BOUNCERS (UK Tour): Banter With The Boys

The boys in black began a UK Tour of John Godber's Bouncers last week in York. We met up with them in Bradford ahead of their scheduled door job in Wolverhampton in October.
Is the nightlife of Wolverhampton ready for them? "Come see us and find out" was the answer.

Eastender's villain Ace Bhatti (whose worst nightclub outfit was an Elvis suit) says that quite simply "Bouncers is the show you need to see if theatre isn't your thing. It's not what you expect." Why is that then? "All the characters are played by us, four blokes. Even the women, that's us. There's something about putting on that handbag, the place just erupts every night."

Don Gilet was brought up in Walsall and after training at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts his first theatre job was at our very own Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. Looking forward to playing the theatre  again he said "I can't wait to tame this beast of a play in different cities". Even though the humour may be received differently in other cities the story William Ilkley claims is a timeless piece. "It doesn't change. Nothing changes in the nightclub, only the music and that's just like our play." Godber's play that was first performed in 1977 has been brought right up to date in a 'remix' of the original version. This version features the music of Cheryl Cole, Rhianna, The Wanted, David Guetta, Stooshe and Nicki Minaj. "The play still has the same heart as it did back then, but sometimes the comedy upstaged what the Bouncers were all about" says Ian Reddington who plays Lucky Eric in the show. "This version of the show takes that comedy even further but also allows the characters that time to just act and connect with the audience." This is one of the reasons why the Coronation Street actor had to play the part of Eric. "I had to be Eric. He has the four speeches, those monologues are great. I didn't want to do any other part, I told John [Godber] that. Eric is one of the few characters that really expresses what he feels about what is going on. It's nerve-wracking though, one of the hardest plays I've done and the most energetic." Reddington, who had finished in a UK tour of the Queen musical We Will Rock You earlier in the year said "Bouncers is very different to We Will Rock You, there's no Queen music in this one for a start. I've been lucky enough to be in two Olivier Award winning musicals. Musicals are a completely different discipline and for the variety and experience every actor has got to do a musical, they've got to do a play and they've definitely got to do Bouncers."

If you're still not convinced, why else is this play worth that entry fee? "There's a laugh every thirty seconds and John Godber's timed that on his watch" Ian Reddington recalled. "It's the most fast paced and shortest play you'll sit through" added Don Gilet "it's a complete adrenaline rush for us on stage and for the audience watching. You'll relate to the characters in this thing that is unlike most other plays - a party on stage."

The Bouncers take on the nightlife of Wolverhampton at the Grand Theatre from 2nd - 6th October.
TICKETS: http://www.grandtheatre.info/WhatsOn_focus.asp?ShowId=626&sC=page46
Official Website: http://www.bouncersonstage.com

LEGALLY BLONDE (UK Tour) August 2012

I first saw Legally Blonde in London, pretty soon after it opened with Sheridan Smith as Elle Woods - the ditzy blonde of the Delta Nu sorority who goes to law school to win back her boyfriend. It is almost impossible not to compare this touring production to the highly successful West End version and there are quite a few differences (i.e downscaling) to the show but this tour definitely keeps to the camp, fun spirit of the original production.

Faye Brookes, relatively unknown before Legally Blonde takes the role of Elle. She is perfectly cast. With the blonde wig she bares a striking resemblance to Reece Witherspoon from the 2001 film version. You can't help but fall in love with her character who grows to become the strong independent legally blonde. Iwan Lewis is also a loveable Emmett. He has great charm and works alongside Faye Brookes to create the perfect pairing.

Celebrity casting is not new to Legally Blonde and the tour has previously seen stars such as Ray Quinn, Liz McClarnon and Claire Sweeney. Joining the cast as Warner Huntington III is PopStar Gareth Gates and Jennifer Ellison as Paulette Buonufonté. Jennifer in particular was a surprising treat in the role. Her reunion with her dog Rufus is particularly sweet. Gareth Gates is great as Warner but I couldn't help feel his young PopStars image, which is still present, was absolutely right for the character of Warner. Nonetheless he played the part well.

