Going to the theatre

[Frances]

We're going to see this sometime this summer - how's the view from the cheap seats? We're on the fence about shelling out more $ for the tables down below, but would prefer to save the money for dinner...

Tour of 54 with seating detail. I loved some of the Kit Kat servers, one young man had a whole schtick about the balcony and never having seen the balcony that was stage worthy.

http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/video/5967/Kit-Kat-Boys-Delve-into-the-Darkest-Depths-Backstage-at-Cabaret

[Heather]

Betty Blue Eyes
Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.
Saturday 12th July 2014, 2pm.

Betty Blue Eyes is a musical comedy and a stage adaptation of the file A Private Function written by Alan Bennett. It is set in 1947, just after World War 2 at the time of Queen Elizabeth 2's marriage to Prince Philip and at a time when rationing is still in place.

The story centres around Betty, a blue eyed adorable pig who is being illegally reared to ensure that local dignitaries can celebrate the royal wedding with a lavish banquet while the rest of the population live off Spam. The local chiropodist, Gilbert, who dreams of better days, is introduced to Betty while up at the farm one day. All Gilbert is doing is trying to put food on his table to feed himself, his wife Joyce and her elderly mother. One night he steals Betty with the idea of killing her and feeding her to his family, but finds he can't do it. When the local dignitaries who are organising the banquet find out that Betty is gone, all hell breaks loose and with a bad stench coming from Gilbert's house, they are lead there followed a short time later by Inspector Wormold, an obsessive destroyer of illegal meat.

Betty of course was a puppet and a very loveable one too, easily the best actor in the show although the rest of the cast were good too. It was good to see a proper Musical at the Liverpool Playhouse again. The last time I saw one was when I returned to the theatre after many years of being away in 2008 and saw Once Upon A Time At The Adelphi. It was also nice to see the Orchestra pit back in use although you could not see into it as it was covered up. The use of radio mic's was apparent throughout, a rarity at the Liverpool Playhouse as they usually don't use any microphones at all as the acoustics are so good (well it is an 150 year old Music Hall after all).

Unfortunately the UK tour ends at the Liverpool Playhouse on 2nd August 2014 otherwise I would say 'go see' as it's such a fabulous show. For me, after Hope Place at the Liverpool Everyman, this rates as one of the best shows in Liverpool this year.

[Doktor Avalanche]

Betty Blue Eyes
Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.
Saturday 12th July 2014, 2pm.

Betty Blue Eyes is a musical comedy and a stage adaptation of the file A Private Function written by Alan Bennett. It is set in 1947, just after World War 2 at the time of Queen Elizabeth 2's marriage to Prince Philip and at a time when rationing is still in place.

The story centres around Betty, a blue eyed adorable pig who is being illegally reared to ensure that local dignitaries can celebrate the royal wedding with a lavish banquet while the rest of the population live off Spam. The local chiropodist, Gilbert, who dreams of better days, is introduced to Betty while up at the farm one day. All Gilbert is doing is trying to put food on his table to feed himself, his wife Joyce and her elderly mother. One night he steals Betty with the idea of killing her and feeding her to his family, but finds he can't do it. When the local dignitaries who are organising the banquet find out that Betty is gone, all hell breaks loose and with a bad stench coming from Gilbert's house, they are lead there followed a short time later by Inspector Wormold, an obsessive destroyer of illegal meat.

Betty of course was a puppet and a very loveable one too, easily the best actor in the show although the rest of the cast were good too. It was good to see a proper Musical at the Liverpool Playhouse again. The last time I saw one was when I returned to the theatre after many years of being away in 2008 and saw Once Upon A Time At The Adelphi. It was also nice to see the Orchestra pit back in use although you could not see into it as it was covered up. The use of radio mic's was apparent throughout, a rarity at the Liverpool Playhouse as they usually don't use any microphones at all as the acoustics are so good (well it is an 150 year old Music Hall after all).

Unfortunately the UK tour ends at the Liverpool Playhouse on 2nd August 2014 otherwise I would say 'go see' as it's such a fabulous show. For me, after Hope Place at the Liverpool Everyman, this rates as one of the best shows in Liverpool this year.

