Interview | ALEX BEAUMONT from DREAMBOATS AND MINISKIRTS

Dreamboats & Miniskirts is the sequel to the popular Dreamboats & Petticoats comes to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tue 23 - Sat 27 June. Alex Beaumont who plays Bobby spoke about the show and the part he plays in it. 

This is your second run with Bill Kenwright’s production – what is it about this musical and your role that made you decide to continue into 2015?

The music, the 60s music, it’s incredible to get to sing it eight times a week, I really love 60s music. The character of Bobby, well, I do identify with him, I have a little soft spot for him, which makes me want to play him. We’re similar because we’re typical boys, we don’t really think about things, like girls feelings – an ignorant boy (laughs).

The cast must know each other so well now – is it like one big family?

Yeah, it really is. It’s also amazing to have the live band on stage with you as well because you feel like you have that support. Everyone gets on great, everywhere we go we all go for meals together or stay in digs together, so yeah, it really is like one big family.

You have a new Norman – how is Alastair settling in?

Brilliant, absolutely amazing, he’s such a pleasure to work with. We got on really well on and off stage, so it’s really nice. He has taken over from Ross (William Wild) and he probably was a bit nervous, but I experience the same thing when we started Miniskirts last year because there was only me and Ross who were new to the franchise, everyone else had been in Petticoats at some point. I did kind of feel it would be hard to slot in, but actually, it was really easy because they’re such a nice bunch of people.

For those that haven’t seen the show, tell us a bit about it and your character.

The show focuses on Bobby and Laura, they’ve just had massive success with Dreamboats and Petticoats, and in Miniskirts, you see how their relationship, professionally and romantically, is going to work and whether it will work. You also have recurring characters Norman and Sue, who are getting on nicely, they’re married. And then there’s Donna and Ray. Ray is now working in a salon in Bond Street and Donna’s working in her boutique and they’re going through every day relationship struggles too. They’re a little bit older, everyone’s matured apart from Bobby!

It’s a show set in the 1960s – do you find the audiences are of that generation or is it appealing to a younger audience?

A bit of both actually. Generally, the audiences we get are people who were the age of the characters in the show in the 60s, and the people we get to meet after the show, most of them will tell us it took them back to their youth and it was really nice to reminisce. But then also, that generation are then taking their children and their children’s children to come and see it as well. We’ve had young children in the audience, who, some of them, know all the words, which is brilliant. So it just goes to show that even if you weren’t around in that era, you can still appreciate it.

Has your music and fashion taste changed because of the show?

I’ve always loved 60s music, although it was more jazz and soul, Ben E. King, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, all those great singers. And then in the show you’ve got Roy Orbison, Smokey Robinson and other amazing singers that you don’t really get these days. And their songs have stood the test of time and that’s why I like this kind of music. As for the fashion, I do like the Chelsea boots that I get to wear every night, and to have a nice sharp suit to wear is always really nice to wear.

You said you have grown as the show has gone on – how have you changed from your very first performance last August to now?

I’ve definitely relaxed into the role and what has really helped is finding those similarities between you as a person, and character, it makes it a lot easier to relate to. And it’s taught me not to be so hard on myself. Because it’s such a massive role in the dhow, no one’s superhuman, you learn how to conserve your energy but still make sure you give enough for every show. And those are skills that will hopefully carry on in the rest of my career.

At Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tue 23 - Sat 27 June. CLICK HERE to book tickets. 

DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS (UK Tour) Review September 2013

It's the swinging 60's and at the local youth club there are teenagers aplenty entering song writing competitions and falling in love... and that's about it for your storyline. Nobody comes to these jukebox musicals for a gritty story though because what they are always excellent at is showcasing the finest actor musicianship.

Character names are typical of sixties songs so Bobby (Stephen Rolley) and his girl Laura (Hannah Boyce) take the entire show to flirt, fall out, find other love interests before coming together at the end. You can predict the few twists and turns that the plot takes against the two leads and even most of the songs were being sung by members of the audience before the band began to play! 

(Previous Cast Photography)

Stephen Rolley is a strong lead as Bobby who provides great renditions of Let's Dance, Dream Lover and Runaround Sue (yes, there's also a character called Sue...) Hannah Boyce as Laura is the 'Ugly Betty' of the show - at first a geeky, shy "school-swat" who has a talent for writing music. As Sandy does in Grease she transforms into a more desirable young woman by the end, but keeps her morals! Boyce herself it seems is just as talented as her character with an impressive performance of Dream Baby Dream in particular. 