Audience reactions clearly highlighted the scene-stealers of the show. Lewis Griffiths as Kyle the UPS Guy and Jon Reynolds as Kiki the colourist. Tracey Penn is a delight as Vivienne - her vocals soar above the rest, particularly in the Legally Blonde Remix. The ensemble are on fine form - energy aplenty even with the lack of space. What you get is the same performance but a scaled-down version of the London production - there is no Delta Nu house front for a start, that made a great opening image in London. A lot of scenes suffer a cut back in design, which is a shame but the original feel of the production remains.

With the production in London now closed the tour is the only option for those wanting to see it. There aren't many dates left but if it comes to a town near you soon or in future tours it is definitely worth a fun, care-free night out. It is definitely the feel-good show everyone loves.

STARLIGHT EXPRESS (UK Tour) Review August 2012

Starlight Express is the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical based on toy trains that sing, dance and race each other... it shouldn't work, but it does.

When I first seriously started going to London for shows Starlight Express had already departed from the Apollo Victoria Theatre and Wicked had just taken up residency. I missed the Starlight tour that followed and was very depressed that I would never get to see the show I'd always wanted to see - at least not soon. It was New Years Eve, December 2011 when Arlene Phillips tweeted that Starlight Express would return in the new year. The dates soon followed and none of my beloved local theatres were on the list. So it was off to Nottingham I went!

The set for this tour, is simple and uses mainly lighting. It works as a toy train set, and the little train going round and round as the audience take their seats is a cute little entertaining feature. The only downside to the design is that the curtains in the wings are constantly flying open and the lights are on the other side - so you can see everything. You can also see the stage-hands waiting on stage to move the ramps around which is a little distracting. 

Perhaps the biggest change (aside from the ever-changing musical numbers) in the show from the London production is the 3D screen that drops in to show the races. It is completely impractical to build the huge racecourse tracks around the auditorium like the original production and so the 3D is perhaps the most modern and exciting way to do this. The 3D glasses were those cardboard ones and I'm not sure whether it was the glasses or the quality of the screen that let down the quality of the 3D slightly. It was slightly blurry, dark and not always clear. Perhaps the recent influx of 3D movies has spoilt our idea of 3D quality. The 3D sequences were still exciting to watch but it was good to take the glasses off and get back to watching live actors.

The cast however put all the little niggles about set to the back of your mind - they are fabulous. Many of them have been in the London production, previous tours and the production currently running in Bochum. Understudying the role of Pappa was Gavin Ashbarry who took on the elder role with ease and perfection. The Hip-Hoppers Robert Nurse, Lex Milczarek and Glenn Robb provide the modern edge and impress with their dance skill. Mykal Rand is a delight as Electra - all eyes on him and he dominated the stage. Also worthy of mention is Amanda Coutts who takes on the role of Pearl. Amanda has always been one of my favourites after seeing her dominate the roles of Scaramouche and Meat in the London and touring productions of We Will Rock You. She is fantastic as Pearl and oozes charisma and charm. She thoroughly deserves her place on the stage. 

Overall this production, however scaled down, and however different from the original works wonderfully and is a delight of a production. I would see it again and again if it wasn't for the distant venues. Thoroughly enjoyable, upbeat and a fun family night out. 

Starlight Express plays at the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall until Saturday 1st September and continues on a UK tour into 2013.

Website: http://www.starlightexpressthemusical.com

DRESS CIRCLE: The End Of An Era.

"Tell me it's not true, say it's just a story..."

Dress Circle, Monmouth Street, heralded as "The Greatest Showbiz Shop In The World" is exactly that, and news of it's closure is a devastating loss for the West End. The delightful shop has been trading all things theatre for 33 years and was open for years before some of our longest running musicals, Phantom Of The Opera and Les Miserables. It began in 1977 in the lobby of the Drury Lane Hotel, soon moving to Covent Garden market before taking residence on Monmouth Street. For many, losing Dress Circle will be just as big a deal for London as would the closure of Phantom or Les Mis, musicals that have shaped our West End, just as this shop has. 

I just wanted to reflect on what has made Dress Circle a much loved part of London and why it's uniqueness will be sorely missed. 

