisitely performed. With Madonna and Annie Lennox tribute shows already perfected, polished and memorised, I can’t wait to see who Michael embodies next!

Reviewed by West End Wilma

We’ve all seen a stuffed animal at one time or another. A moose head on the wall or a bird on a perch. But this doesn’t really make us squirm because it is a dead animal. Charlie Tuesday Gates production of Sing For Your Life is certainly the opposite. It is an in your face protest about animal cruelty told ironically through the use of dead taxidermy animals, as puppets. The disgusting looking dead animals turned my stomach, I mean you could see where they had been cut open and sewn back together (with no stuffing). I wanted to walk out but forced myself to hang around to find out what it was all about.

A busy woman accidentally throws her pet dog out of the window and he finds himself wandering around the streets.

He gets taken in my a shady looking fox and badger who convince him to join their cabaret show they are putting on as that is the only way they think humans will believe there is more to them than just stupid animals. The majority of the show then becomes a cabaret performance. Chickens perform Britney Spears’s ‘I’m A Slave For You’ and Badger sings a version of ‘Bang Bang – My Baby Shot Me Down’.

Squirrels take on the part of backing singers and give some lovely harmonies during ‘Mr Sandman’.

There is clearly an important message that is being brought to audiences with this show. I haven’t stopped talking about the concept since I saw it. It really does raise the question of how we treat animals and furthermore how we think nothing of eating them because we forget they were once real animals.

Perhaps after seeing this show you will change your diet.

Sing For Your Life hasn’t got a great deal of story to it and the writing isn’t the best thing you will see at the fringe.

However, it does raise some very interesting questions about the society we live in and animal cruelty. It’s worth a watch and if you find you can’t stomach it, that is probably a good point to question why you have such a problem with it.

Reviewed by West End Wilma

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EDINBURGH REVIEWS

Bette Midler and Me – Gilded Balloon  Sue Kelvin is no stranger to the West End stage of London having performed in Fidler on the Roof, Chicago and most recently Wicked as Madame Morrible. Now up at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival she is playing homage to the Divine Miss M, Better Midler.

This isn’t your typical tribute show. Sue Kelvin doesn’t try to look or sound like Bette (although there are many recognisable inflections). The show, called Bette Midler and Me is exactly that, a walk through Sue’s live in parallel to Bette’s. Whilst Bette was struggling to make it as a star on Broadway, Sue was struggling to make it as a star in London after a difficult upbringing near Manchester.

The gorgeous Alex Young provides backing vocals and musical support on several instruments. In fact it feels harsh to call them backing vocals as she is very much a part of the show and complements Sue’s voice perfectly. Without her, I’m not sure this show would have had the same effect.

Sarah Travis was more than an Musical Director in this show, adding backing vocals and helping assist in comedy moments. Between the three ladies there were some incredible harmonies put into Bette’s classic songs such as The Rose, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Fat Stuff and of course Wind Beneath My Wings.

Highlights of this show are a wonderful, three minute slapstick run through of the film Beaches, using puppets as the lead characters (Avenue Q style) and some hilarious anecdotes about Bette’s friendship with Barry Manilow.

Reviewed by West End Wilma

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EDINBURGH REVIEWS

THE IRAQ PACK

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Live From Das Vegas – Voodoo Rooms You don’t go to see a show titled The Iraq Pack at 11pm if you are easily offended. And wow, this show does not hold back!

Back from their unsuccessful world tour, the singing dictators of dark cabaret have come to Edinburgh. The comedy war machine that is Frank Sanazi, Dean Stalin, Saddami Davis Jnr and Osama Bin Crosby, or the Four Crooners of the Apocalypse, as they are known take their audience through a whirlwind hour of craziness and comedy. There is even a hilarious game show of ‘The Price Is Reich’ where audience members have to guess ‘higher or lower’, not to playing cards but to pictures of murderers, guessing ‘who killed more people’.