Each cast member is equally impressive with incredible musical talent but those in roles with the chance to shine include Matthew Colthart as Norman. Colthart is commanding, smooth and in fine voice throughout and manages to energise the audience with hits such as The Wanderer and Let's Twist Again. Louise Olley is a great addition to the cast as Sue and despite what they say about Sue's dancing  it's all eyes on Olley in this case. 60's singer Mark Wynter is Phil/Older Bobby and delights fans with his own encore at the end. 

The set, made mostly of backdrops featuring 60's album covers is sometimes distracting from the action. I found myself looking to see which I recognised and then remembered to watch the show again - there is no attempt at a realistic setting. Also, the boys playing ping pong in the corner takes away from the action many times! The fairground bumper cars are a fun addition. 

Jokes and references are clearly aimed at the show's target audience and those of a reminiscent age who do make up a very large percentage of the overall turnout. These musicals wouldn't be much without an incredibly versatile and talented cast that carry it through nearly three hours. It's a pleasant show, simple and easy to watch. Worth going entirely for the talent the young cast ooze. Book to see the show at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 21st September here. 

Cast List: Stephen Rolley, Matthew Colthart, Hannah Boyce, Louise Olley, Will Finlason, Laura Sillett, Mark Wynter, Robert Dalton, David Jay Douglas, Chloe Edwards-Wood, Mike Lloyd, Sheridan Lloyd, David Luke, Michael Park, Charlotte Peak, Josh Tye, Damien Walsh, Victoria Quigley

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EVITA (UK Tour) Review August 2013

EVITA - the musical of Eva Perón, the Spiritual Leader of the Nation of Argentina celebrates it's 35th anniversary this year and after a Broadway revival last year is now touring it's 3rd UK tour within 5 years. 

Similarly to Blood Brothers, we begin at the end of the story with the announcement of Eva Perón's death. A flashback to her early life then progresses through her rise to become the First Lady of Argentina and to the ultimate and tragic end. 

Cynically assessing the immediate mourning of Argentina is Che Guevara - the Argentine Marxist revolutionary. Played in this production by Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow. Che is a demanding sing and Pellow ploughs through the score with ease and holds a mightily impressive last note in 'And The Money Keeps Rolling In'. Mark Heenehan is an impressive Peron and Nic Gibney's impressive vocal range is evident in his few outbursts as Magaldi.  One of the productions highlights is Sarah McNicholas as Peron's Mistress and her beautiful version of 'Another Suitcase In Another Hall'. A strong ensemble play a variety of roles - showcasing their versatility. 

Marti Pellow

The show however belongs to Madalena Alberto who really does capture every moment of Perón's short life with effortless conviction. From the steamy and fast paced partying in Buenos Aires to the tender, fragile final moments upon her deathbed. Incredibly strong and stunning vocal throughout particularly her rendition of 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina' received a rather loud "wow" from the lady next to me who then apologised for her uncontrollable outburst. 

Mark Heenehan and Madalena Alberto

It's very difficult to fault this production but just one very distracting feature was the visibility of stage crew, complete with headsets moving Matthew Wright's stunning set of staircases around and clamping them into position. Surely there are slicker ways to do this, or disguise them. It reminds you that this is only a stage production, breaking the incredibly real situations the cast work so hard to create. 

Applause at the end of a production is what you come to expect, regardless of its overall quality. For quite a while Evita received nothing but a stunned silence as the lights went out. Here the silence speaks louder than any appreciative applause, the tragic but simply beautiful ending does leave you a little choked. Although, I must admit I was the first one to break the silence with a clap!

With Marti Pellow and Madalena Alberto

Evita really is a breathtaking production that you should make a point of seeing for the sheer talent and effort from the entire cast and fine orchestra.

"So what happens now?" .... You book tickets, that's what happens. EVITA runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 31st August and you can book tickets here. You can also read my interview with Marti Pellow here. 

