Category: #plays

#Review By Lou of Serious Theatre For Serious People EdFringe24 #WhatsonEdin #WhatsonEdinburgh Venue 24 #EdFringeReview

Serious Theatre For Serious People
By Charlotte Anne-Tilley and Mabel Thomas 

Gilded Balloon Patterhouse 1pm (1hr) Aug 10-11, 13-18, 20-26
Suitable for 8 plus

Review by Louise Cannon

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Serious Theatre for Serious People

I took a chance on Serious Theatre for Serious People. I wasn’t certain it would be good, but sounded worth taking a punt on. It’s absolutely worth taking a chance on. This two-hander is incredibly good fun for an entertaining hour in an afternoon. 

Arousing the audience before anyone is on-set ‘Our House’ played, until Charlotte Anne-Tilley  and Mabel Thomas begin this satirical comedy play about youth theatre.

Taking place in At Bet On Youth Theatre (a reference to High School Musical) Charlotte and Mabel immediately engage the audience with their antics and a bit of audience participation.
They play many people between them who attend the youth theatre and are wanting to make it to the big time. They want to have their performances shown at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Each character introduced and played was done well, a slight change of prop here and there, a certain way and place of standing made it easy to distinguish who was who, making it easier to follow the storyline.

It of course doesn’t all go plain-sailing, there are the theatrics in behaviours and , the near fallings out, the working on separate shows in secret, until it’s all let out, which leads to near catastrophe and a cancelling of everything the students desire. How it plays out is very funny and a little shocking, Fire Starter, anyone? You need to attend to see what I’m referencing. They give The Gilded Balloon managers some grief and hard decisions to make and emotions are running sky-high.

It’s clever how they reference, and more, other shows at the Fringe Festival, as clever how lots of music is referenced from pop to Disney. They burst into song every so often with different words to well-known songs that just adds to the comical side of this and is skilfully placed in the play.

The play turns into a play within a play, which is equally entertaining and brings the discussions from before, together.

This is a very fun, humorous and clever play that I recommend taking a punt on.

Tickets and more Info here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/serious-theatre-from-serious-people#

#EdFringe News – A Montage of Monet #Theatre #Play #Drama #Monet #UnleashYourFringe #AMontageOfMonet #ThreeDumbTheatre

In this new show about Monet, we become privy to his private life, his lovers, and the Impressionist movement of the 19th Century. Discover more below and how to get tickets.

Threedumb Theatre presents A Montage of Monet

A Montage of Monet

Claude Monet lived from 1840-1926 and is often hailed as ‘the Founder of Impressionism’. This brand-new solo show examines the complex inner thoughts of the man behind the paintings. The audience joins an aged Monet in his studio at Giverny. He is suffering from unsuccessful cataract surgery and burdened with a daunting commission to create his – what will be – world-famous Water Lilies. With the innovative inclusion of multi-media projection and sound design, Monet (played by prolific solo show creator, Stephen Smith) takes the audience on a journey through his life. We become privy to his thoughts on fellow impressionists; gain insight on his ground-breaking artistic techniques; absorb an education on the development of the Impressionist movement; and learn controversial and sordid details regarding his private life.

Both Stephen (Performer/Director) and Joan Greening (Playwright) have an artistic background; Stephen being a portrait artist, and Joan an art historian and lecturer. “I am delighted to be working with an award-winning actor, and to be returning to the EdFringe this summer” says playwright Joan, who has presented many new plays at the festival. After meeting Stephen at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, where he played Steve Jobs in Apple of My Eye (Bobby Award-winner), she decided to start writing this new solo show for him. “It’s a new challenge for me” says Stephen, “as the character is not only much older than me, but also another nationality! In the true spirit of impressionism, I am keen to offer an expression of Claude Monet to our EdFringe audiences, which will encourage viewers to delve further into Monet’s influential and revolutionary artwork.”

A Montage of Monet arrives at the Edinburgh Fringe after two preview shows: at Pump House Theatre for the Watford Fringe on 20th July, and at Macready Theatre on 28th July.

