Made In Dagenham

          The show is inspired by the true story of a group of women in 1968 who worked at the Ford Car Factory in Dagenham (Essex, England) who stood up and fought for equal pay. Although inspired by this true story, the show is based around the movie, of the same name, that was released in 2010. At  no point during the film do I ever remember thinking 'this could definitely be improved with a few songs'. Another reason why I felt seeing the show would be interesting is quite frankly I couldn't see it working. Its a story that undoubtedly needs to be told, but I was just sceptical as to if a musical was the best way. Also its a brand new musical premiering in London and I couldn't pass up this opportunity to see it, be it a flop or a success. I've seen a few of Gemma Arterton's film acting roles but I'm not the biggest of her fans. However I wanted to see her live and, quite frankly, see if she could sing. I was sceptical.

          I've been to this theatre only once, that I can remember, for Sweeney Todd in 2012 (before I started this blog). Its a lovely theatre with a capacity of around 1500 and a lovely inviting entrance. I was sat in the Dress Circle, as I am for the majority of things I see as I feel you get a better overall view of the stage. I have to say in this theatre that theory works for every seat. From nowhere in the dress circle is there a bad view. Certainly for this performance anyway. I did have to lean forward slightly, but that was only because I was in the front row and I had a small portion of rigging blocking a miniscule part of the stage. There is a walkway that comes out of the front of the stage that the actors use to show the passage of time and movement from one scene to another. This is the only part of the stage that's tricky to see from the Dress circle, but a lack of seeing it doesn't affect the show. The interior of the theatre is, and I don't mean this negatively, rather plain. The plainness of the surroundings, with a slight 1920s feel, only heighten the shows impact on the audience. The show is the star, not the venue.

          That last sentence in certainly true. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is most definitely a star of a show. From the opening of the show with the song 'Busy Woman' ,along with the brilliantly funny 'This Is What We Want', I knew this was going to be better than I thought. Now I'm not saying I can remember every word of every song, but the music were certainly catchy. In fact I was disappointed there was no cast recording that I could buy. The varying characters make it a true portrait of a group of friends, or work colleagues, and they are acted brilliantly by every cast member. I have to though mention a few by name. Sophie Stanton for instance id beyond brilliant. she is, I guess, the main source of comic relief in the show. She plays this part with absolute brilliance. Yes, she does swear an awful lot. however its done in an absolutely hilarious was and I would see the show again simply to see her. Heather Craney is also fantastic and more should definitely be made of her character. Emma Lindars is not really a main character, even though her character does have a name, but her sinning voice is beyond belief. the character of Harold Wilson was also in the show, however the portrayal of him I felt was just insulting. A lot of people around me were laughing, but I just couldn't. I mean fart jokes are something I really don't want in a show like this.

          Gemma Arterton is by no means the best actress on the West End stage but she is far better than I gave her credit for before seeing the show. One thing I did like is that although she is the biggest name in the show, and to be honest they are using her name as a marketing tool, she is by no means thrust to the forefront of the whole show. Yes she is the main character, but she is by no means the 'star'. Everyone has a fairly even amount of stage time and she isn't the focus of the whole thing.

          I would definitely recommend this show to everyone. It really is a show for all ages and I can see it traveling to other places around the world. It wont reach the universal success of Matilda (my review here) but it will certainly receive great reviews, and deservedly so. Tickets and Info

Forbidden Broadway

          I was so happy when I found out this show is on at the Vaudeville Theatre as, in my opinion, it is THE best theatre in London. It can hold a good amount of people (690) though it feels amazingly intimate. I've never had a bad seat whenever I've been and I would have no issues recommending it to people. So ....... go see a show at The Vaudeville Theatre. The seats are nice and comfortable. Not the best in London I'll admit, but good. The only real issue I have is that the theatre doesn't accept card payments, only cash. This is a little behind the times, but there is a cash point right next to the entrance. The staff are always wonderful and the verity of shows the theatre has had is as diverse as the people that go to see them. I've been wanting to see this show for a while, so when I found tickets I just had to get them. 

          This show has been on the Broadway stage for 30 years and is still just as popular as always. I would put this down to two main reasons. Firstly, it's a funny show and secondly it always stays relevant.

          The basic storyline of the show is, well, non-existent. This is a show that basically makes fun of every other show on Broadway (or in the case of the show I went to see, the West End). Yes they make fun of the music and/or the storylines and/or the characters, but one is able to see that it is done with the utmost respect and love for the shows. I know this might seem like a contradiction, but it's true. Is basically a comedic love letter to Broadway. The only issue with this, is that you need at least a little understanding of the shows in the West End, or Broadway, to be able to understand some of the jokes. Don't get me wrong though, it is a funny night out even if you aren't as familiar with the shows. It isn't just the shows that get picked on. Its the people associated with musical theatre as well, from Cameron Mackintosh and Stephen Sondheim to Liza Minnelli and Bernadette Peters.

          The set (if you can call it that) is wonderful, although a little basic. I would say it looks a little like the stage dressings you would find in a cabaret bar, not that I've ever been to one. The costumes are also on the simple side. For example when they are in the Lion King portion of the show the elephant costume consists of a grey tube and three grey towels. This simplicity is part of the sows farm though.

          There are only four performers, plus the pianist, and all are brilliant. On the performance I went to the understudy Laura Tebbutt was performing the part usually played by Christina Bianco. Calling her an understudy though I feel us an insult to her talent. She should definitely be more than an understudy. Herb singing voice is superb and she seems right at home on stage and more than confident with comedy. I would have said she should have a art in Phantom If The Opera, but I feel that shows current shody production quality would be an insult to her outstanding talent. I'm sure Christina I'm sure is wonderful, but I'm so happy she wasn't, or I wouldn't have had the joy of seeing Laura. Anna-Jane Casey was brilliant as well. Not just in her singing but in her complete performance. She has been in many productions and her professionalism shows (even if at one point she couldn't help laughing). I've never had the joy of seeing her perform live before, though I have seen her on television as part of the BBC Prom celebrating the music of Rodgers & Hammerstein in 2010 where she was a principal soloist. She has had many serious roles, but she is just MADE for comedy. The two men in the show, Damian Humbley and Ben Lewis, are also fantastic. For me though Damian gave me many more laughs. At one point he even got the rest of the cast laughing, though as in other shows I've seen I feel that maybe even this apparent break of character's was a staged part of the show. Guess id need to see it more than once to know.

          Such a good night out that will be fun for any theatre goer. A bit of fun that the whole family will love. I hope, like on Broadway, this becomes a staple on the West End stage. You need to hurry though as its ending on November 22nd. Tickets and Info