I've always loved A Private Function, never imagined it a musical. I see you enjoyed the musical, how does it compare to the film?

[Heather]

Betty Blue Eyes
Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.
Saturday 12th July 2014, 2pm.

Betty Blue Eyes is a musical comedy and a stage adaptation of the file A Private Function written by Alan Bennett. It is set in 1947, just after World War 2 at the time of Queen Elizabeth 2's marriage to Prince Philip and at a time when rationing is still in place.

The story centres around Betty, a blue eyed adorable pig who is being illegally reared to ensure that local dignitaries can celebrate the royal wedding with a lavish banquet while the rest of the population live off Spam. The local chiropodist, Gilbert, who dreams of better days, is introduced to Betty while up at the farm one day. All Gilbert is doing is trying to put food on his table to feed himself, his wife Joyce and her elderly mother. One night he steals Betty with the idea of killing her and feeding her to his family, but finds he can't do it. When the local dignitaries who are organising the banquet find out that Betty is gone, all hell breaks loose and with a bad stench coming from Gilbert's house, they are lead there followed a short time later by Inspector Wormold, an obsessive destroyer of illegal meat.

Betty of course was a puppet and a very loveable one too, easily the best actor in the show although the rest of the cast were good too. It was good to see a proper Musical at the Liverpool Playhouse again. The last time I saw one was when I returned to the theatre after many years of being away in 2008 and saw Once Upon A Time At The Adelphi. It was also nice to see the Orchestra pit back in use although you could not see into it as it was covered up. The use of radio mic's was apparent throughout, a rarity at the Liverpool Playhouse as they usually don't use any microphones at all as the acoustics are so good (well it is an 150 year old Music Hall after all).

Unfortunately the UK tour ends at the Liverpool Playhouse on 2nd August 2014 otherwise I would say 'go see' as it's such a fabulous show. For me, after Hope Place at the Liverpool Everyman, this rates as one of the best shows in Liverpool this year.

I've always loved A Private Function, never imagined it a musical. I see you enjoyed the musical, how does it compare to the film?

Sorry, I can't answer that question. I've never seen the film. I don't watch a lot of films (as you would probably guess from my lack of participation on the movie thread). I prefer to watch live stuff.

[Julieexeter]

While I was in London yesterday I took the opportunity to do a tour of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse and it was fascinating. I had already been inside this beautiful little theatre having seen The Knight of the Burning Pestle soon after it opened but it was interesting to hear about the history of indoor theatres and the difference in staging plays indoors and outdoors. I must admit I had never thought about Shakespeare writing some plays for indoors and some for outdoors. We also heard that the plans originally thought to have been by Indigo Jones which started the project were not in fact by him but a prodige, the health and safety issues which had to be resolved before the Playhouse could be opened, and ideas for future staging of plays. A 45 minutes well spent.

[Frances]

I've always loved A Private Function, never imagined it a musical.

I've seen it a few times. Maggie Smith, Uncle Monty and that Monty Python guy.

[Julieexeter]

Young Vic
A Streetcar Named Desire
Saturday 9th August 2014 7.30pm

Although I knew something of this Tennessee Williams play I had never actually seen a production, and I think I had only ever seen Gillian Anderson in X Files on television. I didn't read any of the reviews as I wanted to go into it with a completely open mind. From the moment she entered Gillian Anderson was in control of the audience. The character of Blanche Dubois is complex and disintegrates during the play; we are shown each phase of that disintegration sometimes sympathising sometimes not. When is she being truthful? When is she being devious? As time goes on does she know herself what is truth and what is fantasy? I am not sure we ever get to really know Blanche but I think this could be deliberate to illustrate that possibly by the point we meet her she doesn't really know herself or how to deal with her circumstances. She only seems to be able to relate to men in a sexual way and as Stanley seems to see women as sex objects there is only one way things can go. It was not clear to me whether she is a willing participant but it is what sends her 'over the edge'. Gillian Anderson gives a powerful compelling performance throughout the play.This production is not all about Ms Anderson though; there is a strong cast with Ben Foster playing Stanley, Blanche's brutish brother-in-law, and Vanessa Kirby as Stella, Blanche's sister, so in love with her husband that she is almost blind to his bullying. Not knowing much about her work, if I had any doubts as to whether Gillian Anderson is a stage actress or a television star they were blown away. She is a brilliant actress, and a lovely person. It was nigh on 11pm before the play ended, her birthday so she had friends in to see her immediately after, but she came out smiling at 12.15am to sign autographs for a long queue of people. Respect in all departments Ms Anderson.