Reviews of previous solo shows:

★★★★★ “What you will take away from Dog/Actor is Smith’s inimitable talent ” Broadway Baby on Dog/Actor

★★★★★ “Stephen Smith is a hurricane of talent ” – Everything Theatre on Dog/Actor

★★★★★ “Smith is real, raw, emotional, and worthy of an Olivier Award, in my opinion ” LondonTheatre1 on Harry’s Christmas

★★★★★ “An intimate and spellbinding performance by Smith ” North West End on One Man Poe

Written by Joan Greening

Performed and Directed by Stephen Smith

Music by Joseph Furey and Projection Design by Stephen Smith

Produced by Threedumb Theatre (www.threedumbtheatre.com / @3dumbtheatre)

Venue: Mint Studio, Greenside @ George St, 22-26 George St, Edinburgh

Date / Time: 2nd – 17th August (not 11th) / 14:00 (55 mins)

Tickets: £12 / £10 concessions (£7.00 previews on 2nd & 3rd August)

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/montage-of-monet

Box Office Phone Number: 0131 226 0000

#Theatre Post By Lou of – Strong Wind @SCENATHEATRE #StrongWind

Strong Wind
By Jon Fosse
Artistic Director, Robert McNamara

In US Theatre Now

Strong Wind home graphic

The temperature is dropping, the nights are drawing in and there’s moment of lull. All the fun of Trick or Treating is over and it isn’t quite Thanksgiving or Christmas, the solution may just lie within theatres. So, why not take a moment to pause and treat yourself to a night of premier theatre performed by SCENA. There is even a sale on until November 9th, 2023. See details below, including a link to tickets.

Strong Wind – November 2-26 2023 at DC Arts Center,  Adams Morgan.
                                             Wed – Sat 7:30pm       Sun – 2:30pm
2438 18th St. NW Washington, DC 20009

wp-1699295847292Strong Wind is a surreal, tragicomic tale. A man who has been away a long time peers out the window of the flat he shares with his wife. But is this still his home… and is this still his life? Or does he belong to the past — a spectator of his own abyss?

wp-1699295847310

This is the story of one man’s attempt to return to a life where nothing is certain.

Playwright Fosse is the most performed living writer in Europe—and the 2010 winner of the coveted Ibsen Award.

Buy Tickets Here: Strong Wind

*Please note I am not affiliated to the play, nor the theatre company.

#TheatreReview By Lou of Can’t Wait to Leave @theSpaceUK #StephensonsTheatre @SurgeonsHall #EdFringe #FringeEdin #WhatsOnEdi #WhatsOnStage #ContemporaryDrama #StagePlay #ContemporaryPlay #CantWaitToLeave @SirTerenceBoot

Can’t Wait to Leave

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Find out what the Edinburgh Fringe Brochure says and then onto my review and where to purchase tickets:

You can find this one man play, performed by Zach Hawkins and directed and written by Stephen Leach in the Surgeon’s Hall on Nicholson St, Edinburgh as part of it being The Space Venues for the Edinburgh Fringe Theatre.

Meet Ryan. Nineteen (but young for his age). School drop-out (but smart). Turkey-sandwich enthusiast (365 days a year). Absolute stunner (no addendum). He’s new in town, and all he wants to do is check out. The hard part is coming up with an exit plan. When the one person he thought he could rely on ups and leaves, Ryan finds himself adrift in a city he still hasn’t learned to like, looking for direction. Six months to kill, no money, no rules… surely this is the worst possible time to be alone?

Review

Can’t Wait to Leave is tender, enthralling, energetic, shocking and yet a little something in there that by the end of it all, makes you leave at the end, feeling uplifted. The play is a one man play and is suitable for 16 years plus. I recommend the play for something told in a refreshing way!

Stephen Leach is writer and director of the play as Zach Hawkins brings the  character of Ryan to life. Throughout the play, it felt a bit like sitting in a pub with him with the jokey and conversational manner, which was clever. Not quite like you’re the only person in the room, but in certain parts, nearing those heady heights, but a good ambience, like you’re in with a group of pals. He does, indeed take you to a pub and the people he meets. It’s a minimalist set, but it really doesn’t matter for such a performance. It holds the attention well and all eyes are on Hawkins as you listen to what he is telling you about the various places he goes. He has the audience in the palm of his hands as he races along, playing his part. There are clever nuances here and there too, amongst the joviality and sadness. By the end you really get to know who Ryan is, how he interacts with people, his desperation to leave London, the relationships he has and how some gay people view bi-sexuals. Whether you’re gay, straight, bi etc there’s something to relate to. That date that goes terribly wrong, the profile photos not being entirely truthful on dating sites, the violence of some people, that feeling of being trapped in a place you don’t want to be, just waiting for an opportune moment to leave. The question is, will he or will he not?

