It’s party time the night before a big wedding: the perfect excuse for glitz, glitter and music.
Sophie Bould stars as confused ex-wife and bride-to-be Tracy Lord. Her big weakness is, of course, champagne, and as everyone becomes more lubricated, a certain clarity is lent to proceedings as the penny drops with each of her three potential suitors.
There's her ex-husband Dexter Haven – still hurting from the divorce and played by former Robin Hood Michael Praed, investigative journalist Mike Connor (Daniel
Boys) and the wonderfully out-of-his-depth George Kittredge - brought to
life by Keiron Crook.
It's fun to imagine their roles as played by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra in the 1956 film on which the stage musical is based. Grace Kelly made up the bill-toppers back then in her last singing role on film before her marriage to Prince Rainier, as Tracy. The lively and evocative music helps the plot along but there are no show-stoppers; it's a pleasant performance and great to see the cast return for a welcome finale to show off their talents once more.
We all know Who Wants to be a Millionaire and True Love, the most memorable hits, but chorus numbers High Society and Let's Misbehave are among the many Cole Porter classics which firmly bring to life the carefree existence of these rich folk in their Art Deco surroundings.
A revolving stage and some tricky scene changes occasionally made it hard to work out where the actors were – with 11 different locations served by essentially the same backdrop.
But it's make-believe – and make believe we did, easily believing in all of the main characters so much so that they drew the laughs at all the right moments as their characterisation grew. We all know who we want the groom to be by the time we find out!
Particularly fun were the supporting roles of Teddy Kempner as Uncle Willie and Katie Lee as young Dinah Lord, Tracy's teenage sister. While Uncle Willie was seeking his own love interest for much of the second act, Dinah set her stall out early on with energy and gusto showing off her precocious singing, dancing and linguistic skills to the visitors.
Showing posts with label Keiron Crook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keiron Crook. Show all posts
Thursday, June 6
Wednesday, August 10
Verity Rushworth in The Sound of Music
INFECTIOUS and addictive: half an hour after leaving the theatre you're guaranteed to be whistling a reprise of the Lonely Goatherd out loud – even if it does surprise the passengers on the bus home.
Direct from the West End, it says, and this realisation of a wonderful and timeless classic demonstrates how the legacy of Julie Andrews' film role is in very safe hands.
The tomboy nature of a lanky trainee nun who's unsure of her commitment to the abbey is expertly conveyed by Verity Rushworth. It's no wonder the Captain falls for her.
It's also easy to see why this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical attracts such a hardcore fan base. And while it's true you know what to expect because of the film, the stage version inevitably results in a truncation of the plot. But fear not. The reason you're going is for that music – Maria's subtle comic asides mean Verity scores an instant and natural connection with the audience. And we find that she sings too!
Reading in the lavish programme that Connie Fisher was taking the lead at some other theatres on the tour, it was something of a welcome revelation that with former Emmerdale girl Verity, we couldn't have wished for a better incarnation of Maria.
Alongside Keiron Crook as Captain Georg Von Trapp, the would-be lovers play off each other magnificently, despite the plot format making their marriage a very swift conclusion to their attraction.
The younger Von Trapp children were all spot on, winning the hearts of youngsters in the audiences, and generating a tear or two among their parents!
We all loved Claire Fishenden as the eldest von Trapp daughter Liesl, soon to realise womanhood. And Martin Callaghan's comic turn as Max Detweiler was also a winner, along with our Mother Abbess for Nottingham, Marilyn Hill Smith, who gave an exhilarating invitation to Climb Ev'ry Mountain to send the first half of the show out on a high. It's hard to resist singing along with all those bright, familiar tunes with, of course, Do-re-mi among the numerous highlights.
The house was packed for this first Saturday night of a three-week run. Judging by the whoops of approval at the curtain call, remaining seats will be selling like hot strudel.
Direct from the West End, it says, and this realisation of a wonderful and timeless classic demonstrates how the legacy of Julie Andrews' film role is in very safe hands.
The tomboy nature of a lanky trainee nun who's unsure of her commitment to the abbey is expertly conveyed by Verity Rushworth. It's no wonder the Captain falls for her.
It's also easy to see why this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical attracts such a hardcore fan base. And while it's true you know what to expect because of the film, the stage version inevitably results in a truncation of the plot. But fear not. The reason you're going is for that music – Maria's subtle comic asides mean Verity scores an instant and natural connection with the audience. And we find that she sings too!
Reading in the lavish programme that Connie Fisher was taking the lead at some other theatres on the tour, it was something of a welcome revelation that with former Emmerdale girl Verity, we couldn't have wished for a better incarnation of Maria.
Alongside Keiron Crook as Captain Georg Von Trapp, the would-be lovers play off each other magnificently, despite the plot format making their marriage a very swift conclusion to their attraction.
The younger Von Trapp children were all spot on, winning the hearts of youngsters in the audiences, and generating a tear or two among their parents!
We all loved Claire Fishenden as the eldest von Trapp daughter Liesl, soon to realise womanhood. And Martin Callaghan's comic turn as Max Detweiler was also a winner, along with our Mother Abbess for Nottingham, Marilyn Hill Smith, who gave an exhilarating invitation to Climb Ev'ry Mountain to send the first half of the show out on a high. It's hard to resist singing along with all those bright, familiar tunes with, of course, Do-re-mi among the numerous highlights.
The house was packed for this first Saturday night of a three-week run. Judging by the whoops of approval at the curtain call, remaining seats will be selling like hot strudel.
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