Hilarious renditions of parody Rat Pack songs like Strangers on My Flight, Ain’t That a Shot in the Head, and Mein Way are washed down with jokes about Madelaine McCann holding the world record for longest game of hide and seek and pop bands Reich Said Fred, Koran Koran and Jihadiwaddi.

The Iraq Pack isn’t going to appeal to everyone. If you’re easily offended and can’t sit back and laugh at the terrible world we live in then this certainly isn’t for you. But, if you think it sounds like fun, you will have a blast!

Reviewed by West End Wilma

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EDINBURGH REVIEWS

DIANE CHORLEY

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DUCHESS OF CANVEY – UNDERBELLY

“I was born in Canvey on the coldest day of the year.

Mum said I was steaming when I came out. She was a good woman, hands like iron files she had, teeth like crackling. My father was a Hodd Carrier. Silent as bread, big old boots, never said a word. Turns out he was having an affair with a chiropodist from Billericay. Mum found out and killed him. Literally. Eve of my sixteenth birthday and I was introduced to motherhood. Well, looking after our Wayne, he’s my little brother. Mum got life.

Diane Chorley Duchess of Canvey hasn’t had an easy life but my god has it been eventful. It’s the late 70’s, with Dad dead and Mum doing life it was just her and her little brother, Wayne, left to fend for themselves on the estate in Canvey. She left school early, “I weren’t learning nothing there anyways” and started a lucrative business selling drugs, “I asked Ron and Cancer Barry to be my ‘weight’ and we had ourselves a firm.” In a bid to legitimise her lifestyle she opened a night club, “I opened those doors as wide as I could. The gays, the straights, the Gary’s, the Punks, the Goths, the Yuppies, everyone was welcome down The Flick.” The club kicked off and Diane shot to fame rubbing shoulders with the likes of Jason Donavan, Roy Walker and Mick Jagger and before long she was recording her own album, “I was a bleeding house old name.”

“Of course no one could have predicted it would all end quite as spectacularly as it did. I wish I had time to tell

you it all my babe, but I’ve got to sign on.”

This is the story we hear as Diane recounts the life events that have lead her to this very moment, backed up by her band of miss fits plucked straight out of the Adams Family, and her partner, her man, her rock, Ron. She is your typical Essex bird in a jump suit and a perm and a whole lot of love for everyone. She captures this character perfectly and draws us all in with her warmth.

It’s nostalgic, Diane could quite easily be your mum’s mate from back in the day, your not-so-typical working class gal with a story to tell. She recounts these events in between renditions of various songs both originals from her album (gems such as “Dagenham Eyes” and “Love is a Game”) and a few covers with her own added flare for good measure. It’s cabaret at its finest, with hilarious songs supported by the hugely talented band.

Ron the manly mono-tonal but loveable sweetheart, seems so out of place in this camp setting, but it’s clear he has a deep connection with Diane and offers the finishing touches to an already side splitting set. Then of course there’s the Duchess herself Diane, she captures our hearts from the off with her ridiculous but relatable stories that are offered to us through casual chat, a lip twitch and a cheeky look, she works the audience masterfully letting us all know for certain who the royalty around here really is “alright my babes?”

Reviewed by Bob Galereux westendwilma.com

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REVIEWS

WILLEMIJN VERKAIK LIVE IN CONCERT

AMBASSADORS THEATRE

Willemijn Verkaik is known as the international Elphaba, having originated the lead role in the German production of Wicked the Musical and then playing the role in Dutch, on Broadway and most recently on London’s West End stage. Last night she played a sold out concert at London’s Ambassadors Theatre (current home of STOMP) and if you weren’t there, you missed a treat.

I must admit, I went in to this show not knowing what to expect.

Apart from Willemijn’s incredible Wicked journey, I wasn’t too familiar with anything else she had done in her career. Luckily, Willemijn said she wanted the concert to allow people to find out more about her – and we certainly did.

