Tag Archives: Greg Barnett

Monday Night at the Apollo

Monday Night at the Apollo

★★★½

Apollo Theatre and Live Stream via Thespie

Monday Night at the Apollo

Monday Night at the Apollo

Apollo Theatre

Reviewed – 24th May 2021

★★★½

 

“all the great parts will gloriously shine through and you’ll be left helplessly beaming”

 

Live theatre’s back! After the year we’ve had, it certainly feels good to type those words. Even watching online, the buzz and glee was palpable from the audience and the performers. As an overture for all that we’ve missed and all that’s to come, Monday Night at the Apollo definitely sets the mood.

All in aid of Acting for Others, a theatrical charity organisation, Monday Night at the Apollo marks the first of three live and live-streamed intimate concerts from the Apollo Theatre. This one featured a stellar cast of Aimie Atkinson, Lucie Jones, Cedric Neal, Julian Ovendon, and Cassidy Janson, with Greg Barnett on hosting duties letting the performers share anecdotes and stories between songs – as well as plugging their upcoming projects, of course.

It all made for a lovely laid-back evening – the cast seemed to be totally relaxed and having a great time, which made it easy and enjoyable to hear them tell you about their lives as if they would a friend, although Barnett seemed a little uncomfortable at times in his role, as though he didn’t always know what to say in response to what someone was sharing.

However, you don’t come to a concert for the conversation, and the songs certainly don’t disappoint. Played with aplomb by the four-piece band, the setlist opens with each actor performing a song of their choosing, which subsequently leaves it feeling very ballad-heavy, but after that there’s a great variety on offer. Atkinson gives phenomenal performances of ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’ and ‘Rolling in the Deep’ with her astonishing voice, there are magnificent duets in the form of ‘All the Wasted Time’ (Ovendon and Janson) and ‘Don’t Worry ‘Bout a Thing’ (Jones and Neal), and a host of other powerful solos such as ‘So You Wanted to See the Wizard’ and ‘Hold Me in Your Heart’ from Neal (hip-shaking and tear-jerking respectively) and ‘She Used to Be Mine’ from Jones – a particular favourite since she brought all the gravitas from her time in Waitress into her performance here. The closing number, a rendition of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ with gorgeous three-part harmonies from Atkinson, Jones, and Janson, is also absolutely beautiful.

Monday Night at the Apollo isn’t quite perfect, with its slow opening and slightly stilted hosting, but it’s live theatre with a live audience and if you’ve missed that as much as I have then all the great parts will gloriously shine through and you’ll be left helplessly beaming.

 

 

Reviewed by Ethan Doyle

Photography by Danny Kaan

 

Acting for Others

Monday Night at the Apollo

Apollo Theatre and Live Streamed via Thespie – further shows on 14th June and 5th July

 

Reviewed by Ryan this year:
Shook | ★★★★★ | Online | February 2021
In Pieces | ★★½ | Online | April 2021

 

Click here to see our most recent reviews

 

Fantastic Mr Fox

 

Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Curve and Lyric Hammersmith have announced that, following a successful UK tour, their production of Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox will return for a second run at Lyric Hammersmith this summer. The production, adapted for the stage by Sam Holcroft, directed by Maria Aberg with original music by Arthur Darvill, runs at the Lyric Hammersmith from 26 July to 20 August, after it completes its national tour.

 

Fantastic Mr Fox at Nuffield Southampton Theatres. Jade Croot (Kit), Greg Barnett (Mr Fox) and Lillie Flynn (Mrs Fox). Photo by Manuel Harlan

Director of Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Sam Hodges said; 

“I am very pleased that our hit production of Fantastic Mr Fox is coming back to London, following the last sell-out run. This is a terrific adaptation of a special story and this return to the Lyric marks a well-deserved finale to a successful tour.”

In a joint statement Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said;

“We are thrilled that even more families and young people will be able to experience our successful co-production of Fantastic Mr Fox. Audiences across the country and internationally have all had a wonderful time watching this ‘fantastic’ Roald Dahl classic be brought to life live on stage.”

Artistic Director of Lyric Hammersmith, Sean Holmes, said;

“We are delighted to welcome back Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox after its sell-out success here at the Lyric earlier this year. A great treat for all the family this summer”

 

“You know as well as I do: no-one outfoxes a fox!”

Boggis, Bunce and Bean, three greedy, smelly, horrid farmers hate the cunning Mr Fox.

Mr Fox is smart, clever and rather fantastic, but he doesn’t realise how determined the farmers are to get revenge. Can he hatch a plan to save his family and friends? Can they outrun the diggers and outsmart the farmers, and can rabbit shut up long enough not to give the game away?

 

Fantastic Mr Fox at Nuffield Southampton Theatres. Greg Barnett (Mr-Fox). Photo-credit-Manuel-Harlan.jpg. Photo by Manuel Harlan

Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox is family fun at its finest. A juicy tale of greed, pride and the power of friendship which promises a Dahlicious theatrical feast with live music and songs.

 

 

Lyric Hammersmith

Wednesday 26 July – Sunday 20 August

Box office: 020 8741 6850

www.lyric.co.uk

 

 

www.fantasticmrfoxlive.com

 


Nuffield Southampton Theatres and Curve in association with Lyric Hammersmith present

Roald Dahl’s

FANTASTIC MR FOX

Adapted for the stage by Sam Holcroft

Directed by Maria Aberg; Designed by Tom Scutt; Music by Arthur Darvill

Lyrics by Arthur Darvill, Sam Holcroft, Al Muriel and Darren Clark

Sound Designer: Claire Windsor; Lighting Designer: Lee Curran

Movement Director: Ayse Tashkiran; Music Director: Richie Hart; Casting Director: Annelie Powell

Cast includes: Richard Atwill, Greg Barnett, Patrick Burbidge, Jade Croot, Lillie Flynn, Sandy Foster, Gruffudd Glyn, Richie Hart, Thomas Hewitt, Edward Hole, Kelly Jackson, Tanya Shields.

 

 

 

 

 

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