SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS - THEATRE REVIEW

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS AT THE WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE

Theatre Run: Monday 31 March - Saturday 05 April 2014
Performance Reviewed: Tuesday 01 April 2014 (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Another seminal musical from yesteryear arrives in the Midlands this week as the UK tour of all-American classic Seven Brides for Seven Brothers toe-taps and foot-stomps its way onto the boards of the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. The original 1954 movie of the same title remains a somewhat unique and characterful outing in no small way due to Michael Kidd’s inspired and unconventional choreography, which remains impressive to this day, and whilst naturally some of its scope and set piecing has had to be truncated and confined to the practicalities of the stage, fortunately the spirit of Kidd’s vibrant work lives on proudly here. With some stunning, fluid dance and highly energised, technically flawless performances across-the-board, this touring production of Seven Brides proves to be a high-spirited, buoyant and vibrant slice of feel-good musical theatre at its most kinetic, inoffensive and irrepressible. 

FAME - THEATRE REVIEW

FAME AT THE WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE

Theatre Run: Monday 03 - Saturday 08 March 2014

Performance Reviewed: Monday 03 March 2014 (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

The original Fame was a product of its time, a minor cultural zeitgeist that went on to spawn not just its own TV spinoff and international theatre production, but a whole host of imitators and pretenders, with it’s inspiration and general premise permeating through theatre, television and film even to this day (the likes of High School Musical, Glee, Smash and many more were born here). After the woefully misjudged 2009 attempt at rejuvenating and renovating the original to cater to contemporary cinema audiences (a mission which, judging by it’s critical and box office mauling, failed painfully so), it has unsurprisingly taken a trip to the boards to make Fame not only relevant in its message and ethos to modern audiences, but an overall thoroughly satisfying, exuberant and kinetic theatre-going experience courtesy of this new 25th Anniversary production.

FOOTLOOSE - THEATRE REVIEW

FOOTLOOSE AT THE WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE

Theatre Run: Tuesday 12 - Saturday 16 March
Performance Reviewed: Tuesday 12 March (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Occasionally when reviewing theatre professionally it is easy to lose sight of the passion, energy and aspirations that go in to practically every production regardless of scale, budget or location. Shows can be enjoyed, appreciated and lauded for their achievements, but it can take an experience like this vibrant, upbeat production of Footloose to serve as a reminder of the sense of camraderie, raw enthusiasm and unified excitement that company theatre really seems to celebrate and spotlight.