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Annie at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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“The sun’ll come
out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that
tomorrow, there’ll be sun!”...no it’s not
wishful thinking for late August…Annie the
musical has come to town! This wonderfully well
known and much loved show was the opener to
another fantastic season at Milton Keynes
Theatre. It brought smiles and lots of children
flocking in to see the performance – and what a
performance!
...click
here to read more.... |
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The
Country Girl at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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Prior to this
Clifford Odet award-winning play hitting the
West End Stage, The Country Girl opened in MK
Theatre. It brings together the talent and
chemistry of TV’s hugely successful “Judge John
Deed” stars Martin Shaw and Jenny Seagrove and I
was lucky enough to catch it. If you, like me,
have never seen the film version that starred
Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly in the lead roles,
you wouldn’t’ know what to expect from the
story. I wasn’t disappointed. From the start,
the play has you enthralled.
...click
here to read more.... |
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Bedroom Farce at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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The story revolves around four
couples - and at its messy centre are the
volatile Trevor and Susannah. The entire plot
takes shape after a massive, violent row between
the two of them at a housewarming party hosted
by one of the couples. Throw Trevor’s parents
into the mix, whose most exciting experience
these days is eating pilchards on toast in bed!
Then add Trevor’s ex (with her present husband
no less) and this gives a recipe for mayhem.
“The least interesting thing that can happen in
a bedroom is of course sleep. Will anyone get
any tonight?”...click
here to read more.... |
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Strictly Come Dancing at Milton
Keynes Theatre reviewed by Lily Barr |
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With a theatre
packed to the rafters and the glitter ball
spinning, out sashayed the fantastically
talented Strictly Come Dancing professionals.
The amount of spray tan, fake eyelashes,
glitter, lip gloss and mascara on one stage was
phenomenal…and that was just the men...click
here to read more.... |
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Oklahoma at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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“Oooohklahoma, where the wind
comes sweeping down the plain…” as well as
waving corn, haze on meadows, farmers, cowboys,
surreys with fringes on top and much more… yes I
went to see the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic
Oklahoma at Milton Keynes Theatre. I think most
of us know the plot pretty well, but if it’s
been a long time, this production will refresh
your memory for sure...click
here to read more.... |
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Witness for the Prosecution at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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The play starts in the dimly lit
Chambers of Sir Wilfrid Robarts, QC. I did not
realise that lighting in the 1950’s was so
non-existent and struggled at times to see the
cast or their facial expressions. I understand
the need for “mood” lighting but I found this
annoying as I my eyes became strained from
watching this part of the play in near darkness.
I was even more annoyed when the second half
started in with the same theme and Denis Lill
(Sir Wilfrid) sat on the desk right next to the
table lamp and virtually consigned the theatre
into total darkness....click
here to read more.... |
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Laughter In The Rain at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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Laughter in the Rain, which takes
its title from Neil Sedaka’s 1975 chart-topper,
follows the highs and lows of the long standing
career of someone who has been described as “pop
music’s ultimate survivor”. With a career
spanning an incredible six decades and having
nine hit singles, Neil Sedaka has been propelled
into the singer/songwriters “Hall of Fame” - up
there with the likes of Barry Manilow. He has
had a street named after him in his hometown of
Brooklyn, and was given a star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame...click
here to read more....
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Stepping Out at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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Stepping Out has
received glowing reviews throughout its 25 year
stint written by the award winning writer
Richard Harris, but did it live up to its
expectations? The play tells the tale of a
collection of misfits attending a weekly tap
lesson; all the characters have their own tale
to tell. The story only scratches the surface
to each of their lives, which is a shame.
However, I don’t think this show could be any
longer! The humour has definitely not aged
well, some of which made me cringe...click
here to read more.... |
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The Pirates Of Penzance at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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The Carl Rosa Opera swept in to
MK Theatre with their touring production of
Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance”.
