EAST IS EAST - THEATRE REVIEW

EAST IS EAST AT THE NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Theatre Run: Tuesday 13 - Saturday 17 January 2015
Performance Reviewed: Wednesday 14 January (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

At the risk of going there, it’s something of a charged time to be experiencing a show like East is East, given the recent political and social bubbling over the Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris. As every Tom, Dick and armchair Harry attempts to define and dictate what Islam is and Muslims are, the answer, it seems, lies in a show set in a British Muslim household in the early 1970’s, based on a 1990’s film of the same name. It’s startling, and in a strange way quite refreshing, seeing how timeless and cyclical some of the central issues and themes are.

Mercifully, East is East remains confidently self-contained, and whilst granted there are the odd throwaway inferences of a ‘them versus us’ mentality to the wider British population, generally this is a show predominantly centred on a Muslim, Pakistani family dealing with a slew of issues and problems both religious and familial within and of itself. It’s infinitely more focused and compelling as a result, as proud, principled business owner George Khan (Ayub Khan Din, writer of both the play and the film) struggles to accept the changing times, personified in his six spirited, wilful and frequently disobedient children. Regimented, stubborn and fiercely proud, Khan is a skilfully written and masterfully played character - at times an aggressive, blindly ignorant borderline-tyrant, at others a whimsical, charming family man evidently trying to do best by both his family and religion in the way he has been raised and taught to do so. Neither extremity is painted as absolute, and in many ways Khan’s plight is the shows most compelling and touching thread, especially in this production. As he sits transfixed in front of his TV following the ensuing Indian-Pakistan civil war crises, a reporter cites ‘Pakistan will never be the same again’, and the analogy couldn’t be clearer. It’s the Pakistan of Khan’s home, head and heart that are just as much under attack, by the modernity and will of his own children, as any affairs on foreign soils.

JERSEY BOYS - THEATRE REVIEW

JERSEY BOYS AT THE NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Theatre Run: Tuesday 9 December 2014 - Sunday 4 January 2015
Performance Reviewed: Wednesday 10 December 2014 (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

There’s something regrettably formulaic and inevitable about most biographical actor-musician pieces of theatre of late. It’s a format that often leans far too heavily on familiarity with its soundtrack and the spectacle of a Bolan or Lennon being re-imagined and strutting around on stage, and the notable casualty comes in the form of any compelling narrative shape or use of theatre as an artistic medium in it’s own right. Truth may indeed be stranger than fiction, but when so many of these shows race through the ‘true story’ with haphazard abandon, presenting more a career ‘greatest hits live’ than a focused piece of theatrical storytelling, it isn’t hard to end up feeling your evening would have achieved the same effect in the hands of Youtube or Google. The customary ‘talented boy does good, hits the heights of fame, leads to personal/family/suffering wife problems’ second Act trope being rolled out ad infinite usually only underlines how de rigeuer and stale it has all become.

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN - THEATRE REVIEW

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN AT THE NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Theatre Run: Tuesday 01 - Saturday 05 July 2014
Performance Reviewed: Tuesday 01 July 2014 (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

The Ambassador Theatre Group have once more dipped into the barrel of great classic musicals this year to lovingly resurrect Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun, based on the original film and stage musical depicting the (fictionalised) life and times of legendary real-life sharpshooter Annie Oakley. It’s from a creed and calibre of musicals that many will still herald as a ‘golden era’ of sorts, that still-adored pocket of the 1950’s and early 60‘s in particular where the likes of Berlin, Rodgers and Hammerstein and co were a major force in Hollywood and Broadway, and were irreversibly shaping and defining the musical genre as a whole.

THEATRE PREVIEW - ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

ANNIE’S GOT HER GUN AND IS HEADING TO BRUM!

Jason Donovan leads the cast of a major new production of Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun as it rolls into town at the Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre next month!

Dates: Tuesday 01 - Saturday 05 July 2014

Preview by Kyle Pedley

The West Midlands is readying to welcome back Aussie star of stage, screen and the pop charts, Jason Donovan, as he heads up a major new revival of the beloved, Tony Award-winning Musical Western classic, Annie Get Your Gun. He will appear alongside TV, Film and Theatre star Emma Williams, who will be playing the title role of Annie Oakley and Normal Pace as Buffalo Bill in the new production from the producers of recent revival hits South Pacific and West Side Story.

ROCK OF AGES - THEATRE REVIEW

ROCK OF AGES AT THE BIRMINGHAM NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE

Theatre Run: Monday 12 - Saturday 17 May 2014
Performance Reviewed: Monday 12 May 2014 (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Rock of Ages is a difficult beast to pigeonhole. It doesn’t so much suffer from an identity crisis as an identity overload, jostling with so many characters and subplots that can’t seem to decide if they’re being deliberately parodic or so-satirical-it’s-ultimately-sincere, and a fiercely postmodern approach that bandies around with tone so schizophrenically it sometimes feels more akin to musical theatre whiplash than anything else. The smash hits of the 80’s are in there too, and are plentiful, though some of the arrangements are disappointingly short and the whole ‘Rock’ through-line sometimes feels more of a clumsy afterthought than a titular McGuffin. Fortunately, for all the tonal incongruences and haphazardness of it’s plot, Rock of Ages does at least crucially make good on it’s promise of a fun, infectious and ultimately rather irrepressible evening of solid music and vibrant, high energy (see: super-charged) entertainment.

