★★★

“Some of the most potentially moving moments of the show are overdone, verging on melodrama”

Judy Garland. Audrey Hepburn. Marilyn Monroe. Beth Burrows’ one woman show puts these three sirens of the silver screen on stage together, singing some of their most famous songs and telling us the stories of their lives.

Burrows, performer and creator of the show, is warm, personable and immediately likeable. She communicates each of the different women with a clear admiration and understanding, playfully witty, tender and moving in her depictions. It’s a wonderful showcase for her voice, and her lower vocal range in particular is a joy to listen to. There are a few moments where the addendum ‘less is more’ ought to have been applied. Some of the most potentially moving moments of the show are overdone, verging on melodrama and a more subtle approach would ensure these moments have the impact they aim for.

The show is ultimately a history, a reminiscence, and whilst this is certainly interesting and I learn a lot about our three characters, a more personal, more in depth approach would take this piece to the next level. The piece begins conversations about so many deeply topical subjects, fame, substance abuse, sexual harassment in Hollywood, to name but a few. Unfortunately these aren’t really unpacked or commented upon, beyond a brief link to Harvey Weinstein. More moments like this, connecting these histories to our contemporary society would ensure the show feels relevant and fresh. Furthermore, the choice to put these three women together in one show isn’t sufficiently explored, and a greater emphasis on how they link to each other would help achieve a more cohesive result.

This is a really well made piece of theatre, informative, and beautifully delivered by Burrows, but it fails to access the potential depth and topicality of its subjects.

Reviewed by Amelia Brown

Sirens of the Silver Screen

Upstairs at the Gatehouse

Reviewed – 9th November 2017

★★★★

“the songs are performed with a wealth of emotion, making the stories being told even more poignant”

Fresh from a successful run of performances on Seabourn Cruise Line and in the Middle East, Sirens of the Silver Screen makes its London debut at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate. Directed by Mark Giesser, it explores the lives of Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe, three of Hollywood’s most iconic stars.

Sirens

Beth Burrows, both performer and writer, introduces all three women over the course of the production and tells the stories of their lives, which weren’t all glitz and glamour. The audience learn of dark trials and tribulations endured, some of which they may not have known about before. The stories are well complimented with performances of the three icons’ most famous songs, as well as projections of footage of real events and interviews.

Sirens

Burrows gives an exceptional performance throughout the production. Her vocals are stunning and she delivers each song with ease. She doesn’t try to impersonate each icon whilst singing, the exception perhaps being during her comedic rendition of Marilyn Monroe’s “I Wanna Be Loved By You”. Overall, the songs are performed with a wealth of emotion, making the stories being told even more poignant. Burrows’ vocals are accompanied by Bobby Goulder, the Musical Director and Pianist, and Doug Grannell, Double Bassist, which makes for a simple, but effective band and balance of sounds.

Sirens

Costumes include Garland’s blue and white gingham “Dorothy” dress, Hepburn’s sophisticated black number from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Monroe’s iconic white dress from The Seven Year Itch. They definitely help to bring all three women to life and compliment the production well.

Some may be sceptical about seeing a production delivered by one actor, but you have nothing to worry about here. Beth Burrows commands the stage with a strong presence and the right balance of comedy and sensitivity. This is a well thought out, eye-opening tribute to three legends of Old Hollywood.

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Sirens of the Silver Screen -3 Stars

Sirens of the Silver Screen

Tabard Theatre

Reviewed – 28th June 2018

★★★

“Some of the most potentially moving moments of the show are overdone, verging on melodrama”

Judy Garland. Audrey Hepburn. Marilyn Monroe. Beth Burrows’ one woman show puts these three sirens of the silver screen on stage together, singing some of their most famous songs and telling us the stories of their lives.

This is a really well made piece of theatre, informative, and beautifully delivered by Burrows, but it fails to access the potential depth and topicality of its subjects.

Reviewed by Amelia Brown

Sirens of the Silver Screen

Tabard Theatre until 14th July

Related

Previously reviewed at this venue

The Little Match Girl | ★★★ | December 2017

The Lady With a Dog | ★★★★ | March 2018

Sophie, Ben, and Other Problems | ★★★★ | April 2018

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com

Review of Sirens of the Silver Screen – 4 Stars

Sirens of the Silver Screen

Upstairs at the Gatehouse

Reviewed – 9th November 2017

★★★★

“the songs are performed with a wealth of emotion, making the stories being told even more poignant”

Costumes include Garland’s blue and white gingham “Dorothy” dress, Hepburn’s sophisticated black number from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Monroe’s iconic white dress from The Seven Year Itch. They definitely help to bring all three women to life and compliment the production well.

Some may be sceptical about seeing a production delivered by one actor, but you have nothing to worry about here. Beth Burrows commands the stage with a strong presence and the right balance of comedy and sensitivity. This is a well thought out, eye-opening tribute to three legends of Old Hollywood.

Reviewed by Emily K Neal

SIRENS OF THE SILVER SCREEN

is at Upstairs at the Gatehouse until 18th November

Click here to see a list of the latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com