The conversational vibe of this fabulous narrative meant he could tell an entire story of the many people who come and go in his life, from his brother Ben to his relationships. He talks a lot about Ben and how he is a high flyer in the accountancy world, got the woman of his dreams and is moving. It’s a great contrast to Ryan, who is more one of life’s drifters but with aspirations and dreams of “making it” and leaving London. Don’t be mistaken, this isn’t a “woe me” type of play. It has bags of humour and pathos; dramatic scenes that twist and turns and makes the audience shudder and gasp and uplifting moments that surprise and throughout, the audience encounters life and energy as well as important life moments and important issues. How it is all spun out is refreshing and the fact you’re not only told about someone who is succeeding in all aspects of life, but also the other side and how there are people who aren’t instant successes is really great and people will relate in some ways to Ryan and to all the people mentioned. He takes you with him with clever writing and delivery, on Ryan’s journey, captivating from beginning to end. It’s a great debut and one I recommend you go and see.

You can find out more and where to purchase tickets by clicking the link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/can-t-wait-to-leave

Thank you to The Space UK venues and Stephen Leach for inviting me to watch the play in-exchange of an honest review.

Review of the BBC Radio Play – Lunch (recipe link included) Rated 5 stars – #MarcyKahan #ClaireSkinner #StephenMangan #Audible #Play #BBCAudioBooks

Lunch
By Marcy Kahan
Starring Claire Sinner and Stephen Mangan
Rated: 5 Stars *****

Lunch has it all. It has food and friendship, so many aspects of life between 2 characters who lead different lives and come together once a month. It has a large helping of the most wonderful humour and warmth. It also has family life, employment life, romance. It also shows that whatever you do, whatever your views, you can still be friends. It has so much that would be relatable to so many people. This is one sitcom I’ve listened to a number of times, it is that good!
I finally had a bit of time to spontaneously write a review. Also check out the link I’ve added from BBC Good Food and also the Audible Link  to the sitcom itself in the review.

Find out more in the blurb and my review.

Lunch

Blurb

Stephen Mangan and Claire Skinner star in all five series of the popular BBC Radio 4 comedy drama.

Bill works as an economist in a right-wing institute giving succour to bankers and businessmen. Bella teaches yoga, waters the plants in Canary Wharf and holds Proust seminars for retirees. Years ago they shared a flat before Bill got married and moved to America. Now he’s back and feeling a little off-kilter, so he decides to rekindle his friendship with Bella.

Once a month they get together for lunch, where they talk about everything from politics to Proust, parenting and the perils of online dating. The only thing they never discuss is how much they love each other….

In Marcy Kahan’s delightful “platonic romantic comedy”, we join Bill and Bella as they meet, eat and disagree about everything; and over the course of four series, we learn their hopes and dreams and listen in as their lives change direction.

Review

I first came across Lunch on BBC Radio 4 a few years ago. It is so easy and such fun to listen to, that I’ve listened to it quite a number of times. It’s one of the most fabulously entertaining and humorous two-hander plays from BBC Radio 4 and now can be found on Audible, that is still as important then as it is now, in such divisions of countries, including the UK. It also features wonderful food as Bill (Stephen Mangan) and Bella (Claire Skinner) meet once a month in cafes as you hear their lives play out. Expect lots of mentions of glorious food from pho-ga (Vietnamese chicken soup) to eggs to salad and more… Just below is a link to a recipe that I use to make pho-ga at home. It sounds more complex than it is and is heartwarming, aromatic deliciousness. I think so anyway. I got inspired to try it out when listening to the play…

Click link for recipe:
BBC Good Food Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup (Pho-Ga) Recipe

This play is so important for our times. It shows how two people who have very different jobs, lives and opposing political views can still civily meet-up for lunch and talk about life, work, family, loves and generally have a nice time. It’s a pretty spectacular message and one of unity. This is a essentially a comedy and is really rather funny as Bill (Stephen Mangan) and Bella (Claire Skinner) get to a point of where they just aren’t admitting their feelings for each other. It also cleverly weaves wit into their differing views. There is also the coming together to help each other out by listening to each other and giving advice to even Bill trying out a bit of roleplay with Bella to practice for an interview on Newsnight. There is much wit when Bill asks what Bella is looking for out of no less than 3 lovers who she meets. The way some of the lines are said (as throughout), are pure fun! This shows what brilliant actors Stephen Mangan and Claire Skinner are. They bring Marcy Kahan’s intuitive and witty script-writing to life in such a believable way.