The downturn in the economy is to blame, tragically, a shop representing our theatre world is just not big enough to compete with giants such as Amazon and the download practicalities of iTunes. It such a shame, it's not what the public want, it's not what the staff want and so sad that it must close. I'd much rather have a signed cast album than an iTunes download any day, it's much more special and personal.  It is something Dress Circle have specialised in and at no extra cost to the RRP.

(Jill Halfpenny, Alex Gaumond, Sheridan Smith and Duncan James at the Legally Blonde cast album signing.) 

Dress Circle has not only been a promotional tool for the big musicals who often hold cast album signings in-store but for raising the profile of up-and-coming musical talent such as Chris Passey and Tim Prottey Jones, both Midlands talent taking London by storm. This is the shop to give their work a home, somewhere to launch it from, somewhere credible. Stuart Matthew Price brought out his solo album and through Dress Circle was able to sell it to customers who were otherwise unaware of it. 

(Chis Passey (front) and Tim Prottey Jones (far right) with Lauren Samuels, Ross Hunter, Stevie Webb, Simon Lipkin, Zoe Rainey, Jeremy Legat and Allyson Ava-Brown) (Photo by Roy Tan)

Dress Circle is also notably famous for it's stock of show merchandise. Where else can you get a Mary Poppins umbrella from the production which closed in 2008? Dress Circle for me came in most useful when Billy Elliot ran out of t-shirts at the theatre, I really wanted one. I went to Dress Circle and there they were - you could always count on that. I also find it useful for buying my Broadway cast recordings that aren't often released in the UK. It's rare stock is something the shop offers unlike anywhere else. A reasonably priced import of the Sister Act Hamburg cast recording? The 1994 Original UK Tour Little Shop Of Horrors cast recording? Priscilla Queen Of The Desert programme from the Milan production? Without a doubt Dress Circle, unlike anyone else, brings theatre all over the world together in London.

(Barry Manilow, a customer since the early 80's,  CD signing in store) (Photo by Roy Tan) 

Having trouble with finding sheet music for auditions? Dress Circle was also the place to go with an extensive catalogue downstairs. Even West End legend Kerry Ellis says " Dress Circle has been a part of my life for many years from way back when I was buying sheet music for my auditions." The Queen Mother would even telephone order her Noël Coward recordings from the store. 

(Mark Evans signing in store) (Photo by Phill Cowndley)

Musically talented or not so, famous or not so, but enthusiastic about theatre the variety of customers (myself included) will undoubtably miss the store, but perhaps the silver lining is that it will live on, online. The internet is not just for porn Trekkie Monster, but for helping Dress Circle survive long after its Covent Garden store closes its doors. I am a regular visitor to the website and purchase all my new cast recordings and albums from there. Dress Circle's postage is second to none, you don't get such a speedy delivery from Amazon without seriously paying! An online store will not be the same, but I do hope that it will continue to offer signed and rare goods that are difficult or impossible to get anywhere else. 

That is just my account, I'm sure everyone has many other stories to be told about their experiences in-store, and you should share them too. 

To owner, Murray Allan, and to all the staff past and present, thank-you for giving us this wonderful store for so long, to Stuart Matthew Price and James Yeoburn for the benefit gala that helped raise awareness of the store.  

Visit www.dresscircle.co.uk and continue your support. 

HAUNTED (Wolverhampton Grand Theatre) July 2012

Ron Aldridge's Haunted plays in Wolverhampton this week in place of the originally scheduled Dry Rot. This production extends the summer play season into a fifth week with three of the four actors returning for a second time this season. It is the second Ron Aldridge play this year - the first being You're Only Young Twice. This play couldn't be any different.

Haunted quickly goes from being rather an erotic play to one that deeply explores the consciousness of the mind. It follows Paul Pengelly (Peter Amory) a double-murderer who has been found not guilty on both accounts. He's starting the life he always wanted but things soon take a sinister turn when his victims appear in his head and will not leave until he confesses to murder.

