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Festivals, Uncategorized

Review, Pernille Haaland: Not Related, Gilded Balloon, Ed Fringe, by Hannah Goslin

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out of 5 stars (3 / 5)

It is always refreshing to see a young female comedian on the circuit. It feels lacking (when hasn’t it been for females) so being invited to this show was exciting.

Pernille Haaland, as the name suggests (and as she tells us), is a Norwegian-British comedian whose set features around this, around Scotland (as that’s where we are) but also life as an unapologetic millennial in 2024 – something I resonate deeply with.

She is welcoming and interactive, which is always difficult for comedians and with a British crowd who’d rather you didn’t speak or look at them and she does well to break these walls down. With any reluctance, she has a quip and way to keep momentum which is very well executed and could be nerve wracking to many.

As I say, I resonated much with her topics – dating (and no barriers to her experiences in this), getting older, women’s medical issues and everything beyond and in between. For me, the comedy came much from this acknowledgement in a kind-of “I get it” concept. She is openly not knowledgeable about marriage or lesbian relationships, of which the crowd contains a few and so her humour leans on this. But there are times when her openness and likeability comes across as nerves and followed by a nervous laughter. Understandable, but it felt a little like she was running through her set at a million miles an hour. I mostly wanted to hug her and tell her to breathe and that she was doing great.

It is clear that Haaland is certainly an up and come-er. Her no-holding back approach to life and her content is refreshing in a world where females are still told to be quiet and not so crude. She just needs some more confidence in herself and to pace the set to hook the audience at a state of ease.

Festivals, Musical, Theatre, Uncategorized

Review, Kafka’s Metamorphosis: The Musical! With Puppets!, Pleasance Dome, Ed Fringe, by Hannah Goslin

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out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

If you grew up studying drama in the UK, you will well know Metamorphosis. A surreal tale, it was always a good catalyst for teenage kids to develop their drama devising talents. And we have all heard of Kafka; but here is the crux, I knew little else of him apart from his name and writing of this story.

A juxtaposition of Kafka’s life versus his story, we dip in and out of the two, seeing similarities and just how much he threw himself into his writing. What could be a deep and troubling tale, is somehow lightened and emotive in the way musicals are by turning it into one. There are times of deep ballads and almost standing ovation worthy crescendos, but then there is also a song noting “F*** my life”. There is the perfect balance of comedy and deep feelings.

Throw in some puppetry and we see a popular trend of musicals meeting puppetry since Avenue Q. This isn’t the old children’s puppetry show and something about that innocence when the puppet is shouting obscenities is silly but also well done.

The singing is brilliant. Un-faltered and reverberating in this enclosed space, it hits deep and almost is too much for such a small room (in a good way). The performers are every ounce professional, making eye contact, engaging with us either indirectly or directly and fantastic at picking up on unplanned engagement. They bounce off one another without a foot wrong and it is not only entertaining but fun.

Kafka’s Metamorphosis: The Musical! With Puppets! is yet another new way to take on the well know story, bringing humour and elements of heartbreak while easily jumping and perfecting different unlikely theatrical elements. And for those like me who knew little of Kafka, it is entirely a learning experience of his life.

Festivals, Opera & classical, Theatre, Uncategorized

Review, QUEENS, Anne Welenc, Summerhall, Ed Fringe, By Hannah Goslin

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out of 5 stars (3 / 5)

In the underworld, meets a post apocalyptic, sci fi existence, the unlikely friendship of Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I meet, in a zombie/un-dead state along with Penthesilea and Valkyrie. This bizarre but fantastical story is every element thought provoking, chaotic and camp.

Stuck in limbo, these matriarchs have an almost symbiotic relationship – love and hate, dependant and independent, they touch upon history and pop culture to bring a discussion of appropriate rule within the patriarchy and modern world.

Our main Queens are drag artists, balding heads and darkened teeth, they are hammed up versions of historical portrayals with attention to detail such as the blood under Mary’s pearls. The two are opposites – appropriate in Scotland – Mary is in white and Elizabeth in black. Not only does this feel like a nod to Scotland but against the grain of the virginal Queen versus the evil Scottish usurper. Unsurprisingly from this, Elizabeth becomes wild and unruly, creating a juxtaposition of characters.

