Wednesday 12 March 2014

Fiddler on the Roof 11th March - 15th March

Strictly come dancing's beloved Craig Revel Horwood, returns to the theatre to direct and choreograph an old audience favourite, Fiddler on the Roof. This show is so uplifting with plenty of heartfelt, tear brimming moments and of course a multitude of well-known, catchy songs such as; Tradition, Matchmaker, Matchmaker, If I Were a Rich Man, To Life and Sunrise Sunset.




The cast is lead by Paul Michael Glasser who plays Tevye, a poor milkman who lives with is wife and five daughters. Indeed, Glasser is no stranger to this show, having played revolutionary student, Perchik in the 1971 film. The show takes place in the small village of Anatevka in 1905 Tzarist Russia and provides insight to the small Jewish community who live there. Tevye, like most of the community lives his life by tradition and each member of the family knows their place. Tevye's three oldest daughters Tzeitel (Emily O'Keefe), Hodel (Liz Singelton) and Chava, (Claire Petzal) decide to break tradition and marry for love. Tevye must decide between his traditions and his daughters' happiness. Worst of all, he must decide how to tell his wife!


For anyone who is familiar with a Craig Revel Horwood show, they will know that the actors are not only expected to sing, dance and act but they also take on the role of the orchestra while doing so! This was so impressive and really added to the community feel in Anatevka. It also fit is perfectly with the image of the traditional folk musicians. 


It was truly an incredible wholehearted performance from the entire cast. A candid performance which brought with it an array of emotions.

Mazal Tov, Mazal Tov to the whole cast and crew on such a flawless performance!

 


Cast: Tevye - Paul Michael Glasser                Yente/Fruma Sarah - Sussannah Van Den Berg
          Golde - Karen Mann                              Mordecai (Inkeeper/Constable) - Eamonn O'Dwyer  
          Tzeitel - Emily O' Keefe                         Rabbi - Neil Salvage
          Hodel - Liz Singleton                              Mendel (Rabbi's son) - Michael Paver
          Chava - Claire Petzal                             Avram (bookseller) - Tarek Merchant
          Motel - Jon Trenchard                           Sasha - Jeff Smyth
          Perchik - Steven Bor                             Grandma Tzeitel - Lilly Howard     
          Lazar Wolf - Paul Kissaun
          Fyedka - Daniel Bolton
          The Fiddler - Jennifer Douglas

Tickets are very limited! Click here to find out if there are any left!



Friday 7 March 2014

WNO - Boulevard Solitude

The Welsh National Opera's Boulevard Solitude, seems to bring the classical tale of Orpheus and Eurydice into modern France. It is the oldest story in the book. Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, girl keeps slipping from boy's grasp and finally boy loses girl completely... 

As part of WNO's Fallen Women season, Boulevard Solitude, is a modern opera, performed in English that tells the story of Mannon Lescaut (Sarah Tynan), who falls in love with a student, Armand des Grieux (Jason Bridges).Tragically the two can never be together as Manon's brother Lescaut (Benjamin Bevan) is constantly using his sister as a tool to seduce rich men while he steals from them. 

I am never going to be completely comfortable in the audience of an opera but I definitely came close watching this one. It may have been the classicist in me but I found the plot riveting.The way the story reveals the end first and then fills in the gaps was particularly impressive and helped with the general understanding of the plot -for someone who struggles to understand opera. If you have never seen an opera before but would like to, this is definitely a good one to start with. 







Cast: Armand des Grieux - Jason Bridges                    Actors: Justyna Biabwas
          Manon Lescaut - Sarah Tynan                                            Katarzyna Holtra
          Lescaut- Benjamin Bevan                                                   Joanna Jeffries
          Monsieur Lilaque - Adrian Thompson                               Gordon Brandie
          Francis - Alistair Moore                                                      Michal Ciecka
          Young Lilaque - Laurence Cole                                           Nicholas Keegan
          Mr Man - Tomaz Wygoda                                                   Ashley James Orwin




Click here to find out more about WNO's Fallen Women Seaon

Click here to buy your tickets