The two victims, Susan Pengelly (Joanne Heywood) and Richard Tremayne (Nick Ricketts) have a lot to do. Original tactics to edge Peter into confession is to repeatedly tease and taunt him. Not only is this annoying for Peter who is trying to get on with his life but also for the audience who are trying to watch. I couldn't help but feel Peter's agitation and annoyance, which (in a way) is the play working as it should. I could definitely sympathise with Peter, but he's a murderer - he deserves it!

Peter's new love Melanie is played by Nicola Weeks. Interestingly, Amory and Weeks were a couple (Susan and Ray) last week in The Final Test and are together again as Peter and Melanie this week. They work very well together and managed to switch from last week's couple to this week's very different pair.

Alan Miller Bunford's sets return again and this one, a charming lilac bedroom is lit cold and more harshly as the storyline gets grittier and more intense.

The programme features an article about various stage and film ghosts, one of which being Sam Wheat from Ghost. Ghost being a recent screen-to-stage adaptation features special effects and illusions to as part of a multi-million pound musical production in London. Surprisingly this smaller production also features illusions to enforce the ghost-like qualities of the actors who to look at are no different in appearance to the living characters.

You really have to concentrate in this one. There's a lot of supernatural explaining and understanding and at times switching between real-time action to reenactments of the past without obvious notice. Distraction techniques work well to showcase the illusions. The play runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 28th July after finishing a small UK tour in May. This is your last chance to see it and is definitely worth considering.

Website: http://iandickensinternational.com/productions/haunted.html

Tickets: http://www.grandtheatre.info/WhatsOn_focus.asp?ShowId=618&sC=page10

THE FINAL TEST (UK Tour) July 2012

For this, the fourth play in the Ian Dickens play season we are presented with an entirely new work. This is the first time Chris Paling's comedy has been put before an audience, perhaps a big gamble in today's theatrical world - but it managed to hold it's own.

Doctor Who's Colin Baker stars as Peter, who discovers one afternoon that his wife Ruth (Karen Ford) has sold the house and is moving to Bexhill-On-Sea with a new man she found on the internet. Peter, not knowing what to do remains in the garden listening to the cricket. The new owners move in and face the awkward task of getting him out. They call upon the help of a policeman (Michael Garland) who instead of evicting Peter, ends up ballroom dancing with him.

Colin Baker has undoubtable charm. However annoying it is to have an unwelcome visitor in your garden, when it's Colin Baker you'd happily keep him for a gnome. He manages to steer conversations away from why he's staying towards ridiculous situations or getting into confusing the opponent with a pompous argument. Karen Ford as his wife plays a strained and desperate cricket-widow. Emmerdale's Peter Amory along with Nicola Weeks as Susan are the perfect contrast in personality who benefit from the help of their friendly squatter. As with all the plays there is one character who appears for all of two minutes and is never seen again until curtain call. In this play it is Gavin Kerr as the removal man who doubles up as an assistant stage manager.

The set by Alan Miller-Bunford is by far his best creation throughout the play season. There's a spacious lawn, a shed, a whole house with a kitchen in-view, a wall of another house, a street behind the house - nothing is forgotten about. The set makes the slightly daft story seem much more realistic. 

Overall, an amusing evening. For a new play, it's great. It was nice to see a play set in the present day with references to Facebook and Blackberries ("Blueberries"). It starts off a little slowly, and is very dialogue heavy in some parts. If you're not a cricket fan (like me) then perhaps some of the more technical cricket language will wash over your head but the play is much more than that. 

The Final Test runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 21st July and plays only two more venues before finishing it's run on 18th August. 

(With Colin Baker)

Ticket Booking for Wolverhampton: http://grandtheatre.info/WhatsOn_focus.asp?ShowId=615&sC=page10

Website: http://iandickensinternational.com/productions/finaltest.html

YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG TWICE (UK Tour) July 2012

You're Only Young Twice is a bittersweet comedy by Ron Aldridge that first premiered in 2001. Since then it has been a firm favourite with amateur companies and has played world-wide. This most recent version is the third play in the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre's summer plays season.

Melvyn Hayes stars as Brooksie, a recent widower who decides that now is the time to recapture his youth. I knew nothing of the play before the curtain went up and as soon as he walks onto stage you know that Melvyn Hayes is the perfect man for the job. He switches from the young at heart, drunken teenage Brooksie to the mournful, reflective elder gentlemen with excellence. You get your money's worth on Hayes' performance alone.