20TH CENTURY BOY - THEATRE REVIEW

20TH CENTURY BOY AT THE BIRMINGHAM NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE

Theatre Run: Monday 28 April - Saturday 03 May 2014
Performance Reviewed: Monday 28 April 2014

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

In decidedly meta fashion, the life and times of T-Rex frontman Marc Bolan were of such superstardom, hedonism and excess that by today’s standards it all seems ironically quite atypical and overly familiar. Talented, aspiring musician from humble beginnings does good, becomes rock ‘n’ roll wunderkind, devolves into heady life of drinks, drugs and dubious extra-marital relationships before ultimately leading to an untimely, some-would-argue tragic death. It has all been played out on film, television and, indeed, on-stage, to such an extent that 20th Century Boy, be it based on true events as it may be, won’t be bowling anyone over with its originality. And even within the confines of actuality, being thankfully a biographical piece rather than an original story inspired by his life, it is at times difficult to locate any palpable drama, and Bolan’s own murkier periods seem notably underplayed and fleeting, as though nobody involved wanted to tread too damagingly on the man’s memory and legacy.

WEST SIDE STORY - THEATRE REVIEW

WEST SIDE STORY AT THE BIRMINGHAM NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE

Theatre Run: Tuesday 01 - Saturday 19 April 2014
Performance Reviewed: Wednesday 02 April 2014 (Gala Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Few musical productions come with as great a repute and standing as West Side Story. With a cavalcade of plaudits and gongs to its name, from Tony’s and Grammy’s through to a staggering 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture (being one of the most awarded movies of all time), to it repeatedly heading up any number of ‘greatest musicals of all time’ lists and polls (including the Number 1 spot in our 2012 countdown of The Greatest Movie Musicals), there is no doubting the prestige, clout and indeed, love, that has become synonymous with the name. As such, any revival or touring production is accepting a heavy mantle of responsibility to do such a fabled piece of musical theatre justice, and it is with a heady swell of both pride and relief that one can safely say that this current touring production of West Side Story, arriving at the Birmingham New Alexandra this week, does a somewhat exceptional job of doing precisely that.

WEST SIDE STORY - THEATRE PREVIEW

‘SOMETHING’S COMING’ AND IT’S GOING TO BE BIG AS ‘WEST SIDE STORY’ COMES TO THE MIDLANDS!

Birmingham gets ready for a Manhattan musical makeover as one of the most celebrated musicals of all time takes to the stage at the City’s New Alexandra Theatre next month.

Dates: Tuesday 01 - Saturday 19 April 2014

Preview by Kyle Pedley

Birmingham and the Midlands are in for a veritable musical theatre extravaganza next week as BB Promotion and ATG’s highly acclaimed revival tour of West Side Story takes residence at the New Alexandra Theatre for a three week run commencing Tuesday 1st April.

West Side Story changed the course of musical theatre when it opened on Broadway in 1957 and it remains one of the most successful stage shows of all time. The 1961 film adaptation went on to win a staggering 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, with only 3 other films in history surpassing this. In 2012, I myself selected the film adaptation as Number 1 on my countdown of The Top 20 Movie Musicals Of All Time. 

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.

GHOST - THEATRE PREVIEW

CITY GETS IN THE 'SPIRIT' AS GHOST THE MUSICAL ARRIVES IN BIRMINGHAM FOR CHRISTMAS!

Celebrated tearjerker musical, based on the 1990 Oscar-Winning hit film starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg arrives at the New Alexandra Theatre this week to begin an extended Christmas and New Year Run!

Dates: Tuesday 17 December 2013 - Sunday 05 January 2014

Preview by Kyle Pedley

Theatre fans in Birmingham and beyond had best get their hankies and tissues at the ready this Christmas and New Year season as one of the most celebrated touring musical theatre productions of the year returns to the Midlands to see out 2013 and welcome in the New Year in the city's New Alexandra Theatre. Technically audacious and visually stunning, our previous review of this same touring production gave it a coveted 5 out of 5 stars, citing it as "Single-handedly the most ambitious, bombastically visceral and tirelessly inventive touring musical production[s] we've had the pleasure of experiencing.... an at-times breathtakingly dynamic and kinetic explosion and exploration of eye-candy and splendour".

A MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET - THEATRE REVIEW

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET AT THE NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Theatre Run: Thursday 05 - Saturday 07 December

Performance Viewed: Thursday 05 December (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

I’m going to go out on a limb and say the majority of people who pay to go and see a musical version of ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ are likely in the market for something to top up their festive spirit. Either those familiar with the movie version (be it the 1947 or ’94 incarnations) or generally enthused about the time of year to indulge in a bit of added mirth and merriment.