It is no surprise that the group are from Berlin and so the no holding back breaking of barriers, absurdity and level of camp fills every bit of the production and it is brilliant. However, there are elements that sometimes are either too complicated or wild that there are certainly gaps of understanding and loss on a British audience. Its crudeness again aims to shock and for the average audience, this works – the uneasy giggling amongst, but it is also Bouffon – shown in their garments and padding all the way to the taboo.

QUEENS encapsulates Berlin LGBTQI+ culture, with the crudeness of a drag show, meeting punk and thoughtful commentary on patriarchy, history and popular culture. A brilliant show but perhaps more of a knowledge of this culture is needed for audiences to alleviate the gaps in energy.

Festivals, Theatre, Uncategorized

Review, Shotgunned, Kangaroo Court Productions, Ed Fringe, By Hannah Goslin

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out of 5 stars (3 / 5)

A tale as old as time… well… not quite in the Beauty and the Beast sense, but in a much more relatable, modern way.

Shotgunned is a rom-com meets coming of age story, where love is strong and intense, throwing in life changing events and eventually leading to the sense of “the one that got away”. It is equally heartbreaking and humourous, and follows the lost love story-lines we see more and more of; from 500 Days of Summer, One Day and David Nicholls’ other lost love book, Sweet Sorrow… this is a love story but not with its usual happy ending.

Ros and Dylan, intertwined already by their exes, meet at a party and in time fall in love, get pregnant, lose the baby and lose one another. With the use of blackouts, we jump forward and back in time, to see the happy times and then the breakdowns, mixing the timeline to keep us guessing. This is theatre and so keeping this non-linear is a good theatrical technique. However, the blackouts felt a little amateur and lost a bit of the theatricality for me. Maybe a song and light interlude or a clever exchange of props to slide into the next scene would give this some edge.

The performers have their A game on – like any fringe show, there are interruptions from late patrons and this doesn’t disturb them. Their connection feels natural and so the hard bits feel so much harder and the nice bits feel all the bit more light. You can’t help but get into their love. But there were times where I couldn’t quite gel with them as a couple and therefore [spoiler!] when they break up and never end up together, it isn’t as gut wrenching as it is meant to be. But you’re happy for them either way. It isn’t the acting nor is it the acting… but there’s something about these characters that just doesn’t hold you as a couple.

The writing is fantastic and helps with the bouncing of the characters, using moments of calling back to make you chuckle or gasp in recognition of a former conversation or comment. These are also used to go from positive to negative and visa versa, adding layers to the intimacy of these two characters.

Shotgunned is a lovely show. I really enjoyed it, with it feeling equal parts light and blue. Once further developed, this could be something that could really resonate with audiences.

Musical, Theatre

Review, Heathers The Musical –Wales Millennium Centre, 13th August 2024 by Bethan England

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out of 5 stars (5 / 5)

Heathers certainly has a cult following if the red, green, yellow and blue costumes in the audience are anything to go by and judging by the overwhelming response to every single musical number in the show!

Based on the film of the same name released in 1989, Heathers has had a successful run of productions both on Broadway and in the West End. In fact, the most recent tour was 2023, so the show’s popularity is obvious. It has gone through various iterations and versions, with the most recent featuring new songs and replacements for others. ‘Blue’ is replaced with ‘You’re Welcome;’ Heather Duke gets a song in ‘Never Shut Up Again’ and we get the big, belt number, ‘I Say No’ for Veronica, originally created for Carrie Hope Fletcher when she played the role in the West End.

The story is a dark comedy, with particularly intense and difficult themes. Nothing is shied away from; we see bullying, teen suicide, sexual assault and school violence. Veronica longs to simply survive High School without being bullied and picked on every single day. She manages to convince the Heathers, a group of ultra popular, ‘teflon’ girls to accept her as one of their own, and chaos ensues. She meets the enigmatic and damaged new student JD, and inadvertently gets caught up in his desires to rid the world and their high school of anyone he deems unacceptable to the better society he envisions. The show embraces these tough subjects and never holds back. It grabs you by your coloured school blazer and refuses to let go until the very end.

The action bursts onto the stage with ‘Beautiful,’ introducing us to Veronica and Westerburg High in 1989. Jenna Innes returns to the role after the tour in 2023; she is a fantastic Veronica, the loveable nerd who just wishes High School could be different, that everyone could get along just like they did in Kindergarten. The song is a fantastic opener, introducing all the characters and setting the tone for the darkly comic nature of the show.