Supporting cast members are also a joy to watch. Doctor Who's Katy Manning's Rose has much agitation towards Brooksie and her gradual change in attitude towards him is very sweet. John D. Collins is humorous as the pompous no-nonsense Tom. Heartbeat's David Lonsdale, Michelle Morris, Ingrid Evans and Daphne Sherman make up the rest of the cast. 

The set for this one, once again designed by Alan Millar-Bunford is the living room of a house. Realistic on the inside but the only problem with this one is that outside of the window is a creased white backcloth. Other plays in the season have had detailed landscapes hinting at realism and with the same designer you'd expect that continuity. It's a little distracting when characters are susposedly looking out onto the "street". 

I think that some of the jokes, humour and references are a little 40 years before my time, and the reflections of gone 60 year olds are easier to empathise with if you are of that age. The whole of the summer play season in Wolverhampton is geared towards the elder generation but it doesn't exclude younger audiences and there is something in these plays for all ages. The bread throwing scene in this particular play left the entire audience roaring with laughter for long after.

(With Melvyn Hayes, Katy Manning and David Lonsdale)

You're Only Young Twice runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (it's first venue of the tour) until Saturday 14th July and then embarks on a UK tour ending 3rd November 2012 in Crewe. 

Website: http://iandickensinternational.com/productions/youngtwice.html

DIRTY DANCING (UK Tour) Review July 2012

Dirty Dancing, billed as "the classic story on stage" is just that. It's not a play, but a times not even a musical - it is the film replicated almost exactly on the stage. Where there's music in the film, there's music in the show. There is little new material for the stage version unlike other stage-movie adaptations such as Ghost and Legally Blonde.

The story follows 'Baby' Houseman (Jill Winternitz) who on a family holiday falls for dancer Johnny Castle (Paul-Michael Jones) who teaches her to dance... dirtily. Both leads give impressive performances with the true extent of their dancing talent reaching a climax in the finale.

To keep up with the pace of a film the set is very minimal and made up of mostly large video screens which provide a "set change" in less than a second. They're impressive but it would have been nice to see perhaps real stage curtains instead of projections onto a screen.

The choreography of Kate Champion is hot, sexy, daring and breathtaking. The cast are incredible and all on top of their game. Stand-out performances include Callum Nicol who not only shines as part of the ensemble routines but also in the role of Robbie Gould. Nicky Griffiths as Penny also dominates the stage. Stefan Menaul provides the humour as Neil Kellerman. Emilia Williams receives rapturous applause for the Hula Hana. Wayne Smith's vocals at the beginning of 'Time Of My Life' are perfect and exceptionally close to the infamous version we all know and love.

Audiences at the Birmingham Hippodrome are always loud cheerers and in true fashion the place erupted after the "nobody puts Baby in the corner". For the rest of the finale everyone was on their feet and the show really livened up.

Dirty Dancing is well worth a visit at least once for a fun night out and has a lengthy eight week run until 25th August at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

Ticket Booking for Birmingham: http://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/WhatsOn_focus.asp?showId=1706

Website: http://www.dirtydancingontour.com/

DEAD RINGER (UK Tour) July 2012

Dead Ringer, a political thriller by Charles Ross. Heard of it? Didn't think so. I hadn't either, nor the cast before being handed the script. The story unfolds at number 10 Downing Street after the Prime Minister dies on the eve of an election. In order to keep their jobs those around him hatch a plan that involves hiring a look-a-like out of work actor to take his place. It's very far-fetched.

I couldn't help but thinking to myself "would this really happen?". It's difficult to believe that close relations of the Prime Minister including the Queen would initially fail to recognise the impostor. It was a lot of fun, farcical and witty - but the reality of the whole situation was ludicrous.

This is the second play of four that feature in the Ian Dickens Summer Play Season at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. David Callister who plays Prime Minister Randolph Jackson and impersonator Gerry Jackson has a lot to do, and manages well with acting as an actor who is acting as the character he played for the first ten minutes - yes, really. Chris Ellison, Frank Burnside in the Bill and Boyard in a later series of Fort Boyard with his hard-man image made for a perfect Colonel Hardacre.