[Heather]

Noises Off by Michael Frayn,
Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.
Saturday 6th September 2014, 2pm.

This is the first show that I have attended at the Royal Court, Liverpool this year. That is because most of the plays performed there this year have been repeats or did not appeal to me at all. However when I saw this one advertised, it really did appeal to me.

Noises Off, a comedy written in 1982 by Michael Frayn, is not the normal type of show that you would see at the Royal Court, Liverpool. Normally we would see a comedy musical, a parody of a film maybe, usually set in Liverpool and starring half the cast of Brookside and other locally renowned actors, but today we were treated to an ordinary comedy play featuring only a couple of local actors and one or two others that you may have heard of.

The play begins on opening night of a play. The cast are running through the final dress rehearsal. A group of actors are trying desperately to get the show on the road but the missed entrances, forgotten lines and big egos don't help. During Act One, we learn all about the characters and their relationships with each other throughout that dress rehearsal. In Act Two we are taken backstage as the show goes on the road and those relationships have fallen apart. As the show is performed (which we hear being performed as if we were backstage too) we are treated to silent slapstick comedy as the actors fight and argue while desperately trying not to miss their cues. This goes on for about ten or fifteen minutes. In the next and final scene we see the show from the audiences point of view as it opens in Liverpool and it's changed dramatically from when they performed it for the dress rehearsal. Props appear at the wrong moment, cues are missed and the actors forget their lines and ad lib which is hilarious.

An absolutely brilliant show. This is worth seeing if you can get to Liverpool in the next four weeks. Stars Jennifer Bea, Tupele Dorgu (Casualty, Coronation Street), Jessica Dyas, Stephen Fletcher (Liverpudlian actor, Heartbeat, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street), Kim Hartman (Helga in 'Allo 'Allo), Phil Hearne, Chris Jordan, Jonathan Markwood and Danny O'Brien and directed as usual for the Royal Court, Liverpool by Bob Eaton.

Noises Off is at the Royal Court, Liverpool until 4th October 2014.

[Julieexeter]

I have seen two productions of Noises Off over the years and you are right, Heather, it is absolutely hilarious.

[Julieexeter]

To Kill A Mocking Bird
Regents Park Open Air Theatre

The audience were sat waiting for the actors to appear when in our midst one stood and started reading from Harper Lee's book, then another took over and another and another before taking to the stage. A map of the relevant houses were drawn in chalk on the bare stage. The lack of scenery and costumes made the audience use their imagination and concentrate on the storyline and I feel this added more power to an already powerful play. I won't go into a lot of storyline detail as I am sure most people will at some time have read the book, and there are many facets to it. Basically it is a young girl's story of growing up in the deep South of the USA during the depression with none of its poverty and prejudice hidden; of her attorney father's determination to fight for what is right against all the odds and to bring his children up with the belief that all men are equal in a world where they are anything but. Part of the production was as a play but between scenes the adult actors left their characters and read from the book the words of Scout, the young girl. The emotion was overwhelming at times. I am not prone to crying at a theatre but I found myself having to wipe my eyes on many occasions( actually this is the second time this year, the first while watching Julie Hesmondhalgh and Rachel Austin in Black Roses). I am not sure if the tears were due to the strength of the portrayals by the cast or the power of the written word. The performances by the children easily matched those of the adult cast. A first class production.

[Heather]

Bright Phoenix,
Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.
Saturday 11th October 2014, 2pm

A new play by local playwright Jeff Young.