Both characters are easy to like and care about what happens to them. It is one of the most uplifting radio plays and one that has an important point to say, that it doesn’t matter what side of the fence you are on for jobs or politics, you can still be friends and you may even become lovers. There’s a sense of unity amongst that so-called dividing line, and that’s what makes this glorious, as well as the laugh out loud humour. There is a lot to smile about in this audio play.

Audible Link          Click here for Lunch

Lunch

#Review of Anno Domino By Alan Ayckbourn – Observational Audio Play at its best – rated 5 stars @Ayckbourn @thesjt #Play #LockDownTheatre #AnnoDomino


Anno Domino
By Alan Ayckbourn
Rated: 5 stars *****
Available Now Until 25th June

After listening to Anno Domino, I decided I would write a review for it. Discover the cast, synposis and review, then at the bottom, the link where you too can listen in this fabulous play. There are also captioned productions available. The Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, does ask that if you would like to donate, then feel free to. 

This is an online theatrical treat to behold, which is an online exclusive for The Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, intorduced by Paul Robinson, the Artistic Director Not only is the play written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn, but it is also starring him alongside his wife, actor Helen Stoney. They play 8 characters ranging from 18 to their mid 70s. It marks Alan’s return to professional acting 56 years after his first stage performance. Since then he has written and directed plays such as:

     Ten Times Table               Life of Riley                    Seasons Greetings
                              Bedroom Farce                   The Norman Conquests                                                             Birthdays Past, Birthdays Present
                                                     and many more              

This, however, is a momentous occasion as it is the first time Alan Ayckbourn has acted, written and directed in the same show.

Heather Stoney is known for shows such as:

Z Cars              Raw Meat         Masquerade and more…

Anno Domino         Anno Domino         Anno Domino


Play List of characters and cast

Alan Ayckbourn  plays Ben, Craig, Razz (Raymond) and Sam 
Heather Stoney plays Ella, Martha, Cinny and Milly
Stephen Joseph Theatre Production

Synopsis

Sam and Milly are gathering the family together for their 25th wedding anniversary dinner at their favourite local bistro.

They’ll be joined there by Sam’s parents, Ben and Ella; his sister, Martha, and her new partner, Craig, and Martha’s son Raz. Also present – and she’s definitely caught Raz’s eye – is trainee restaurant manager Cinny.

But Sam and Milly have some life-changing news to share.

As the family prepares for the big event, we catch a glimpse into each of their living rooms and lives. Every couple has their tough moments: Anno Domino asks what happens when the strongest of us falls apart. How do our actions ripple out and affect those we love?

Review

The dominos (people) that stood upright in the certainties of life start to wobble. It’s a great premise and name to show how people can start to fall and if you imagine the domino effect, how one domino affects the next and the next and so on, this is what this play shows very deftly, with people. There is humour, sadness and cause and effect spanning throughout the different generations. It’s a masterful and observational of human life.

The play starts with Sam and Milly’s silver wedding anniversary. The getting ready to go out is full of humour and what everyone can relate to, supposed lost handbags, the fussing around the teen son, Raymond who is too into his music. They have a big announcement to make to Sam’s family. The lead up to it is well executed and revelations come out. It is nuanced as conversations play out about what  couples do as life moves onwards to different life stages. It has everything that Alan Ayckbourn is a master at, when creating a play for the stage. This medium of online has not affected his writing, directing, acting at all. His wife Heather Stoney also plays her characters very well and the 2 have made this fabulous play come to life, and I should think, that’s no mean feat. The actors really do move seamlessly and convincingly between the age ranges and characters.

In the first act, listeners get to know the characters pretty well and the people the main characters know, with that sublime humour throughout.

Act 2 takes place in the garden, where plants and family bonding occurs.
There’s really interesting and sage advice to Raymond (Razz). It’s eloquent and also cleverly layers in a bit of background to characters.

Things get a bit heated over very strong, definite, but differing opinions are formed between some of the character.

In a twist, revelations about relationships come out and come to a head and bit by bit, the domino effect happens from a sole event.

In another twist, there is some heartwarming moments to be had in the play.

Link to the website –

Listen Here