Jenna Innes is entirely believable as Veronica, with a powerful voice and exceptional delivery of both dramatic and comic lines. She is quickly corrupted by her involvement with the Heathers and the damaged JD. This is not an easy sing, (and she barely leaves the stage!), but she delivers the big numbers with absolute ease, and I particularly love her facial expressions and reactions to everything going on around her. My favourite number is ‘I Say No,’ but every song is delivered with poise and a belt to die for. Her character arc is expertly delivered, and this is clearly a role that Jenna adores and was born to play.

‘Beautiful’ also introduces us to the Heathers themselves, Heather McNamara, ‘the head cheerleader,’ Heather Duke, ‘no discernible personality but her mom paid for implants’ and of course, Heather Chandler who is a ‘mythic bitch.’ They work so well together as a group; ‘Candy Store’ is exceptional; harmonies and dancing are on point and the lyrics are entirely inappropriate and therefore, completely hilarious. Each Heather gives a great performance, each clearly have fantastic vocal chops and can dance to match. Esme Bowdler particularly comes into her own after her untimely demise, with her haunting of Veronica in turns hilarious and menacing. Sedona Sky as Heather Duke delivers one hell of a number in ‘I Will Never Shut Up Again’ and Daisy Twells as Heather McNamara is the loveable ‘dumb blonde’ until her rendition of ‘Lifeboat’ which paints her as much more than we first perceived and is a powerhouse vocal performance.

Other special mention to Amy Miles who makes her professional debut as Martha Dunnstock and who leaves the audience breathless with her performance of ‘Kindergarten Boyfriend;’ you could hear a pin drop in the silences of the song and Amy owns her second.

The ‘villain’ of the piece, JD fights his way into our hearts with a highly comedic ‘kicking of asses’ in ‘Fight for Me’ where he very slowly knocks out Kurt and Ram (very ably played by Iván Fernández González and Jason Battersby respectively, both exceptionally funny and fantastic movers!). JD is portrayed by Keelan McAuley, and I was in awe of his vocals, the way he can sustain that gruff belt over a considerable tour is impressive. Nothing is held back, especially in ‘Meant to Be Yours’ and ‘Freeze Your Brain.’ His character arc in the show is amazing; he goes from damaged teenager to all out murderer of his fellow students in his quest to make a ‘decent world for decent people.’ He makes this very believable, and his study of the character has clearly paid off.

There are so many moments of incredible singing and hilarious delivery of lines; Lucy Sinclair shines as Ms. Fleming and Veronica’s Mom, especially in Fleming’s ill judged TV campaign against teen suicide in ‘Shine a Light.’ Conor McFarlane (Ram’s Dad/Big Bud Dean/Coach Ripper) and Alexander Service (Kurt’s Dad/Veronica’s Dad/Principal Gowan) absolutely steal the show in ‘My Dead Gay Son’ with dancing and rainbows aplenty. The whole ensemble dance and sing their absolute socks off in every scene and the show is punchily delivered in every musical number.

All in all, I’ve seen this show once before, but this iteration was honestly well worth the standing ovation that the whole theatre delivered as soon as the cast came on for their bows. The show is full of difficult topics which still resonate today, 35 years after the show is set. To see so many young people in the audience, clearly loving every second and able to identify with some of the experiences on stage means that musical theatre will continue to thrive long into the future. To that end, Heathers deserves a place up there with some of the classics for, after all, ensuring that audiences continue to fill those theatre seats is ultimately the goal of all musicals and one that Heathers clearly does with ease.

Music

Review, Das Fluff & Lene Lovich, Dareshack, Bristol by James Ellis

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out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

I missed a rare, exciting Cardiff date at Fuel, we got the punk icon Lene Lovich here. I got to see here in Bristol the next night. Things were off to a ropey start when a somewhat familiar figure said to me I didn’t look the type to come to a goth event. What ever that means. God forbid an artist and journalist make discoveries!