Watch ITVCentral News coverage with Marti and Madalena here:

World famous musical, Evita, arrives in Wolverhampton http://t.co/4UJtJOJcwO via @itvnews
— ITV News Central (@ITVCentral) August 20, 2013

Cast List: Marti Pellow, Madalena Alberto, Mark Heenehan, Sarah McNicholas, Nic Gibney, Hannah Grover, Verity Burgess, David Burilin, Joseph Connor, Natalie Day, Joel Elferink, Laura Emmitt, Emily Goodenough, Antony Hewitt, Stuart Maciver, Joe Maxwell, Perry O'Dea, Lizzie Ottley, Ryan Pidgen, Anthony Ray

EVITA (UK Tour) Interview with Marti Pellow

Marti Pellow, one of music's most respected artists stars as Che in the 2013 UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Evita. In the musical, Che reflects the voice of the Argentine people; linked to Eva Peron by destiny he brings conflict to the story of Eva's rise to fame.

"It's great to be on tour again, we've just done Glasgow - my hometown and it was nice for them to be able to see me in this, Andrew and Tim's best... well, my favourite piece of theirs, by far. I'm looking forward to bringing the show to Wolverhampton, which is a fantastic theatre where I last did Witches Of Eastwick."

"Che is an interesting character... really he and Eva never met, he was just the catalyst and Tim and Andrew used him almost as a narrator for the musical and he's the voice of the Argentinian common man. It's funny because I just seem to get these types of roles, I just finished in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers as the Narrator and when they said do you fancy doing the role of Che in Evita it was a no brainer for me, I wanted to do that. I first came familiar with the score for Evita through David Essex's pop career and it was one of those musicals that crossed so many different genres and growing up I watched all the MG classics with my mummy on the couch but I was never really one for musical theatre and then I carved a career in pop music so I'm playing catch up here!"

"I've been doing musical theatre now for ten years, once that door was open from Kander & Ebb's Chicago I was like a kid in a candy store and this is one of the roles I'd always wanted to play. I think it's a great character and he's part of a great ensemble. I suppose most people with be familiar with the movie version with Antonio Banderas and Madonna which is a great version of it too, but for me the theatre is where it all happens - that's what it was written for after all."

"I don't really consider musical theatre a big departure really from what I've been used to in pop music with Wet Wet Wet and so on... When you're singing you're still telling a story. When you're singing any song people engage in the lyrics, hopefully, and listen to what you're trying to say and if it's beautifully written like Evita is - it's not rocket science. It's about engaging your imagination and putting a little piece of your heart into it so it's truthful and people are willing to go on that journey with you. So for me really, singing in theatre is no different, it's just another jacket you're putting on. Don't get me wrong though, it's like when you first experience Sondheim, you think whoah, where's this cat coming from! For me though, Sondheim as with all musical theatre really is like bringing a telescope into focus. At first you can't really see it and then suddenly it just goes 'click' and if you stay with it, you'll get there."

"I'm very blessed with some of the roles that I've been given, they're all big roles, Billy Flynn in Chicago - the dream, tick! Then I get to play recently Jekyll and Hyde for Leslie Bricusse, who I'd been a big fan of and he became a friend and I said to him I'd love to play Scrooge, that's what I had my eye on and then I ended up doing Jekyll and Hyde which I loved but I was a bit disappointed that I only got one wage... that's two characters right!? I love musical theatre though and I hope people come and see Evita, just don't expect me to dance... I don't do that. Actually one more thing, when I was in Chicago on Broadway and Ann Reinking came up to me whilst I was doing a wee dance routine and said 'Oh Marti, honey, your heart's in it... just a shame your feet aint!'" 

Listen to what Marti remembers about Wolverhampton Grand Theatre! 

You can book to see Marti Pellow in EVITA at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre here. The show plays from 19 - 31 August 2013.

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (UK Tour) Review February 2013

Since 1968 the story of Joseph and his dazzling coat of many colours has been performed at every school and theatre (most probably). Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical returns to Wolverhampton this week and most definitely proved as popular as ever.

Many famous faces have donned the dreamcoat including Jason Donovan, Phillip Schofield, Donny Osmond, Ian 'H' Watkins, Gareth Gates and of course winner of the BBC talent series Any Dream Will Do - Lee Mead. For this touring production runner up from the series Keith Jack who has already starred as the narrator leads the show as Jacob's favourite son Joseph.

