ALADDIN (New Wimbledon Theatre) Review January 2014

Usually before a show, there may be an announcement to turn off your mobile phone, a black out or a booming overture, but before this performance of Aladdin, out walks Wishee Washee... except it wasn't Alan Committe. George Wood from Family First Entertainment explained that Alan, taken ill at the eleventh hour was unable to perform and with no understudy he was stepping into the role clutching a script... only in panto could this happen and with a supportive audience well and truly on his side it was on with the show!

The show begins with a screen lowered in and a trailer for the DVD release of Shrek The Musical - it's very much like being at the cinema and theatre doesn't need this... It's followed by a short film about the stars that graced the Wimbledon stage and then some text which tells you to practice cheering and booing. Without the encouragement of a live actor it doesn't perhaps work as effectively as it should but as soon the curtain rises we're back to theatrical normality. 

Wimbledon has long been the home of London pantomime, since the London Palladium the New Wimbledon Theatre has been the place to some of the biggest names over the festive season, Priscilla Presley, Warwick Davis and David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson and Dame Edna Everage in recent years and now another line-up of stars make up the cast of Aladdin.

Oliver Thornton

West End heartthrob Oliver Thornton recently hung up his heels after a yearlong tour of the Rocky Horror Show - playing Frank N Furter. Here, he couldn't be further from the kinky transvestite as the dashing Aladdin. Perhaps not his usual singing style, he makes his way through a score of recent chart hits including Daft Punk's Get Lucky. A strong performance and a charming lead boy. Another ex Frank N Furter in the shape of David Badella is the villain Abanaza. With such a rich voice, he relishes the part and is a brilliantly booable baddie and his special effect fireworks are pretty exciting! Claire-Marie Hall is in fine voice as Princess Jasmine and her Beneath Your Beautiful duet with Thornton is a special moment. 

Top of the bill is comedienne Jo Brand, famous for her sarcastic and downbeat humour which I happen to love... it's perhaps not perfect panto humour but a nice contrast to the traditional lame panto joke. Despite appearing forlorn at every entrance she receives the biggest applause and is a welcome spin on the usual Genie Of The Ring. She can even twerk...

Jo Brand

Tonight Matthew, you're going to be... an audience favourite! Stars In Their Eyes host Matthew Kelly shines as Widow Twankey, camping it up as the village laundress with an array of fabulous costumes - the best perhaps is a pot of noodles. Britain's Got Talent contestant Shaheen Jafargholi is given plenty of opportunity to showcase his singing talent as the Genie Of The Lamp. "It's not an opera!" says Jo Brand to the boy who sings every line of his script... but, by doing so he proves just why he was worthy of singing at Michael Jackson's memorial concert in Los Angeles. At only 16 he's a particularly impressive member of the cast. 

Matthew Kelly

Dance troupe Flawless fit perfectly into the story as the Chinese police force, with their usual style of street dance they're at the most exciting when the lights go out and they perform a routine with only their silhouettes illuminated in different coloured lights. By the end of the show, George Wood has done an amazing job standing in as Wishee Washee, glancing only at the script for reference he performs with confidence and charm - a true panto professional. 

There could have been a lot more audience interaction, particularly with the dame. This feels like a particularly current pantomime, the beginning of a new breed almost... it's sparkling with star names - a jewel at the end of the District Line. You can book the final remaining seats via the website here. Tickets priced from £11.90 - £47.40.

Jo Brand will not be performing on Saturday 11th January, the part of the Genie Of The Ring will be played by Jenny Eclair. 

View the trailer:

Cast List: Jo Brand, Matthew Kelly, Oliver Thornton, David Badella, Alan Committie, Shaheen Jafargholi, Matthew Rixon, Claire-Marie Hall, John Conroy, Flawless, Lauren Carrick, Stephanie Langley, Chantelle McDermott, Charlotte Perry, Alexandra Tyndall, Emily Wilson. 

ROCKY HORROR SHOW (UK Tour) Review October 2013

It's astounding..... time is fleeting..... madness takes it's toll.... but listen closely, not for very much longer does the tour continue! The Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton celebrates the final week of the 40th Anniversary production of Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show and with halloween just around the corner, there's no better time. 

Innocent couple Brad and Janet suffer a flat tyre and seek refuge in the home of Frank-N-Furter - a transvestite of transexual Transylvania. Things go from insane to... well... more insane.

Dani Harmer and Ben Forster

ITV Superstar winner Ben Forster rejoins the cast after a second arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and is perfectly preppy as Brad Majors. A particular highlight for Ben is 'Once In A While', a song that is a more subtle and tender moment, but a time to showcase his real talent aside from the craziness. Tracy Beaker actress Dani Harmer is a far cry from her Dumping Ground days as the innocent Janet Weiss - she proves to be a versatile performer.

Kristian Lavercombe

Kristian Lavercombe is an excellent Riff Raff. The role made famous by the show's creator Richard O'Brien is a tough one to crack. Having already played the role on an international tour, Kristian is due to appear in the 2014 Australian tour and it's easy to see why he's a favourite. Shrieking his way through with killer vocals, his Time Warp is guaranteed to have you on your feet - an essential member of any production. Ceris Hine returns as Columbia having previously played the role in 2010. Bursting with energy and her tiny frame and squeaky voice make her a cutesy and loveable tap dancing delight. Jade Westaby is a strong Magenta/Usherette. Henry Davis is Rocky, the hunky creation of Dr Frank-N-Furter. His characterisation is perhaps the most suitable I've seen and earns audience sympathy over some of the more 'dumb' previous interpretations, but I guess many don't even look past his bulging leopard-print speedos.