The warm-up from Das Fluff was odd, fun and stirring. Dawn Lintern, the band’s writer and arranger melds with her long-time collaborator Christian Ruland. Lintern often delivered acidic vocals often funny and the spirt of punk never waning. Songs choice were stuffed with the ghosts of awful, past band members, a highlight was a left-field spin on quick footed drug addicts in Berlin. You never quite knew what was next. Ruland plays groovey keys and a modified theremin was a nice touch. The overall ambient vibe clashed with harsher rock protests, Das Fluff was everything it needed to be.

An all over giddy feel fell when Lene Lovich arrived after a break. With both American and English heritage, she has had an impact both sides of the pond. I can see her set going down well in New York. She often gets her freak on, with head gear looing like a veiled Dune extra, Vivienne Westwood and the darkened pigtails of fellow musical icon Meredith Monk. With a Number 3 hit with Lucky Number, she has made a mark especially in the punk era of yesteryear. Before the songs, surreal words and high vocalisations are the usual expectation.

Goth aside, ska in funky moments, fuse her songs with grit and poetry. The mood is abstract, yet each song was highly danceable, few songs were the slow ballad sort. Say When is another highlight, though the songs span decades and in her mid seventies, there is no sign of retirement. A mighty band also lifted things in to the air, some new members rubbed elbows with veteran musicians. Often a good time, the only slight was a uneven moment when it felt like a fight was going to occur in the concert goers, thankfully not.

Lovich’s voice is a fairly typical punk growl, I would like to hear more of her range, the little skats before songs show promise. Often the music is fiercely political, fed up and also thrilled to just to be here. 

Musical, Theatre

Review: Book of Mormon – London – 25.8.23

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If you’re not aware of BOM. It’s a musical comedy with music, lyrics, and book by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone (South Park & Frozen). It follows two Latter-day Saints missionaries as they attempt to preach the faith of the Church to the inhabitants of a remote Ugandan village.

Simple premise for a musical, I guess. The best way to describe it, is someone took a book of Musicals For Dummies, copied different musical ideas, used the comical genius behind South Park (not forgetting Robert Lopez who’s part of the team that have brought us Frozen & Coco), and you have one of the funny & cleverest musicals of the last decade.

In saying that, this isn’t for everyone. The subject matter itself could be controversial, but I’ve another perspective. It’s not about one religion, it might be named after one, but the tone and material itself is about all religion, and the basis of it – a belief. It doesn’t say one religion is bad, and one is good, it just says your beliefs are yours – there are no wrong or right answers.

Having seen the tour which came to Cardiff in 2021, and in London in 2017, the current cast of the Summer of 2023 are quite possibly my favourite by a long way.

Steven Webb shines as Elder Mckinley – which isn’t a major part but steals the show with his asides and quirks that he’s brought to the role. Ben Tyler and Connor Pierson, Elder Price and Elder Cunningham also remain a huge highlight, and the ensemble were also on point.

Overall – I believe, Book of Mormon, is much better than any golden plates!

Review: Patrick Downes

Musical, Theatre

Review: HAIRSPRAY 30.7.24 WALES MILLENIUM CENTRE Patrick Downes

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Hairspray at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff was an absolute whirlwind of fun, energy, and infectious joy. This production captured the essence of the 60s with a vibrant, colourful, and over-the-top spectacle that left the audience cheering and dancing in their seats.

From the moment the curtain rises, you’re transported to Baltimore, where the rhythm of the music and the infectious enthusiasm of the cast immediately grab your attention. The iconic songs, including “Good Morning Baltimore,” “Welcome to the 60s,” and the show-stopping finale “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” were delivered with powerhouse vocals and impeccable choreography.

The heart of the show, of course, is Tracy Turnblad, played by Alexandra Emmerson-Kirby in her professional debut. She was just sensational. Her incredible voice made her the perfect embodiment of this beloved character. The supporting cast was equally impressive, with standout performances from Edna Turnblad (Neil Hurst) and Wilbur (Dermot Canavan) certainly stole the show with “(You’re) Timeless to me”.  Michelle Ndegwa also made her professional debut in the show as Motormouth Maybelle having been selected from more than 3,000 people who applied to the open auditions in November last year.  “I know where I’ve been” is such an emotional number and to perform it in the way Michelle did, wow!

The set design was simple but visually stunning, capturing the spirit of the era with colourful projected backdrops and eye-catching costumes. Most touring shows follow the same process – and Hairspray delivered. The choreography was energetic and fun, with the ensemble dancers bringing a high level of skill. The show start seemed a little laboured and it probably wasn’t till the second number things started to gel.