Willemijn performed two 45 minute sets and closed both with roof raising numbers. Her rendition of Disney’s Frozen hit Let It Go, which she performed in English, as well as Dutch and German, was incredible. This wasn’t a huge surprise after finding out Willemijn provided the voice of Elsa in the Dutch and German films. Closing the concert was a wonderful melody of ‘the big three’ from Wicked. The Wizard and I, No Good Deed and Defying Gravity all put together to form a rifftastic rendition showing why Willemijn is known as one of the greatest Elphabas ever. Other treats of the evening included songs from Tarzan (which Willemijn is currently starring in over in Stuttgart), Mamma Mia’s The Winner Takes It All and We Will Rock You’s Another One Bites The Dust.

The night also included a Q&A section, hosted by What’s On Stage and special guests Victoria Hamilton Barritt and James Fox who sang duets with Willemijn.

The concert was more than I expected it to be. Backed by a wonderful 4 piece band Willemijn sang a variety of songs from Musical Theatre to Dutch pop and kept the audience entertained throughout. Willemijn has more than proved herself as a well deserving west end star and with legendary theatre director Trevor Nunn in the audience last night, I have a feeling this won’t be the last we see of her!

Reviewed by West End Wilma Photo: Jay Brooks

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REVIEWS

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT

SUNDERLAND EMPIRE THEATRE

Starring Duncan James as disillusioned drag queen

Tick (Mitzi), Priscilla (the bus) takes Tick from Sydney to Alice Springs at the request of his estranged wife Marion (Naomi Slights) to meet his 6 year old son Benji (Cameron Lant and Christian Odell-Lowery sharing the role). Tick takes with him recently widowed transexual Bernadette (Simon Green) and fellow drag artist Adam (Felicia) played by Adam Bailey. Picking up mechanic Bob (Philip Childs) along the way.

You know you are in for a fun time when the warning at the beginning of the show tells you take off your wig so the people behind can see. And fun it is, with dancing diva’s descending from the heavens, a myriad of colourful costumes (designed by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner) and a cheesefest of songs played by the band led by Matthew J Loughran.

Duncan James is surprisingly good in the role, his Australian accent never wavers and his doubts and worries about the trip make him human beneath the make-up. Another bonus is that he looks good whether in jeans, one piece swimming costume, ball gown or just his tiny y-fronts! Green and Bailey are also a delight to watch, with the former stealing the show and limelight

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from the other two leads on many an occasion.

Whilst full of glitz and glam, feathers and sequins, at the heart of the show is story of overcoming prejudices whether it be their own or from rednecks and hillbillies they encounter on their travels. And a tale of love; Tick and the love he has for his son, the blossoming romance between Bob and Bernadette and Adam learning to love himself for who and what he is.

Packed with well known numbers like I Will Survive, It’s Raining Men, Don’t Leave Me That Way, Go West and Hot Stuff, you can’t help but tap your feet. But it’s the Pat Benatar classic We Belong that steals the show for me. Showing in one song how to overcome everything life throws at you, it is the rightful final showstopper.

Priscilla is a show to see with your friends on a fun evening out, it doesn’t take itself seriously and neither should you. Its camp and kitsch and feel good from the first spin of the glitterball to the last.

Reviewed by Lindsay Sykes Photo: Paul Coltas

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REVIEWS THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

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UK & IRELAND TOUR

Having read the novel that inspired this play and been blown away by Mark Haddon’s literary interpretation of Christopher Boone’s world, you would forgive me for being somewhat apprehensive of seeing this piece.

From the minute I walked into the auditorium, however, at the Leeds Grand Theatre, I felt instantly at ease and excited for the spectacle that would shortly take place.

Curious tells the story of Christopher Boone, a 15 year old (well, 15 years, 3 months and 2 days, precisely) boy with Asperger’s Syndrome and how he, upon the discovery of his neighbour’s dead dog, sets out to discover who killed it and along the way ends up piecing together more mysteries than anyone really wanted solving.