This comic opera remains one of the more
frequently performed, of possibly the most
famous and enduring musical partnerships in
history. The story is that of a band of pirates
that have a “soft spot” for orphans (being ones
themselves). It seems that any ships they board
have a crew full of them, hence they let them go...click
here to read more.... |
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Whistle
Down The Wind at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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Wonderfully
entertaining and vibrant are just a few words
that describe “Whistle Down The Wind” composed
by Andrew Lloyd Webber and directed by Bill
Kenwright. This dynamic show is now touring
direct from the West End. With big sets and big
songs, this show soars when the songs are
delivered but dies a little when the dialog
kicks in. The first half is a traditional
musical with dialogue interspersed with songs,
which generally is illuminated by the acting
rather than the singing...click
here to read more.... |
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NBT's Peter Pan at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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If you have ever thought ballet
is not for you or if you've never been to a
ballet before, then this is the one to see. It
is so much more than a pantomime - it caters for
adults and children of all ages, it's a world
away from what you might be expecting. Peter
Pan appeals to child in us all and is fabulous
story for all the family. The Northern Ballet
Theatre captures the innocence of the story in
their performance...click
here to read more.... |
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Enjoy at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Jody Lathwell |
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Enjoy, written in 1980 by the much loved British
playwright Alan Bennett, was considered to be
one of his few theatrical flops when given its
first run in 1980. When it was resurrected in
2008, it proved extremely popular, moving to the
West End in 2009. It is now on tour again along
with another of Bennett’s plays, The History
Boys, and is no doubt seeing increased interest
from riding the coattails of this immensely
popular work which has recently been adapted for
the big screen...click
here to read more.... |
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Carmen at
Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by Jody Lathwell |
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It was with great excitement that I approached
Milton Keynes Theatre to watch Carmen on
Wednesday night. I have always been very keen to
watch Bizet’s famous opera about the Gypsy femme
fatale, and was particularly interested to see
how the piece was performed in the very capable
hands of the well renowned and highly decorated
Welsh National Opera...click
here to read more.... |
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Tosca at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by Lily
Barr |
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Puccini’s Tosca
was premiered in 1900 in Rome, where it was set
a century earlier. This is a classic opera with
all the ingredients that make it thus – the
essential Italian lyricism and flow with
lashings of love, lust, politics and death! The
Welsh National Opera directed by Michael
Blakemore enthralled an exceptionally keen
audience at MK Theatre
...click
here to read more.... |
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Calendar Girls at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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Calendar Girls, the
stage show is based on the popular warm hearted
Tim Firth film starring Helen Mirren and Julie
Walters. It tells the tale of a group of
outspoken ladies of a West Yorkshire Women’s
Institute doing their own “Pirelli calendar” to
raise money for leukaemia research...click
here to read more.... |
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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Milton Keynes
Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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Chitty flew in to
MK Theatre with a BIG bang! This show will
certainly appeal to all the family as it has it
all; great sets, hit songs and the real star of
the show, Chitty herself… I sat in awe as the
car was revealed on stage; and I wasn’t the only
one - I’ve never heard such spontaneous,
rapturous applause for an inanimate object!
...click
here to read more.... |
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Dreamboats & Petticoats at MK
Theatre reviewed by
Shreena Gokani & Jody Lathwell
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It
would be hard to review Dreamboats and
Petticoats without comparing it to a certain
film staring John Travolta and Olivia Newton
John, but let’s try to get through this without
using the ‘G’ word.
The premise of this show, which has received
much acclaim, is based on the interesting
concept of a million selling compilation album
of 50’s and 60’s rock ‘n’ roll hits. With this
in mind, you know exactly what you are going to
get before you sit down...click
here to read more.... |
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Traces at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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“Traces” takes place inside a
makeshift bunker, a refuge from an impending
catastrophe. It brings together five people who
through music, dance and some of the most
amazing acrobatic skills I have ever seen –
express their emotions, beliefs and passions
during what the five believe, could be their
last moments alive. They want to make every
moment count and “live life to the max” and in
this show, they most definitely do – hoping to
leave their “Traces”, an ever lasting mark...click
here to read more.... |
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Swan Lake at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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Matthew Bourne’s breathtaking and sexy version
of Swan Lake is definitely a glamorous piece of
dance theatre. If you are expected copious
amount of tulle, ballet shoes and tutus, you
will be surprised that this version contains
hardly any. What it has is dynamic stage sets,
the most amazing costumes (both designed by Les
Brotherston), wit, passion and sensitivity - all
performed by fabulously talented dancers...click
here to read more....