I’ve said that I believe Hairspray has one of the most incredible show finales – even better than Les Misérables – granted no one dies in Hairspray and it would be like comparing a Mini with a Porsche. But it certainly leaves you with a smile on your face and a spring in your step. It’s a feel-good show that’s the perfect antidote to a bad hair day!

Patrick Downes

Art, Literature

Review: The Adventure Zone The Suffering Game by Sian Thomas

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5 Stars

The Adventure Zone: The Suffering Game is the newest release in the TAZ Graphic Novel series, a book series spun from their first iteration of the story, through playing DND for a podcast. I’ve loved this podcast since I first heard it, and it’s incredible to relive and re-experience the story with a fresh new look and some changes to the story after time has elapsed.

Suffering Game is the sixth book in the series of (what I think will be) seven total, and the sixth arc of seven in the podcast’s original storytelling. And though my softest spot is for TAZ: The Eleventh Hour (which is arc five), this is a close second. The ramping tension and upheaval of the stakes in this arc is fantastic, and I love how well it was put to paper in this novel.

The art and transition to paper that this arc takes is fantastic; the drawings and attention to detail is done to an exceptionally high standard, and the movement of the story into book form is really well done. That being said, there are some omissions in the book from the original podcast story, and some of them are moment that I miss greatly, but understand wholeheartedly why they were removed. A lot of it is to do with streamlining, naturally, and things like “trimming the fat”, but it was “the fat” that I liked the taste of best. There are things removed from the character’s arc that I understand – removing these aspects is fine since they technically don’t lead anywhere. They’re superficial aspects (character’s looks being sacrificed to the game, character backstory going unexplored) because, ultimately, they don’t serve any purpose in the finale or wider story. Which is fine. Except for, I miss them. But it is fine.

This story as a whole means a lot to me, I’ve always really enjoyed it, and I still do. I like it in both audio and visual form. The art by Carey Pietsch is fantastic (as it always has been), and the writing works brilliantly to invoke its origins, keep the pace, and make you laugh. Which it does!

It’s an excellent graphic novel – though maybe not as an entry to the series (would be hard to start a series at the penultimate!). Though I think that part of my five stars comes from nostalgia and old love for the material, I still think it deserves that ranking. It’s a great book, an easy read; the art is fantastic and it’s fun to look for the small details across every page.

Sian Thomas
Theatre

Review The Vicar of Dibley, Phoenix Theatre Company, ‘The Mix’ at Theatr Clwyd by N Pugh

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The BBC sitcom ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ is a representation of British comedy at its finest. They just don’t make comedy like it anymore so what a treat it was to find that the well known show had been adapted from screen to stage.

The Vicar of Dibley follows the journey of a confident female vicar with a huge personality, as she becomes the vicar of the church in a small, conservative village where her presence is not, at first, welcomed.

Walking into ‘The Mix’ at Theatr Clwyd, we were met with a simple set that was effective in supporting the cast to tell the story. Scenes moved between the Dibley Parish Hall, the church vestry and the Vicar’s living room. Particular effort had been made to ensure that each set was instantly recognisable, and certain aspects could be likened to the locations seen on our screens. Lighting was used effectively to complement the set. For example, the stained glass church window that was lit from the back to highlight its beauty, and the light that changed as the door to Geraldine Granger’s (Nicola Simonds) living room opened and closed.

A particularly nice touch was the invitation given to the audience to join in with the hymn during one of the church service scenes – song words were included at the back of the programme. This provided audience members with a well received, immersive experience. Unfortunately, the decision was made not to use microphones during this performance which did, at some points, hinder the flow of the dialogue. The volume of the laughter after some of the comedic lines meant that the next line was missed by the audience.

The casting of this production was excellent and it was evident that each cast member had studied their character, and their characteristics. Alice (Sara Griffiths) and Hugo (Luke Crofts) were particularly convincing- their on stage double act was hilarious and they were extremely well received by the audience. Owen (Ben Wheelhouse) and Frank (Eric Jones) were also instantly recognisable as the much loved characters that once graced our screens.

A huge congratulations to the cast and crew of this production. The team is small, but evidently mighty. My first experience of watching a Phoenix Theatre Company production and, God willing, it won’t be my last!