Joanne Heywood and Tony Adams (both pictured above) gave strong performances as Eva Bolton and Ray Turnbull. There was great character in Josh Hall's Nigel Heywood. It is a shame that he didn't appear for longer, with only a few brief appearances. It seems to be the case with these plays that the popular comedic character you'd like to see most has the least to do. Josh Hall is however credited in the programme as Assistant Stage Manager and understudy along with Neve Breen. 

Alan Miller Bunford's set for this production is a lot more practical than his creation for last week's The Cemetery Club. And with no set changes, the breaks between scenes were very short. 

The play as a whole is an interesting one. I'm not the best when it comes to understanding politics (and neither are the cast they admitted afterwards) and that side of the play was completely over my head. But what is interesting about this one, regardless of political understanding is the motives of those covering up the death and watching the situation evolve into a detective 'whodunit' mystery. There is enthusiasm aplenty within the cast, apart from that is to say the weakest and most feeble gunshot I've ever seen on stage. It makes for an entertaining night out. 

Dead Ringer runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 7th July before continuing on a UK tour.

(With Tony Adams, Chris Ellison, David Callister and Joanne Heywood)

Website: http://iandickensinternational.com/productions/deadringer.html

BILLY ELLIOT (Victoria Palace Theatre) Review June 2012

I had the pleasure of meeting Brad Kavanagh, an original Michael from this production about five years ago at an awards ceremony we were both nominated for. After hearing about his time with the show I knew it was one I wanted to see. I regret that it took me until earlier this year to actually see it. This was my second visit to Billy Elliot, the British musical that has captured the hearts of audiences world-wide and continues to do so after seven years in London. With five current Billys, four Michaels and four Debbies in the cast, at this performance the role of Billy was played by the latest addition Harrison Dowzell, Michael by Joe Massey and Debbie by Francesca Mango.

(Harrison Dowzell as Billy Elliot)

There were strong performances from all three of the young leads as well as from the chorus of ballet girls. Billy and Michael's tap routine in 'Expressing Yourself' is defintely an audience pleaser.  The elder three leads Gillian Bevan as Mrs Wilkinson, Deka Walmsley as Billy's father and Ann Emery as Grandma provide undoubtably believable performances. Moments of comedy from Grandma leave the audience shocked and giggling.  There isn't one member of cast who doesn't give 100 percent. The standout performance has to be from RADA trained Michael Peavoy as Billy's elder brother Tony, who captures the anger of the miners and plays a raw and polished performance. 

The set by Ian MacNeil is both practical and complex, whilst still managing to be beautiful in design. Lee Hall's lyrics and Elton John's music combined will make you laugh and perhaps induce the odd tear or flood load. 

One of the most visually impressive parts of this show is the dream-like routine between Billy and his older self (Barnaby Meredith). The timing and execution of the routine is nothing less than perfect and when Billy soars into the air it's breathtaking.  It was the Guardian's review in 2005 that stated "Aerial movement has become the musical's biggest cliche; we must declare the West End a no-fly zone." I wholeheartedly disagree, the flying is a beautiful representation of Billy's dream-like state and to declare anything as beautiful as this away from the West End stage would be a travesty. 

Booking until 21st December 2013 Billy Elliot is a must for theatregoers. 
Monday - Saturday 7:30pm, Thursday & Saturday 2:30pm. 
Tickets: £65, £49.50, £37.50, £27.50, £19.50 (Dayseats available on morning of performance, £19.50, front row stalls, very close to the stage.)

Website: http://www.billyelliotthemusical.com

THE CEMETERY CLUB (UK Tour) June 2012

Although part of a UK tour, The Cemetery Club marks the first of four plays in the Ian Dickens Play Season at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

The play follows three Jewish widows, Ida, Lucille and Doris who meet once a month at Ida's house and head to the cemetery to visit their dead husbands. This particular day they meet Sam, who is questionably there to visit his wife's grave and treats it more of a singles club.