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Chicago at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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The show blasts into full swing the moment the
curtain rises. There is a minimalist stage set
with few props but the acting, singing and
dancing skills of the cast is so powerful, it
didn’t need much more. The performers never
really leave the stage which holds the audience
constantly. The Orchestra sits centre stage and
is often involved in parts of the performance.
In short, this is a fabulously entertaining
production...click
here to read more....
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Cinderella at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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The Christmas trees have started to appear
everywhere you look. We are thinking about
battling the crowds for the “must haves” for
this years Christmas gifts…so it must be panto
time!! It made my heart melt when the legendary
Mickey Rooney walked onto stage as Baron Hardup...click
here to read more.... |
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Jenufa at Milton Keynes Theatre
reviewed by Lily Barr |
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The picturesque stage set
designed by Tobias Hoheisel for the Glyndebourne
on Tour production of Jenůfa, totally lulls you
into a false sense of security. The curtain
rises on a tranquil countryside setting, a
seemingly a normal day for the folk working at a
“lonely mill”, with an old woman sat on a stool
peeling enough potatoes to feed an army!
However, if the story is unknown to you as it
was me, this opera couldn’t get more departed
from tranquil...click
here to read more.... |
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Falstaff at Milton Keynes Theatre
reviewed by Jody Lathwell |
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Having never visited an Opera, and not really
knowing what to expect, it was with some
trepidation and excitement that I approached
Milton Keynes Theatre on Wednesday to watch the
Glyndebourne production Giuseppe Verdi’s
Falstaff...click
here to read more.... |
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Cosi Fan
Tutte at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by Lily Barr |
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Mozart's Così Fan
Tutte was virtually unknown until Carl Ebert and
Fritz Busch, Glyndebourne’s founding artistic
directors introduced it to the UK audiences in
the 1930’s. Milton Keynes Theatre had the
opportunity to experience this Glyndebourne on
tour production directed by Nichols Hytner...click
here to read more.... |
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Dreamboats & Petticoats at Milton Keynes
Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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This toe-tapping,
energetic and timeless musical by Bill Kenwright
and Laurie Mansfield in association with
Universal Music is the latest smash hit musical
direct from the West End to come to Milton
Keynes. The title song is one of several in this
compilation of nostalgic, chart-topping songs,
that will be familiar even the youngest “wanna
be” bobby-soxers!
...click
here to read more.... |
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The Sound of Music at Milton Keynes
Theatre reviewed by Lily Barr |
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Who needs to go to
the West End to see high quality, lavish
productions when they are brought to Milton
Keynes? If you thought that by seeing a show
that has gone on tour, you would be paying to
see a potted and watered down version – then you
would be wrong. The Sound of Music has swept
into Milton Keynes Theatre like a breath of
fresh air; this fantastic Andrew Lloyd Webber
production..click
here to read more.... |
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The Pitmen Painters at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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A co-production between
the Live Theatre Newcastle and The
National Theatre has brought Lee Hall’s
The Pitman Painters (who also wrote
Billy Elliot) to Milton Keynes, on its
UK tour. It’s a wonderful piece of
theatrical entertainment. I don’t know
the target audience of this production,
but I defy anyone to come away from
seeing this fantastic play without
enjoying it...click
here to read more.... |
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A Christmas Carol at Milton Keynes
Theatre reviewed by Lily Barr |
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Christmas
it would seem, has come early. The
Northern Ballet Theatre’s productions
are always well received at Milton
Keynes Theatre and this interpretation
of A Christmas Carol proved no
exception. Would I sound like Scrooge
himself if I wondered why this show was
being performed over two months in
advance of Christmas-bah humbug!?
...click
here to read more.... |
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The Rocky Horror Show at Milton Keynes
Theatre reviewed by Lily Barr
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I’m sure
fish net stockings will be sold out
throughout Milton Keynes with the
arrival of the “Rocky Horror Show”.
Walking into the theatre you cannot help
appreciate the trouble some of the
dedicated fans of this fast moving rock
and roll show have gone to, there was a
definite atmosphere - it may well have
been the copious amounts of hair spray
wafting around though!
...click
here to read more.... |
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The Stripper at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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Following
hot on the heels of Duet for One and
Rain Man, The Stripper has helped Milton
Keynes Theatre get their autumn season
off to a flying start.
This fresh,
new musical is based on a novel by Alan
G Yates (written under the pseudonym
Carter Brown) with music by Richard
Hartley and lyrics by Richard O’Brian,
you can expect the unexpected...click
here to read more.... |
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Rain Man at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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Rain Man
hit Milton Keynes Theatre on Monday 14th
September for a week long stint. I was
lucky enough to catch this incredible
stage play adapted from the film made
famous with an Oscar winning performance
by Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt and
Tom Cruise as Charlie Babbitt. If you
don’t know the story and have never seen
the film, this is a heart wrenching
journey of discovery for a high flying,
wheeler dealer, Charlie Babbitt...click
here to read more.... |
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Duet For One at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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I was undecided on what
to expect when I sat awaiting the start
of what transpired to be the most
riveting, revealing account of a woman’s
body and soul
quite literally dismantled by Multiple Sclerosis.
Written by Tom Kempinski
and directed by Matthew Lloyd, this is a
compelling story of a 42 year old woman
struck down by this most debilitating
disease...click
here to read more.... |
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Lazytown Live at Milton Keynes Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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With
several mini Sportacuses (so sweet!) and
Stephanies in the audience (most of the
kids were under the age of 5), there was
a great atmosphere as they awaited the
start of Lazytown Live. Indeed, if you
are a mum and take your daughter to see
this show, neither of you will look out
of place adorning pink wigs to transform
you into Stephanie lookalikes....click
here to read more.... |
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Magic Of The Dance at MK Theatre reviewed by
Shreena Gokani and Jody Lathwell |
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The Irish dance phenomenon first burst
onto the mainstream British
consciousness with the unforgettable
Riverdance interval act during the 1994
Dublin Eurovision Song Contest.
Everyone
who saw it then can remember the
mesmerizing footwork of Michael Flatley
et al and the standing ovation
that followed....click
here to read more.... |
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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat at MK Theatre reviewed by Lily
Barr |
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Tuesday
night (July 21) saw the much awaited
opening of Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat…and it did not
disappoint! Milton Keynes Theatre is
playing host to Bill Kenwright’s
production until Sunday 26th. If you
love musical theatre, especially
anything that Andrew Lloyd Webber has
written, then this is a must see show
for you...click
here to read more....
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West Side Story at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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West Side Story is known
as the “Best Broadway musical of all
time” and MK Theatre is lucky enough to
have this production return on its 50th
Anniversary tour. The story is a modern
day Romeo & Juliet but instead of two
families at war it is two New York
gangs, The Jets and the Sharks. A young
girl, Maria falls in love with Tony who
heads up the rival gang that her brother
Bernado is at war with. Their love
crosses the boundaries of racial hatred
but as in Romeo and Juliet, it ends
tragically...click
here to read more.... |
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The Winslow Boy at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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This story
is about putting something right and not
justice alone. It is not about whether
a child did or did not steal from a
friend, it is about the right to
petition against the Admiralty. “Let
right be done” is a direct quote from
The Winslow Boy written by Terrance
Rattigan, which first opened in London’s
West End in 1946 and was performed to an
audience in a defiant mood after the end
of World War II. This play is based on a
true story of a 13 year old Naval Cadet
that is expelled from college after
allegedly stealing a five shilling
postal order....click
here to read more.... |
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High School Musical at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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As if we were not looking
forward to this show enough already! We
approached Milton Keynes Theatre to be
greeted by several cheerleaders
performing with incredible enthusiasm
and energy outside the building. The
dancers were provided by MK Elite, a
cheerleading squad from Stantonbury
Campus. With a buzzing atmosphere you
could almost sense the anticipation from
theatre goers as they waited for the
curtain to rise for this opening night’s
performance of High School Musical....click
here to read more.... |
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Seven Brides For Seven Brothers at
MK Theatre reviewed by Lily Barr |
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Seven Brides for Seven
Brothers opened last night (Tuesday,
June 16) at the MK Theatre. This
vibrant toe tapping West End show has
been brought to the stage by the touring
UK Productions team of Peter Frosdick
and Martin Dodds. You may recall the MGM
smash hit film that has that magical
blend of a wonderful love story, a great
score and fabulous choreography – all of
which I was looking forward to seeing in
this new production....click
here to read more.... |
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Dorian Gray at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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The New Adventures
production team brought Oscar Wilde’s
scandalous Dorian Gray to MK Theatre
this week - a production devised and
directed by award winning Matthew
Bourne. This is a deep and dark story
of a corrupted soul.