At our performance, Christopher’s multitude of eccentricities were perfectly embodied by Chris Ashby, the alternate Christopher for this production. He really brought the character to life, which, as a person without the Asperger’s, is not an easy task to get right. He was, of course, supported excellently by a fantastic ensemble.

Particularly, Geraldine Alexander and Stuart Laing, who portrayed Christopher’s teacher Siobhan and his father, Ed, who help to narrate the story and convey emotion in Christopher’s emotionless world.

Designed by Bunny Christie, the set, whilst minimalistic, is only minutely altered for the tour. The stark black and white cube with hidden cupboards and drawers on every wall, is a perfect representation of Christopher’s brain

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and the way he likes to be logical and compartmentalise things in different areas of his mind. It is all brought to life by the incredible projections and lighting, that in an innovative way, transport you to the different locations the investigation takes Christopher.

But how in a show without a lot of set pieces does this change of scenery happen, I hear you ask! Well, through the use of some incredible, visually stunning physical theatre and contemporary movement, the actors themselves become doors, beds and even a cash machine, whilst in another scene Christopher is an astronaut on a space walk and is floating around with the help of the ensemble. It really is a treat to see it live and I feel my words do not do it nearly enough justice!

Curious Incident is a funny, beautiful and life affirming piece that sheds a light on the world of the Autistic Spectrum and gives us an incredible insight into the lives of those living with such conditions allowing us to understand how they feel. It really is a one of a kind and I urge anyone to see it!

Reviewed by James Rew Photo: Brinkhoff Mögenberg

REVIEWS

SWEET CHARITY - CADOGAN HALL A star studded concert version of the 1966 Broadway musical Sweet Charity, originally choreographed by the legendary Bob Fosse is playing a four night run at London’s swanky Cadogan Hall in Sloane Square.

Starring Denise Van Outen, Michael Xavier, Kerry Ellis and Kimberley Walsh, this is one show I couldn’t miss!

Charity Hope Valentine is a dancer in a club and unlucky in love. She is determined to find a way out of the life the has found herself living and she soon gets her meal ticket in the form of film star Vittorio Vidal who takes her out to dinner to get back at his girlfriend after an argument.

After spending the night hiding in Vittorio’s wardrobe after his girlfriend returns, she leaves the apartment and later finds herself stuck in a lift with a man and they fall in love. But will this respectable man still want to marry her when he finds out she is really a dance hall hostess or will Charity be left at the altar in tears?

With hit songs like Big Spender and If My Friends Could See Me Now, Sweet Charity is a toe tapping show with some great song and performances. Denise Van Outen was good in the lead role of Charity although she did at times rely on a script to remember her lines. However this was done very well and it was barely noticeable that she was glancing at her lines. Kerry Ellis and Kimberley Walsh were both good and sang well together. It would have been nice to see them both with slightly bigger parts as I didn’t feel they got enough chance to shine

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as individuals. The stand out performer was Michael Xavier as Italian superstar Vittorio Vidal and also geeky sap Oscar Lindquist. Both roles were very different and exquisitely performed. The Arts Ed (drama school) ensemble did a great job providing some great dance moves and a real love in their eyes for the opportunity they have received. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was a lovely touch and perfect for the Cadogan Hall venue.

For a concert version the show was staged well, although I was left a little underwhelmed with the way the famous ‘pushing Charity in the lake’ scene was performed. All this aside, Sweet Charity is a lovely little musical and with this star studded line up it is a great night out. Fans of Fosse won’t be disappointed with the choreography and slick moves performed. If you don’t want to pay £250 to see Kimberley Walsh in Elf the Musical this Christmas then you can see her in this show instead for a fraction of the price! Go check it out.

Reviewed by West End Wilma Photo: Alex MacNaughton

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