TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT - THEATRE REVIEW

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT AT THE NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Theatre Run: Monday 24 February - Saturday 1 March 2014

Performance Reviewed: Monday 24 February 2014 (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Tonight’s The Night is the Rod Stewart musical. In case you didn’t catch that from the name, it’s handily emblazoned above the title itself. He’s also mentioned within the opening few minutes of the show. Frequently. He also plays an incidental off-stage role within the story of the show itself throughout. He’s also referenced in what seems like every major scene and held in what can only be described as an almost quasi-revered regard. The lead character looks, sounds and performs exactly like him, though isn’t actually him yet nonetheless becomes a burgeoning star acting uncannily like him in a world in which we are repeatedly reminded Rod does indeed exist. 

He’s just on something of a casual stolen-soul career break.

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL - THEATRE REVIEW

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL AT THE NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Theatre Run: Monday 17 December 2012 - Saturday 5 January 2013

Performance Viewed: Wednesday 19 December (Gala Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

9 to 5 The Musical is something of a double dose of musical ‘jukeboxing’, being both based on the existing 1980 comedy film of the same name and also taking its soundtrack mostly from the queen of country’s two most recent LP’s Backwoods Barbie and Better Day. Throw in it being derived from an original Broadway production, and you’d be forgiven for thinking the show had an uphill climb to bring anything original or fresh to audiences. Following the exploits of three female co-workers in the male-dominated playground of the late 1970’s workplace where bigotry and sexism remained the de facto norm, rampant and unchecked, mostly at the hands of their womanising, cheating scoundrel of a boss, and you also have a safe bet of knowing how the story is going to play out (and chances are you’ll be right).