Oliver Thornton

I think whatever show he's in, Oliver Thornton manages to steal it - simply one of the best around. Hot in the heels of many a famous Franks, Oliver surely puts his stamp on the iconic role. A born entertainer, his theatrical highlight of the night has to be The Floorshow and 'Don't Dream It', again a more subtle part of the show but it's in those moments when the message truly comes across. What we get here is a fully-rounded Frank, not just a camp, stocking-clad sex maniac but a somewhat believable character.

Philip Franks is the perfect narrator. Not only because of his willing self-deprecation but for witty one-liners and quick come-backs to some of the more obscure audience heckles. The Phantom chorus provide eerie harmonies throughout, it is a shame they're not a bigger part of the story, they're used often to change scenery.

The set and lighting has been re-designed for this tour and impressively brings the 40 year old musical right up to date in a production that feels incredibly relevant whilst very much keeping the feel of a horror B-Movie.

For a Monday night, Wolverhampton has possibly never been so full of energy. This is one hell of a party - Fishnets, frivolity and fiercely fun! Don't dream it, see it!

Book for the FINAL week of this 40th Anniversary extravaganza at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre here. There is an official after party at Blast Off, open til 3am after the final show on Saturday 2nd November 2013 (more info here).

Cast List: Oliver Thornton, Ben Forster, Dani Harmer, Philip Franks, Henry Davis, Ceris Hine, Kristian Lavercombe, Richard Meek, Jayde Westaby, Maria Coyne, Christos Dante, David Gale, Rachel Grundy, Andrew Ahern.

Watch the 2013 cast doing the Time Warp!

Review | ROCKY HORROR SHOW (40th Anniversary UK Tour) February 2013

As an out-of-work actor Richard O'Brien, the lunatic from the Crystal Maze wrote the Rocky Horror Show to keep himself busy on winter evenings. The musical first appeared at the Royal Court Theatre in 1973 and is now in it's 40th year. This year the Rocky Horror Show is back with an all new anniversary party production. 

At any other show you'd be turned away at the door for baring your backside and heckling obscenities but anything goes here and the die-hard fans definitely went all out for the show's Ruby anniversary... there were some sights! The casting director it seems also went all out with an all-star cast who were definitely picked on talent despite their status. 

Roxanne Pallett and Ben Forster

On entering the theatre you find yourself in a derelict movie theater, an usherette introduces tonight's Science Fiction Double Feature. We follow Brad Majors and Janet Weiss as their car suffers a blow-out and they seek refuge in a nearby house, the home of Dr Frank-N-Furter - a pansexual transvestite scientist. 

Leading the show as the newly engaged Brad and Janet are ITV's winner of Jesus Christ Superstar Ben Forster and Roxanne Pallett (Emmerdale). Both embody the sweet and vulnerable college kids with such charm and deliver powerhouse vocals that bring the audience into concert-worthy applause on many occasions. 

Abigail Jaye, Kristian Lavercombe and Ceris Hine

In the role originated by Richard O'Brien himself, I imagine it's very difficult to find a Riff Raff quite up to the job - Kristian Lavercombe is one of the show's many assets and brings everything that Mr O'Brien ever did and then goes one more - giving an outstanding performance and has everyone on their feet for the Time Warp. 

Abigail Jaye and Ceris Hine complete the house servants as Magenta and Columbia. Abigail impresses with a strong vocal and can most certainly belt and her rendition of Science Fiction/Double Feature made sure everyone was enthused for a fun night. The sparkling little jewel of the production is clearly Ceris Hine. Returning to the production after winning everyone's hearts on the 2009/10 tour the pint-sized, tap dancing ball of energy makes sure all eyes on her as she hit the high notes and wings and buffalos her way around the stage. 

 Oliver Thornton

In what has already been billed as the sexiest production of the show to date, producers turn up the heat with West End star Oliver Thornton who dons the iconic stockings and suspenders as Dr Frank-N-Furter. Strutting comfortably, after three years as Felicia in the London production of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert Oliver is no stranger to being so scantily clad. Completely embracing the role Oliver Thornton injects glamour and style into his playful portrayal of the maniacal Transylvanian. Oliver writes one of the UK's leading lifestyle blogs Design For Living. 

Designed for much more than living, Rocky is Frank-N-Furter's latest creation, a blonde haired, ridiculously tanned hunk who for the 40th anniversary is X Factor's Rhydian Roberts. 

 Oliver Thornton and Rhydian

Still with his signature operatic style Rhydian powers his way through the show delighting the audience, receiving screams, wolf whistles and inappropriate heckles aplenty.  There are many opportunities to shout out during the show, most of which are well known and the cast can expect... others are more individual and perhaps less appropriate. If you're planning a night out and intend on participating you may wish to follow the full script of heckles. Tediously making his way through his interrupted lines is Philip Franks and the Narrator who restores order with witty comments in retaliation. Joel Montague's character is set up to receive similar audience participation. 

 Sweet Transvestite

The Phantom ensemble are made up of Maria Coyne, Christos Dante, David Gayle and Rachel Grundy with Andrew Ahern as Dance Captain. All of whom are energetic and on top form, providing eerie harmonies as they lurch around the stage. 

With an exciting new set designed by Hugh Durrant this year's Rocky Horror show is the best you'll possibly see it. The show continues to tour throughout 2013 and further dates are still to be announced. Book tickets here. 

Official Promotional Trailer 2013: