Tag Archives: LW Theatres

QUEEN BY CANDLELIGHT

★★★★

UK Tour

QUEEN BY CANDLELIGHT

London Palladium

★★★★

“stirring, faithful and poignant”

Two questions immediately spring to mind. The first is: why candlelight? Why does the stage of the London Palladium have the appearance of a Guns N’ Roses video dressed as it is with hundreds of flickering (albeit artificial) flames.

There is an answer, but it is attached to a story so more on that later.

The second more pressing question is: how on earth are you supposed to replace or replicate one of the greatest frontmen in rock history, a man of splendid pomp and quite remarkable vocal dexterity?

The answer is 13.

That’s how many Freddie Mercurys there are in this stirring, faithful and poignant tribute to the music of Queen.

All 13 – including four women to account for his operatic range – are rip-roaring West End quality singers, and each has a moment in the spotlight. And then occasionally they come together in a sort of Mercury clone chorus, as if to suggest that 13 quasi-Freddies is the only way to do justice to the majesty of the original.

And in case you’re checking the exchange rate, two guitarists are the equivalent of one Brian May, but John Deacon and Roger Taylor have parity, one for one. In addition, there are keyboards and strings which add drama to some of Queen’s more swelling songs, such as Who Wants To Live Forever? (Thousands of rheumy eyes prickling with tears over lost youths and lost lives.)

And in answer to the candlelight question, the original core troupe was launched to create work for musicians affected by Covid-19. The production was one of the first shows to be staged after lockdown and the only venues available were churches, hence the candles.

Since then, the show has been performed over 300 times including at St Paul’s Cathedral (completing the church loop) and Carnegie Hall, New York.

There was an overabundance of self-congratulation throughout the evening – we were forever being urged to applaud every wail and lick – but that’s OK. Production company Kinda Dusty made it to the Palladium. They have a right to be a little pleased with themselves.

Back to the music, to the anthems, to a back catalogue so stuffed with classics that choosing what stays and what goes must have been a nightmare. Look, here comes another stormer: Somebody To Love, and another, the ridiculously gorgeous Days Of Our Lives. Killer Queen. Don’t Stop Me Now. The Show Must Go On (that last pair having a certain urgency as the show was halted for a medical emergency in the audience). I Want To Break Free. A stripped down Love Of My Life.

And then, on our feet for We Are The Champions, Radio Ga Ga (“let’s see those hands”). You find yourself smiling. Maybe you didn’t mean to smile, weren’t in the mood to smile, but there it is anyway: the smile.

Finally, the massed ranks of Mercurys with accompanying Palladium chorus, come together for a rousing and inevitable Bohemian Rhapsody to mark its 50th birthday.

Even without the real thing, it’s a kind of magic.



QUEEN BY CANDLELIGHT

London Palladium

Reviewed on 8th April 2025

by Giles Broadbent

Photography by Matt Young

 

 


 

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:

FIGARO: AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL | ★★ | February 2025
HELLO, DOLLY! | ★★★★ | July 2024
THE ADDAMS FAMILY A MUSICAL COMEDY – LIVE IN CONCERT | ★½ | February 2024
TRUE TALES OF SEX, SUCCESS AND SEX AND THE CITY | ★★★½ | February 2024
DEATH NOTE – THE MUSICAL IN CONCERT | ★★★★ | August 2023

QUEEN BY CANDLELIGHT

QUEEN BY CANDLELIGHT

QUEEN BY CANDLELIGHT

🎭 TOP ‘IN CONCERT’ SHOW 2024 🎭

PIPPIN IN CONCERT

★★★★★

Theatre Royal Drury Lane

PIPPIN IN CONCERT at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

★★★★★

“The air is thick with the exhilaration that flows from the cast and ensemble”

“We’ve got magic to do, just for you… We’ve got miracle plays to play. We’ve got parts to perform – hearts to warm… as we go along our way”. Barely into the opening number, as the London Musical Theatre Orchestra reaches its crescendo and the ArtsEd Choir swells in beautiful unison, we know that these bold promises in the libretto will be fulfilled. Already our hearts are warmed. We are in for a magical ride. The fiftieth anniversary concert of “Pippin” at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is nothing short of a miracle. The realisation comes with a shower of golden confetti falling over the auditorium as we look around expecting to see Simon Cowell wildly banging his Golden Buzzer.

It boasts a star-studded cast, led by… well – the ‘Leading Player’. Alex Newell commands the stage, their presence demolishing the fourth wall while their soaring vocals bring down the roof. For a moment we are in pure Motown territory. But we cover much more varied ground in this show-within-a-show musical that leads its protagonist on a rich journey in pursuit of fulfilment and purpose; of an illusory ‘American Dream’.

Jonathan O’Boyle has brought this fifty-year-old musical right into the present day, not just giving its over simplified social commentary a twenty-first century relevance, but also laying bare the inherent comedy within Roger O. Hirson’s book. The dialogue elicits just as many laughs as the songs prompt ovations. Tucked away are moments of philosophical satire that Voltaire would have been proud of. But let’s stay away from analysis and focus on the spectacle, for that is what this revival is all about. While the cast bring something new and fresh to the table, the authenticity is left intact. Joanna Goodwin’s choreography is modern yet full of timeless moments of pure Fosse, while Simon Nathan’s sumptuous orchestrations are simultaneously contemporary and traditional. Orchestra and choir are the set, a gorgeously visual and aural backdrop with Jamie Platt’s lighting pinpointing the action and locations with emotional accuracy. Not to mention Adam Fisher’s crystal-clear sound that highlights every nuance of the score.

 

 

Above all, though, this show belongs to the performers. Jac Yarrow seizes the title role with ease and charm. In fine voice throughout, his comic timing also comes to the fore as he relaxes into the part. By the time he meets his love interest in Act Two, the humour soars almost as high as his falsetto. Lucie Jones, as the widow Catherine who eventually captures Pippin’s heart, is simply hilarious. The more the fourth wall breaks down, the more she milks it for comic effect, yet she touches our hearts when she steals a solo number. Zizi Strallen, as wicked stepmother Fastrada, takes sassiness to new levels, all high kicks and splits, and spellbinding dancing. Patricia Hodge plays the grandmother with a knowing wink – raunchy yet wise, grounded yet with a lust for life. She’s no singer but she sure has the mojo.

For a musical, the characters have a surprising number of dimensions, which the performers draw out with unabashed joy. Cedric Neal’s King Charlemagne is a gloriously comic tyrant, always poking fun at his own personality. The air is thick with the exhilaration that flows from the cast and ensemble. They all seem to be making fun of the show while celebrating it at the same time. And, boy, is it a celebration? Stephen Schwartz’ music and lyrics may not be high art, but the faultless singing ekes out emotions and meaning that past productions have sometimes failed to unearth. And at the helm is Alex Newell. Although not quite in charge of their insubordinate players who eventually rebel against the script, Newell is definitely in charge of this show. The power of their voice leaves no argument.

The billing of the show is inaccurate. “Pippin” is, in truth, fifty-two years old this year. So, it’s not strictly its 50th anniversary concert. But who cares? It’s not really a concert either. It is far more than that. It is an extravaganza.


PIPPIN IN CONCERT at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Reviewed on 29th April 2024

by Jonathan Evans

Photography by Pamela Raith

 

 


 

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:

YOUR LIE IN APRIL | ★★★★ | April 2024
WILD ABOUT YOU – A NEW MUSICAL IN CONCERT | ★★★ | March 2024
HANDEL’S MESSIAH: THE LIVE EXPERIENCE | ★★★ | December 2022

PIPPIN IN CONCERT

PIPPIN IN CONCERT

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