The imagery is powerful,
the set and costume design by Lez
Brotherston is visually stunning; a
rotating central stage ensures this
production flows at such a pace it is
awesome....click
here to read more.... |
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Never Forget at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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With music and lyrics by
Gary Barlow, any Take That fan will love
this musical! This is a story of five
unlikely lads who are thrown together
and share a common goal - to make
something of themselves. Their lives are
changed forever when they form a tribute
band for a competition. Never Forget is
explosive from the start – a show that
is a worth every penny of the ticket
price....click
here to read more.... |
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Scooby Doo & the Pirate Ghost at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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The
programme notes claim this show has
hilarious physical humour, popular
tunes, and fantastic special effects.
There seemed to be little humour, very
few tunes that I recognised and minimal
special effects. Whilst all of the
children in the audience appreciated
Scooby Doo and the Pirate Ghost, this
was a lacklustre production with a weak
storyline...click
here to read more.... |
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Singin' In The Rain at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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If you love this iconic
musical by the prolific writing
partnership of Betty Comden and Adolph
Green, with its unforgettable score and
characters made famous by Gene Kelly,
Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds, you
will thoroughly enjoy this stage
adaptation as it is almost the film
script word for word...click
here to read more.... |
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Wuthering Heights at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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Returning
to Milton Keynes, the Northern Ballet
Theatre brings us this wonderful
interpretation of Emily Brontë’s
romantic masterpiece - Wuthering
Heights. Composed by Claude-Michel
Schönberg, usually a composer of
musicals (Les Miserables and Miss
Saigon), this was “unknown territory”
for him - taking nine months to complete
a truly exquisite original score...click
here to read more.... |
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An Inspector Calls at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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What do you call a
collection of students...is it a storm,
a swarm, a gaggle….or maybe a giggle??
Whatever the term is, it would have been
needed for the opening of MK Theatre’s
summer season with An Inspector Calls.
A packed house of expectant GCSE
students and theatre goers alike awaited
the start of JB Priestley’s classic
thriller. This story explores the shaky
morality of a middle class family smug
in their own lives but actually living
in house of cards which is smashed to
pieces in front of your eyes after the
Inspector calls...click
here to read more.... |
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Spider's Web at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lee Norris |
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Regardless of whether
you’re a fan of Agatha Christie or not,
Bill Kenright’s production of Spider’s
Web is a must see for a brilliant
night’s entertainment. I was expecting a
typical whodunit from one of the world’s
most famous authors. Yes, it contained
the usual twists you would expect, but
this was far from “typical.”
...click
here to read more.... |
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Cabaret at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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Willkommen!