Even with the lengthy overture and everlasting 'megamix' finale, Joseph isn't a very long show - but it is packed with catchy songs and exciting dance routines presented expertly by a fantastic cast. Guiding us through the story with a series of fiendishly high-pitched songs is Lauren Ingram as the narrator. A recent graduate of Laine Theatre Arts and already in a lead role, as she often sings in the show Lauren 'will become a star', and she's a very bright one already - coping effortlessly with an impressive vocal range and an incredibly charming on stage presence.

There's no mistaking that each member of the male ensemble are completely on top of their game, all of whom are worthy of mention: Joseph's eleven brothers are made up of Marcus Ayton (Dan), Andrew Bateup (Levi), Kristopher Bosch (Zebulun), Jonathan David Dudley (Asher), Callum Fitzgerald (Napthali), Lee Greenaway (Issacher), Richard J Hunt (Judah), Drew Mason (Simeon), Benjamin Pomeroy (Benjamin), Michael Ward (Gad) and Luke Jasztal (Reuben) who also impresses as the Pharaoh bringing the theatre to rapturous applause numerous times after each rendition of his song.

The female handmaidens Jennie Abbotts, Danielle Acors and Meg Astin all prove to be excellent dancers and provide pleasant harmonies throughout. Theatre veteran Henry Metcalfe is a pure delight as Jacob and Potiphar.

Keith Jack is a superb lead, and having had a few years to settle into the role and make it his own he is able to present a strong and loveable Joseph. His much anticipated Close Every Door To Me doesn't disappoint and it is here where amongst all the fun we've been having we see the emotional and vulnerable side to Keith's Joseph.

Me as an honorary brother and with Keith Jack, Jonathan David Dudley and Lee Greenaway.

With Keith starring this week, the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre is the popular choice for contestants of Any Dream Will Do. Having just had Ben James-Ellis in pantomime, the theatre looks forward to welcoming Daniel Boys who will be appearing in High Society in March.

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat plays the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 16th February and tickets can be booked here. 

AGATHA CHRISTIE'S GO BACK FOR MURDER (UK Tour) Review February 2013

With Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap playing continuously for the past 60 years in London and now touring the UK, the attention it seems is all on the record breaking production. Following last year's Murder On The Nile, Bill Kenwright and The Agatha Christie Theatre Company (who are now in their eighth year) continue to expertly bring Christie's other mysteries to the stage.

Go Back For Murder is the stage play of the novel Murder In Retrospect, keeping the 'five little pig' suspects but without featuring Poirot. This vintage murder mystery takes us back to 1968, where Carla Le Merchant (Sophie Ward) sets out to discover the truth about her father's murder. After a reading a letter protesting innocence from her late mother who died in prison, Carla is determined to prove her mother was not the killer.  As the title suggests, she goes back... Carla visits the homes of everyone involved throughout the first act in a series of five scenes which involved little more than sitting and talking. The layout and style of the furniture changed each time to suggest a new venue but I can't help but feel this is better suited to film. In true Christie fashion, by the interval every suspect, no more so than another is a potential murderer.

For the second act we are taken back to the day of the murder in 1948 through a camera lens (with a very bright flash) for the denouement which steadily builds to the big reveal. Sophie Ward now plays Carla's mother Caroline Crale. Sophie gives a strong performance as both characters, as does Liza Goddard as Miss Williams. Gary Mavers is Amyas Crale, the father and victim. Joining them are Ben Nealon as Justin Fogg, Mark Lisseman as Turnball, Robert Duncan as Philip Blake, Antony Edge as Meredith Blake, Lysette Anthony as Lady Elsa Greer and Sammy Andrews as Angela Warren.

You really have to follow the story told in different perspectives through some initial lengthy dialogue, but when it get's going it really does build to a very precise, intense climax -  a meticulous murder mystery!

Go Back For Murder runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 9th February and tickets can be booked here.

The play tours the UK until September 2013 visiting Bath, Blackpool, Cambridge, Cardiff, Guildford, High Wycombe and Swindon Wyvern Theatre. Other dates are listed on the official website.

