Hit musical gets rewrite and professional production
 The original 2001 production at the Church Hill Theatre By Thom Dibdin
A stage musical by Edinburgh-based composer Julian Wagstaff takes its first steps towards the West End in September, when a new concert version of Wagstaff’s John Paul Jones will be performed by musicians from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra at the Queen’s Hall.
Wagstaff plans to use the concerts, on September 24 and 25, to raise the profile of John Paul Jones, which recounts the true story of the Dumfries-born lad who became a hero of the American Revolution and is known as the ‘father of the American navy’.
“I am delighted to be working with an ensemble of such quality and renown as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra,” Wagstaff told the Annals. “Their musicians will be joined for the concerts by the vocal ensemble Consort of Voices and guest soloists in what promises to be a wonderful night out for music and theatre fans alike.” … Continue reading Æ News – John Paul Jones sails again!
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 Daniel Williamson as Juan Perón and Monica Reeves as Eva Péron George Watson’s College
By Thom Dibdin
There is a genuine tune-hummer of a production of Evita up at George Watson’s College this week, one which is strong and forceful where it needs to be – but is also fully-rounded on the musical front.
Minimal and unfussy staging makes good use of side-projected slides and video to help give the whole a well-judged political edge. It shows, without pulling its punches and while exploring the cult of Evita, where Perónism lies on the totalitarian spectrum.
It is music which lies at the heart of the production’s strengths, however. Having a large orchestra is something of a luxury in musical theatre circles and the company makes full use of the depth and texture a 32-strong band can provide – despite the odd wayward note in the more complex parts of the arrangement. … Continue reading Musical Review – Evita
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 Matt Hall as Billy Elliot, Louise Hunter as Mrs Wilkinson and ensemble. Photo credit: company publicity Festival Theatre
Review by Thom Dibdin
Bright, exuberant and boasting a cast that mixes the singers from the Edinburgh Gang Show with the dancers of the Manor School of Ballet, the second Billy Youth Theatre version of Billy Elliot to hit Edinburgh is a thoroughly entertaining production.
This is a show which plays straight to its participants’ strengths. Having made a big name for himself by giving the Gang Show’s variety-style format a 21st century outlook, director Andy Johnston now brings those abilities to a full-blown musical on the vast expanses of the Festival Theatre stage.
It sets off with great deliberation and a big, strong telling of scene-setting number The Stars Look Down, which speaks of the unity in the miners in the face of adversity – now standing together against Thatcher in the great miners’ strike of 1984.
The whole company is in fine, clear voice. First hearing of Matt Hall as Billy Elliot with Ian Sutherland as his best pal Michael confirms that singing has been Johnston’s priority in casting the lead roles, while the direction and choreography of the ensemble set the story up perfectly. … Continue reading Musical Review – Billy Elliot
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 Masashi Fujimoto as Yomo. Photo credit: Callum Mackay Brunton Theatre
By Thom Dibdin
Wise, witty and whistle-able, Whisky Kisses the Musical arrived at the Brunton Theatre for a one-night stand last night, delighted its sold-out audience with its light tone and deep-running sense of cultural awareness before whisking back off to the Highlands from whence it came.
As the “new Highland musical”, Whisky Kisses from Right Lines Productions at first appears, horrifyingly, as if it were about to trade heavily in Brigadoonery and its ilk. Fortunately such misty-eyed tartanisations are quickly put in their place – on the other side of the Atlantic – and a rather more palatable approach sets in. … Continue reading Musical Review – Whisky Kisses
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 LYAMC's Billy Elliot is sold out all week Church Hill Theatre
By Thom Dibdin
Concentrating on the tough background to the story of how young Billy Elliot unexpectedly becomes a dancer, the first of Edinburgh’s Billy Youth Theatre productions opened at the Church Hill Theatre last night with the house full signs already up.
The LYAMC production gets right under the nails of life in a Northumberland pit village during the long winter of the miner’s strike in 1984: the solidarity of the miners, fighting for a community and livelihood; and the antagonism between them and the police brought in from London to protect the scab miners who broke the strike.
On top of all this, eleven year old miner’s son Billy has to cope with the loss of his mum, his increasingly senile gran and his enforced, weekly trip to the village hall for Saturday morning boxing club. Made to stay on after boxing one week, he and discovers that the girl’s ballet class is on next – and a whole new world opens up.
With simple broad strokes the hard but humane background is given a strong grounding by the 102-strong company. The opening number, The Stars Look Down, is big and emphatic, putting the community values centre stage. … Continue reading Musical Review – Billy Elliot
 Greg Jones as Bugsy and Karla Ritchie as Blousey Brown * * *
Church Hill Theatre
By Thom Dibdin
There’s a smoochy, laid-back feel to the Smycms’ production of Bugsy Malone, which is playing at the Church Hill Theatre until Saturday night. It’s epitomised by Greg Jones in the title role with his drawling narrator’s delivery – like a music hall Sam Spade.
The laid-back style is absolutely correct for an adult version of show which is usually played by kids and which draws much of its innate comedy – albeit comedy which is too often of the cutsie-pie type – from the juxtaposition of childhood innocence with the callous world of gangsters in prohibition-era New York. … Continue reading Musical Review – Bugsy Malone
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 Meringue frenzy finale for Beauty and the Beast King’s Theatre
Review by Thom Dibdin
It’s a full-on meringue frenzy at the King’s this week as Southern Light Opera stage the UK amateur premiere of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
It’s not giving anything away to say that come the finale, the cast can scarcely move around the stage – such is the amount of it taken up by the great hooped dresses of the female members of the company. Led, of course, by Belle, resplendent in the biggest of big white meringues with her transformed beast, all rugged and handsome, by her side.
Before the fairytale happy ending, however, the company give a more than decent account … Continue reading Musical Review – Beauty and the Beast
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Edinburgh Playhouse
Review by Thom Dibdin
Bright and impeccably cheery, but harbouring a darkly sinister note, the big touring revival of the Sound of Music gives the film version a run for its money – and even betters it on some levels.
The big name stars all perform excellently. Connie Fisher, who won BBC1’s talent show to fill the role, has the vocal drama for Maria; West End star Margaret Preece the power needed for the Abbess; and one-time Robin Hood Michael Praed oozes charm as Captain von Trapp. … Continue reading Musical Review – The Sound of Music
Tempo Musical Productions are presenting their Spring production of Honk! in a new venue, the purpose-built Main Theatre in Broughton High School. … Continue reading Tempo take their Ugly Duckling to pastures new
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