“Life is a cabaret old chum….come to the
cabaret!” After a short delay to
proceedings a packed MK Theatre were
definitely invited! However, I do hope
they read the warning as they entered
the auditorium…”Please be aware that
this performance contains elements of
nudity”….and there was…quite a bit...click
here to read more.... |
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WNO - The Elixir Of Love at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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The Elixir of Love – a wonderful spirit
lifting romantic tale set on the sunny
Italian Riviera. This opera performed
by the Welsh National Opera certainly
lifted the mood within the once again
packed MK Theatre. Donizetti’s heart
warming tale of misguided love...click
here to read more.... |
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WNO - Salome at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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MK Theatre was brimming to the rafters
with opera lovers eagerly awaiting the
performance of Strauss’s Salome by The
Welsh National Opera and their
impressive Orchestra, conducted by
Andrew Greenwood. Quite how the
orchestra
found the room to manoeuvre within the
pit will remain a mystery!...click
here to read more.... |
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Waiting For Godot at MK Theatre reviewed by
Philip Shell |
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Monday
night saw a frenzy of excitement rarely
seen at any theatre let alone Milton
Keynes. Why? Well I am sure it was not
due to the pulling power of the writer
of Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett,
but more a chance for the Milton Keynes
audience to observe a quartet of
excellence acting upon the same stage.
The trouble with big build ups is that
deliverance rarely matches expectation...click
here to read more.... |
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Pack Of Lies at MK Theatre reviewed by
Philip Shell |
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How nice it
is to see a high quality play at the MK
Theatre. With a cast of well known
people and really good script a Pack of
Lies is sure to pack the audiences in
this week. This play has everything,
humour, pathos, tension, suspense and an
immensely moving ending....click
here to read more.... |
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Russian State Ballet - Swan Lake
at MK Theatre reviewed by Lily Barr |
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All good
things come to those who wait, as the
saying goes and this could not have been
truer as the audience sat for the final
of the three ballets being performed by
The Russian State Ballet of Siberia at a
packed MK Theatre.
There were
noticeably more children in the
audience, and even more noticeably they
were predominantly girls, all like me as
a child...click
here to read more.... |
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Russian State Ballet - Giselle at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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Milton
Keynes Theatre is the venue to visit for
ballet lovers! Over three nights the
Russian State Ballet of Siberia were
performing classical performances of
Giselle, Coppėlia and Swan Lake. I was
looking forward to the opening of the
three nights to see Giselle, a tragic
story of a young girl adored and pursued
by two potential lovers...click
here to read more.... |
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Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte
Carlo at MK Theatre reviewed by
Philip Shell |
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I have
often berated actors for the lack of the
use of facial expressions ; those self
same actors and in fact any actor worth
their salt would do well to watch the
Trocks in performance for here are an
exceptional troupe of dancers who excel
at the use of facial expressions....click
here to read more.... |
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Spongebob Squarepants at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lily Barr |
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“Who lives in a pineapple
under the sea….SpongeBob Squarepants?!”
This lively and colourful
musical is for all you SpongeBob fans
young and old! You cannot help but
enjoy the atmosphere waiting for the
performance to begin – swathes of
children (and parents) bopping in their
seats to Hawaiian rhythms...click
here for more.... |
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All The Fun
Of The Fair at MK Theatre reviewed by Philip Shell |
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The Fun (in
name only) Fair has descended upon
Milton Keynes; but like the weather left
me feeling rather cold, fed-up and
looking for something warm to energise
the soul. All the Fun of the Fair
revolves around the music of David
Essex, who appears in this production as
Levi the aged head of a travelling
circus....click
here for more.... |
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Cinderella On Ice at MK Theatre
reviewed by Lee Norris |
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The
accompanying programme for this show
states there have been many changes to
the story of Cinderella down the
centuries, and these changes “usually
say quite a lot about both the people
who wrote them down and the people they
expected to read or listen to them.”
With that in mind, I did walk away from
this show wondering exactly who Producer
James Cundall was expecting to watch
Cinderella On Ice....click
here for more.... |
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Chinese State Circus at MK Theatre reviewed by
Philip Shell |
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The day
after the Chinese New Year, the Chinese
State Circus bounded onto the stage at
the Milton Keynes theatre, signifying
the start of the 2009 season of
productions.
A slightly
less than full audience were richly
entertained by the amazing and breath
taking skills of the members of the
Circus and special guests. Have you ever
seen people spinning plates? Have you
ever seen people....click
here to read more.... |
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Peter Pan at MK Theatre reviewed
by Philip Shell |
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Peter Pan brings the curtain down on
what can only be described as a truly exciting agenda of
shows at the Milton Keynes theatre’s autumn season.