THEATRE PREVIEW - NOISES OFF

NOISES OFF AT THE NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

STARRING NEIL PEARSON AND MAUREEN BEATTIE

FROM MON 24 - SAT 29 JUN 2013

NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Next Monday evening, (A)musings will be entering a world of acclaimed hilarity and farce as Chris Larkin joins David Bark-Jones, Maureen Beattie, Simon Bubb, Danielle Flett, Geoffrey Freshwater, Neil Pearson, Thomasin Rand and Sasha Waddell in the UK tour of Michael Frayn’s multi-award-winning backstage comedy Noises Off, directed by Lindsay Posner. Following its acclaimed run at The Old Vic and then at the Novello Theatre in the West End, Noises Off will arrive at Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre for one week from 24-29 June 2013, and as always we'll be there to bring our review of the show on opening night!

AMERICAN IDIOT - THEATRE REVIEW

AMERICAN IDIOT AT THE NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Theatre Run: Monday 26 November - Saturday 1 December
Performance Viewed: Monday 26 November (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

American Idiot is an ilk of production that many would unfairly dismiss at face value. From the offset it is loud, bombastic, decidedly adult in tone and content and never particularly subtle or subdued. Much like a typical teenager if you will, and the parallel to the core audience of the shows soundtrack, courtesy of US hit band Green Day, is apparent throughout; this is a show with its finger on the pulse of youthful idealism, naivety and existential frustration. And yet for all of it’s brash excess, it is a production which brims with authenticity, has moments of genuine tenderness without resorting to atypical musical theatre schmaltz, and is a remarkably confident and original example of theatrical storytelling and entertainment. This is not a theatrical shoehorning of narrative, choreography and the music of Green Day into an awkward whole as can so often be the case when shows’ utilise pre-existing music for their soundtracks, but rather a wholly complete, vibrant and brilliantly expressive exploration of a simple yet beautifully executed tale in a manner which champions and explores the unique strengths and advantages of musical theatre as an art form.

Dipping into post 9/11 America, the story follows the paths of three friends Johnny (Alex Nee), Tunny (Thomas Hettrick) and Will (Casey O’Farrell) as they embark on very separate, yet equally resonant and relevant, paths at the exciting, ambitious and suitably angst-fuelled start of their American adulthood. In spite of the productions title, and knowing critiques and digs at the American psyche, politics and popular culture within the songs throughout, the simplicity of the story being told and the brilliance with which it is communicated almost exclusively by song and staging elevates it to a much more universal and effective level. Any overt socio-political commentary takes a backseat to the reality of aspirations and youthful rebellion, the destructive descent into drugs and hedonism of the big city lifestyle, the idea versus actuality of military enrollment and a plethora of other innately human and instantly relatable ideas.

American Idiot explores these with almost inexhaustible energy and invention, including some genuinely dazzling staging, set design and choreography which sees characters leap and bound from balconies, staircases and even shopping trollies without harness or preparation, flip, jump and even fly through a myriad of continually creative and kinetic numbers which repeatedly entertain and occasionally amaze yet never lose sight of what is being communicated. And as if often the case with such a charged experience, when it pauses for breath and hits its more serious and tender moments, they are all the more profound and moving as a result. It’s rousing yet purposeful, poignant without being preachy and filled with some terrific choreography, direction and imagery that, like the story being told, needs little-to-no dialogue to be instantly impactful. 

LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL - THEATRE REVIEW

LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL AT THE NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Theatre Run: Tuesday 28 August - Saturday 1 September
Performanced Viewed: Tuesday 28 August

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Legally Blonde: The Musical is one of those musical theatre productions from which you can glean a great deal before the curtain even rises and the upbeat frenzy of sparkle and feel-good whirs into action. It’s decidedly female-oriented (though with plenty of sex appeal and wit to cater to any husbands and partners who may be reluctant to tag along) and the first Act in particular is an explosion of humour and irony mostly focused around its central protagonists sorority-centred outlook on life; fashion, sisterhood, romance (of the most surface kind) and her handbag-carried pooch Bruiser. Whilst this may sound far too atypical (or Kardashian) to be bearable to some, it is a testimony to the strength of the characters involved and the clever handling of plot that, like the journey of it’s central protagonist Elle Woods, the initial surge of colour, camp and bling gives way to both characters and plot that, whilst confidently and re-assuringly over-the-top, are nonetheless refreshingly smart, brilliantly witty and hilariously post-modern. 

Based on the 2001 comedy starring Reese Wetherspoon in the lead, Legally Blonde recently completed a highly successful, Olivier-award winning run in the West End and is now touring across the UK. It tells the story of a heartbroken sorority girl, Elle Woods, who decides to enroll at Harvard Law School in order to pursue and impress her morally dubious ex boyfriend. It’s a relatively predictable affair from start to finish but is executed with such energy and conviction, and peppered with such irrepressible characters and sharp comedic writing that it’s extremely difficult not to be won over, charmed and thoroughly entertained.