BLOOD BROTHERS (UK Tour) October 2012

Blood Brothers, the first ever show I saw in the West End returns to Birmingham again on a seemingly never-ending tour cycle. The current West End version of the show is due to close in just a few weeks time in November. Ending its run after 24 years at the Phoenix Theatre it begs the question of whether Blood Brothers has had it's day. The audience at the Birmingham Hippodrome last night received the show rather willingly and the home audience for Niki Evans in the role of Mrs Johnstone were a welcoming delight.

Niki Evans from the 2007 series of the X Factor only entered the competition after finding the application forms intended for her in her late father's belongings. Her heartfelt, emotional audition saw her through the early stages and flying into the live shows, finishing in the semi-final. It is exactly the type of pure emotion she expressed in song during her time on the X Factor that makes Niki the perfect casting for the iconic role of Mrs Johnstone - a role she first played in 2009 in the London production.

A mother of seven children at only 25, Mrs. Johnstone learns that she is expecting twins. Already unable to cope and through fear of having to foster away some of her children she finds herself pressured into giving away one of the twins to Mrs. Lyons (Tracy Spencer), a rich housewife unable to have children of her own. A superstitious prophecy is born that if ever the boys discover the truth that they shall both die. The two leading ladies are impressive and played the more dramatic moments with conviction which can be incredibly cheesy and cliché.

Blood Brothers has seen a fair share of famous faces during it's run, especially pop stars. The Nolan sisters are no strangers to the role of Mrs Johnstone and Spice Girl Mel C played a brief stint in London. Member of boy band Blue Anthony Costa has played Mickey in the past but for this tour, Marti Pellow the lead singer of Wet Wet Wet has joined the cast as the Narrator. I have always thought of the Narrator's part as unnecessary - a tough role to master. The Narrator awkwardly lurks around the stage, watching the action and interrupts scenes when they begin to get meaty. He acts almost as a conscience and is always there to warn. Marti Pellow is a stern and commanding narrator and evidently does his best. I'm not all together convinced however that his vocal style fits comfortably in the role.

Sean Jones and Jorden Bird are the ill-fated brothers, Mickey and Eddie. It always takes great skill for the actors to convincingly portray the brothers at various ages in their life. Both manage their characters expertly and are both humorous as youngsters. They capture the different ages with clarity and ensure echoes of their childhood mannerisms are reflected in their later performance as men. When we meet the boys for the first time they are dolls wrapped in blankets but at age seven we see them meet each other, make friends and discover they have the same birthday - the story follows them through to adulthood with a dramatic climax, seeing Mrs Lyons' prophecy come true. 

In all, this production of Blood Brothers is well worth the night out. It's funny, full of energy and then dramatically tense the story becomes more despairing. I'm not sure it is a tear-jerking as perhaps it once was but what it is, is full of heart.

The current tour plays at the Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 3rd November and you can book tickets here: http://birminghamhippodrome.com/whatson_focus.asp?showid=1736

AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MURDER ON THE NILE (UK Tour) May 2012

Last night was my first experience of an Agatha Christie murder mystery at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. I've never been any good at guessing 'whodunit' in Murder She Wrote and Midsomer Murders on TV, and it turns out I'm no better at guessing when it's live on stage.

The story follows the passengers on a steam boat down the river Nile, and there's a murder. It's pretty self explanatory. The set is the observation deck of the boat and is beautiful in design.

The story starts off a little a slow with little action but things soon change with the introduction of Jacqueline de Severac threatening to kill newlyweds onboard. Chloe Newsome's portrayal of Jacqueline is sweet but sinister. She manages to keep you on the edge of your seat when she's got that gun in her hands.

It was great to see Dynasty legend Kate O'Mara back on stage and in the role of Miss ffoliot-ffoulkes (no capital f's). There's just something so elegant and classy about her, which she brings to her character with added humour.

Denis Lill keeps the pace of the play which at times is very dialogue-heavy. His unfolding of the mystery is most intriguing.

Other performances worthy of note are Footballer's Wives star Susie Amy as Kay Mostyn who adapts to this style of drama wonderfully and Max Hutchinson as the wise-cracking William Smith.

Another success for the Agatha Christie Theatre Company, an interesting night out at the theatre.

The play runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 26th May and continues on a UK tour, details can be found here: http://www.kenwright.com/index.php?id=1224

(With cast members Kate O'Mara, Max Hutchinson and Susie Amy.)