THE BODYGUARD at the Bristol Hippodrome

THE BODYGUARD at the Bristol Hippodrome

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In making the move from screen to stage The Bodyguard has become a vehicle for a stage performer, relying as it does on a good sprinkling of standalone numbers, each entertaining in themselves, yet without fully letting go of its film heritage. Some clever use of film-like stage framing is used to focus our attention and there are some short scenes of projected video to fill in some of the details for which no purely theatrical solution could be found.

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ST JOAN OF THE STOCKYARDS at the Bristol Old Vic

ST JOAN OF THE STOCKYARDS at the Bristol Old Vic

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I think it is clear why St Joan of the Stockyards has seldom been revived. At one point Joan steps out of character to exclaim, ‘I don’t know what’s going on in this play anymore!’ and I suspect that many in the audience will feel the same, for the ‘oily machinations’ of the businessmen are presented in a bewilderingly complex fashion. . . I enjoyed the skill, energy and commitment of the young actors, but I couldn’t help feeling that they deserved a better play with which to demonstrate their considerable talents.

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THE TRIALS OF GALILEO at the BT Studio, Oxford

THE TRIALS OF GALILEO at the BT Studio, Oxford

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The centre of the play is Galileo’s confession about the one he is forced to sign. Hardy conveys the battle within himself with real thespian conviction. Galileo knows he is telling the truth. The mathematics is there, for anyone to attempt (and fail) to disprove. But he’s not willing to die for his truth. He can’t be a martyr. He’s not Jesus Christ . . . The Trials of Galileo is a classic one-man show. A deep exploration in to character with few bells or whistles, this was all about Hardy. And he shines like the sun.

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Best of 2015

Best of 2015

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Our team of reviewers has each chosen the show that he or she liked best over the past twelve months. They are, in no particular order:-

Little One
BalletBoyz – The Talent 2015
Mat Ricardo
Mrs Henderson Presents
Arcadia
Queen Anne
As You Like It
Outside Mullingar
The King’s Speech
Fat Man

Find out why they liked these shows, which others were in contention and original reviews of the shows . . .

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THE FLAMING FEATHERS at the Anson Rooms, Clifton

THE FLAMING FEATHERS at the Anson Rooms, Clifton

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The Flaming Feathers deliver perhaps more than you would expect; what you get for your money is actually a cabaret fronted by the charmingly disorganized Peggy de Lune, who is something of a seasoned artiste of the genre. Her stage persona, bursting with confidence, is of a slightly tipsy hostess determined her guests should have a good time and in order to jolly things along to that end is ever so knowingly risqué. The audience were invited to ‘make a sexual noise’ which resulted in some strange groaning and much hilarity.

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TREASURE ISLAND at The North Wall, Oxford

TREASURE ISLAND at The North Wall, Oxford

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Avast me hearties! Step aboard the good ship Creation, as she sails into Christmas and beyond with her new show at the North Wall, Treasure Island. Arrrrh . . . Hoist the mainsails, get your sea legs working, and then sit back as the Admiral Benbow Inn, the Hispaniola, and the terrifying Island itself come to life in front of your very eyes (or eye, if you’re wearing an eye patch). Arrrrh . . . Whether ye be a scurvy sprog, or a salty old sea dog, if you don’t enjoy yourself at Treasure Island then the only explanation is that you must be a landlubber, and there be no cure for that. Arrrrh.

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