Could a traditional English pantomime be as good with an
American actor taking the lead; yes it most certainly
can....click
here to read more.... |
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Annie Get Your Gun at Leighton
Buzzard Theatre reviewed by Lee Norris |
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Our
regular readers may be wondering why our recent theatre
reviews have not been covered by Philip Shell.
Philip
has been away; putting his own acting skills to the test
as Pawnee Bill in the Leighton Masqueraders’ version of
Annie Get Your Gun. MK Reviews were delighted to pay
Philip a visit at Leighton Buzzard Theatre and review
this show for their final performance on Saturday
November 29....click
here to read more.... |
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The
Nutcracker at MK Theatre reviewed by
Lee Norris |
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Tuesday, November 25 saw the highly
respected Northern Ballet Theatre return to Milton
Keynes with the famous tale of The Nutcracker. Watch
this show, and you feel Christmas has arrived!
The ballet is based around a mysterious
nutcracker doll that evolves into the Nutcracker Prince
(Ashley Dixon) and takes Clara, played by the beautiful
Christie Duncan on a fantastical journey....click
here to read more.... |
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Hansel und
Gretel at MK Theatre Reviewed by Lily Barr |
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With both children and adults in yet
another packed MK Theatre, we waited with baited breath
to see what was hidden under a very heavy duty safety
curtain stamped “Hansel and Gretel” - as if packed as a
parcel ready to open.
The exuberant young conductor, Robin
Ticciati flashed his way into the first act leading the
orchestra, who lifted the audience from the start....click
here to read more.... |
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Carmen at MK Theatre reviewed by
Kitty Black |
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How lucky we are here in
Milton Keynes to have West End-quality opera delivered
to our doorstep, without having to journey down to the
big smoke, with all the attendant anxieties about
catching the train home and how on earth to fit in
grabbing something to eat after work....click
here to read more..... |
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The Magic Flute at MK Theatre
Reviewed by Lily Barr |
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This is an exotic fairytale
that tells the story of a quest for love and
enlightenment. The Queen of the Night encourages the
young Prince Tamino to free her daughter Pamina from the
power of Sarastro....click
here to read more.... |
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Noises Off at MK Theatre reviewed
by Philip Shell |
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So much has been written
about how funny this show is and that audiences will
always want to see it more than once. From experience
what is promised very rarely gets delivered. It is a bit
like Christmas or a special occasion that one looks
forward to; when it materialises it is a bit flat and a
letdown. So with that in mind I took my seat with a near
capacity audience....click
here to read more..... |
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Romeo & Juliet at MK Theatre reviewed
by Kitty Black |
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Think Romeo and Juliet, think soppy teenage romance… or
perhaps not.
Neil Bartlett’s production of Romeo and Juliet for the
RSC, showing at MK Theatre until Saturday night, gives a
very different interpretation to the familiar story –
and how refreshing it is....click
here to read more..... |
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Flashdance at MK Theatre reviewed
by Philip Shell |
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Does a
cult film transpose to the theatre? Well that was a
question in my mind at the opening of Flashdance at the
Milton Keynes Theatre on Monday night. The answer; well
it has to be both Yes and No!
The No
refers to the first half of this production which is
slow, laboured, and long and dare I say boring. Boring,
not due to the efforts of the cast who gave everything,
but to the choreography....click
here to read more.... |
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The Woman In Black at MK Theatre
Reviewed by Philip Shell |
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How
very apt that as Halloween approaches, a psychological
thriller hit the stage on Monday night in the fabulously
scary Woman in Black by Susan Hill, and adapted by
Stephen Mallatratt.
With a
cast of two, or should it be three this play totally
engrosses its audience. Not only is this a wonderful
portrayal of how words and silence....click here to read more..... |
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Carousel at MK Theatre reviewed by
Philip Shell |
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An almost capacity audience
turned out on Monday to the opening night of the Rodgers
and Hammerstein classic musical Carousel. With such
songs as June is Busting out All Over, My Boy Bill, Mr
Snow and the moving You’ll Never Walk Alone a spell
binding evening was a cert or was it?