On Liverpool's main thoroughfare, Lime Street, stands the shell of an old cinema called The Futurist. Lately a small group of campaigner's have been trying to save the facade, the inside is too far gone.

Bright Phoenix is mainly set at The Futurist past and present. On the run from tragedy, Lucas (Paul Duckworth) left Liverpool 20 years ago. On his return he is not particularly welcomed with open arms by his former friends. The play explores the relationships of the past and tells us why things have ended up this way. He is responsible for one of them, Spike (Rhodri Meilir), losing an eye and he was there when one of the others, Alan (Carl Au) falls to his death, which he feels responsible for as Alan is the brother of his childhood sweetheart Lizzie (Penny Layden). It is a complicated story and plays out scenes at the cinema when they are younger and during the present day when they try to resurrect it and bring the bright phoenix back from the ashes. The play also explores the regeneration of the city and poses the question, who owns the city?

It was good but a little bit weird with live music which in my opinion it would have been better without, especially as the mandolin was slightly out of tune (unfortunately I am blessed with perfect pitch so I notice the slightest thing musically). However, still worth seeing.

Also stars Cathy Tyson, Rhian Green, Keiran Urquhart and Mark Rice-Oxley.

On at the Everyman Theatre, Hope Street, Liverpool until Saturday 25th October 2014.

[Pogues to Niagara]

Wicked.....Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto. My daughter loved it.
Book of Mormon. ....Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto. Dead good!
Not as insightful as Philip, but I do my best.
Miss that guy!

[Heather]

Juno and The Paycock by Sean O'Casey.
Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool,
Saturday 18th October 2014, 2pm

If there was one show in Liverpool that Philip would have liked to have seen, I think that it would have been this one. If he'd have still been here I would have certainly have asked him to come with me despite the fact I was painfully shy about asking him anything (it used to take me about half an hour to compose a PM to him).

The reason why I think Phil would have liked this one was that Niamh Cusack was playing Juno. I last saw her performing in Playboy of the Western World at the Old Vic in London. That was one of the shows that Phil did the music for. I met him that night in the interval. It turned out that it was the very last time I would meet him in person.

A couple of months ago, I read Juno. At the time I wasn't really that struck on it. To be honest I think that sometimes you have to see a piece performed before you can really get into it and this is what happened to me yesterday. I was captivated by the story and the characters that made up that story. I found myself becoming a part of their world and feeling their sorrows. I found myself hanging on the every word. The show as also 'captioned' so if you lost where you were in the play you could read the script on the screen above the stage.

Directed by my Twitter friend, Gemma Bodinetz, Artistic Director of the Everymanplayhouse, Juno and The Paycock also starred Des McAleer as Captain Jack Boyle, Louis Dempsey as Joxer Daly, Maureen O'Connell as Mary Boyle, Fionn Walton as Jerry Devine, Aoife McMahon as Mrs Maisie Madigan, Robin Morrissey as Charles Bentham, Donal Gallery as Johnny Boyle, Maggie McCarthy as Mrs Tancred, Neil Caple and Jonathan Charles. Unfortunately though it finished last night so you have no chance of seeing it.

This show was definitely one that I would put in my top 10 shows of the year and I think Philip might have liked it. I wonder what comments he'd have made. That we'll never know. Even so I felt he was there in spirit anyway.

[Julieexeter]

A new experience on this coming Sunday......during West End Live there was a performance by the English National Opera and my daughter said she wouldn't mind going to an opera if it was in English. Hence we are going to see The Marriage of Figaro which I understand is quite light.

[Heather]

Yesterday evening I booked 5 shows for next season, 4 for the Liverpool Empire and one at the Royal Court, Liverpool.

I was going to wait until the Everymanplayhouse announces their new season tomorrow but I couldn't wait and most of the Liverpool Empire shows are only on for a week. Also, I've had a few minor ailments lately and life isn't too great at the moment so I just wanted to have something to look forward to.

I haven't been to the Liverpool Empire this year. I'm not keen on some of the touring shows they do there but, next year there are a few that I wouldn't mind seeing, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time for one. Purely for the reason it literally brought the house down at the Apollo.