Alan Miller Bunford's set is very compact, beautiful, realistic, but compact. It is perhaps condensed enough to fit into the smallest of venues but the small cast of five struggled at times to move around Ida's flat, let alone the cemetery which took considerable time to move onto stage while the tabs flew in and we sat at listened to Rat Pack.

Slightly lengthy breaks in the play can be overseen considering the perfect casting. Shirley-Anne Field is an absolute joy as Lucille, the man-hunting, mink wearing member of the club. She manages to provide much of the comedy and receives raucous laughter when she reveals her wedding outfit.

Anita Harris is a delight as Ida and Anne Charleston (Madge from Neighbours) is right at home in her character's no nonsense approach to the idea of finding love again.

With less time to impress but certainly manages to, is Debbie Norman who is wonderfully annoying as Mildred. It is such a shame that her character appears for only one scene. The Bill's Peter Ellis is charming as Sam.

The problems faced in young love are repeated all over again in an uncertain try at love in life's later stages. This is a wonderful, bittersweet and enjoyable play to kick off the Ian Dickens 2012 Play Season in Wolverhampton.  The Cemetery Club plays only four more venues before finishing on 4th August. You can see it at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 30th June.

More information on the Wolverhampton Grand's entire play season can be found here: http://www.grandtheatre.info/default.asp?Id=311&PageSubType=323&sC=page48

Website for The Cemetery Club: http://iandickensinternational.com/productions/cemetery.html

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (Wolverhampton Grand Theatre) Pantomime Launch

This Christmas the magic of pantomime returns to Wolverhampton in a simple exchange for some magic beans. We planted them at the Novotel across the road from the theatre and up grew a giant beanstalk. Seen posing in front of one of the plants many dangerous vines, Sherrie Hewson (Coronation Street/Loose Women/Benidorm) and Keith Harris with his cuddly sidekick Orville are set to lead the cast in what promises to be a 'grand' show.

It was a pleasure to be in the presence of two fabulous entertainers. Both gave entertaining after dinner speeches. Sherrie Hewson admitted to have only visited Wolverhampton once before, many years ago on a date. His name is John if anyone knows him she added. She cannot wait to begin the shows as Lady Temple-Savage, a baddy. She loves playing the baddy as she can be "really horrible to the children and they all hate you, but it'll be alright because she's got a heart really". Sherrie, as anyone who has visited the theatre would agree says that "the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre is beautiful. I think it's stunning." 

Keith Harris had a little less to say on the event himself due to interruptions from Orville who had previously been hiding during the meal for fear that duck would be on the menu. This year marks Keith's 49th year in pantomime, both he and Orville are looking forward to receiving the gold watch next year at their 50th. 

(Meeting Keith Harris and Orville) 

Here are some video highlights of Orville's after dinner speech.

Booking is now open for the pantomime which runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from 8th December 2012 until 20th January 2013.

For bookings and more information visit the website: http://www.grandtheatre.info/WhatsOn_focus.asp?ShowId=604&sC=page10

MIDNIGHT TANGO (UK Tour) June 2012

Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, stars of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing are on the road again after a hugely successful 2011 tour and 2012 West End residency with Midnight Tango.

The show, produced by Arlene Phillips is set in downtown Buenos Aires in a beautiful and realistic set by Morgan Large featured a six-piece band and a cast of 12 dancers.

With no dialogue the show is very much about the dance. The Tango, that's it, and everyone is on top of their game. There is a simple story woven into the routines and we see Pablo (Simone) and El Gato (Giraldo Diomar) fight their way through dance to win the heart of the beautiful Sofia (Cacace). 

Tricia Deighton as Rosa and Teddy Kempner as Carlos provide much welcome comedy moments to the show. There are moments very reminiscent of clowning. They clock the audience and respond to reactions as their heartwarming story unfolds along with their petty squabbles. Moments that would not be out of place in a physical theatre show were also apparent with dancers suspending from tables and strong influences of pure acting woven into the choreography. 

The second act is definitely where the performance hots up. Pablo and Sofia's slower routine is breathtakingly stunning and the finale is received with rapturous applause. The Tango at it's best and it's not to be missed. 

Website: http://www.midnighttango.co.uk/