....click here to read more..... |
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Evita at MK Theatre reviewed by
Philip Shell |
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The much awaited Evita hit
the boards at Milton Keynes theatre for its second night
on Tuesday evening. So much was expected of this iconic
show that it was with some in trepidation I took my
seat; however, any fears and worries that I had were
dispelled as the curtain rose....click
here to read more.... |
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West Side Story at MK Theatre
reviewed by Philip Shell |
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2008
is the 50th anniversary of Leonard
Bernstein’s musical West Side Story, and how impressed
he would have been with this production.
This
show has everything, pathos, humour, love, death,
fights, great songs and imaginative choreography. The
entire cast were believable in their performances and
characters, although there were occasions when the
accents did slip....click
here to read more.... |
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The Circle at MK Theatre reviewed
by Philip Shell |
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Tuesday night saw the
opening of the Somerset Maugham play, The Circle at the
Milton Keynes theatre. What a contrast to the previous
week’s performance of Our House, and highlights the
wonderful contrast in shows being staged at Milton
Keynes theatre for the autumn/winter season....click
here to read more.... |
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Our House at MK Theatre
reviewed by Philip Shell |
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The music of Madness is an
attraction for so many people, especially those of us
who remember, and were alive in the 80’s. As I sat
watching this show I wondered how many of the cast, with
the exception of Steve Brookstein, were alive at that
time and could remember the effect of the group and
their music....click
here to read more.... |
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My Brilliant Divorce at MK Theatre
reviewed by Philip Shell |
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Wednesday night saw the
opening of the Autumn Season at the Milton Keynes
Theatre, with the play My Brilliant Divorce by Geraldine
Aron; and what a fantastic start to the season it was.
The play revolves around
Angela played by the versatile and extremely funny
Dillie Keane.....click
here to read more.... |
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Treasure
Island at MK Theatre reviewed by Philip Shell |
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Robert
Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling book Treasure Island
came to life at the Milton Keynes Theatre on Tuesday
night, in the Birmingham Stage Companies production of
the classic novel.
This was a cleverly
stage performance with a raked stage set from start to
finish ,with subtle changes to transform the set from a
quay to onboard a ship, to a wild forested area.....click
here to read more.... |
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Eurobeat Almost Eurovision at MK
Theatre reviewed by Philip Shell |
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This is
satirical comedy at its best and performed by a truly
talented group of singers and dancers.
It also has to be the
only show where I had to switch my mobile phone on
rather than off, to be more involved with the
performance. Why? Well believe it or not there is a real
vote with all texts recorded, which means every night a
different act can win. It is also a very clever piece of
PR and advertising....click
here to read more.... |
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The Rat
Pack at MK Theatre reviewed by Philip Shell |
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Monday
night saw the opening of the immensely entertaining Rat
Pack at the Milton Keynes Theatre. For two and one
quarter hours the audience were whisked back in time
when music had meaning and songs had lyrics that could
be understood.
Stephen Triffitt as Sinatra gave a polished if under par
performance, whilst Nigel Casey as Martin gave a very
convincing performance. However on this occasion it was
David Hayes as Sammy Davis Jnr who stood out......click
here to read more.... |
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Single
Spies at MK Theatre |
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Alan
Bennett’s style of writing is to have the leads giving
introductory monologue style orations, followed by
interaction with each other and supporting roles.
In Nigel Havers, there is no greater exponent of
observational humour. His versatility of acting being
put to the fore by his marvellous portrayal of the camp
intoxicated Burgess in An Englishman Abroad, to the
stoic, eloquent and intense person of Blunt in A
Question of Attribution.....click here to read
more.... |
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Half A
Sixpence at MK Theatre |
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Well it was
certainly nothing to do with Gary Wilmot as Kipps, who
single handed did everything in his powers to keep the
show alive. For he was the person who stood head and
shoulders above the rest. Yes Gary has a pedigree of
many years at the top of his profession, but why with
such a talented lead did others not raise their game to
try to equal or match his performance? Gary is the
personification of musicals, his acting combines timing,
humour, pathos, facial expressions, the ability to move
effortlessly....click here to read more.... |
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