Category: Brett Herriot Review

**** (4 Stars)

“A brave production with a passionate heart!”

Fifty five years since its initial concept album was released, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar has become an enduring classic of the musical theatre cannon. Telling the story of the final days in the life of Jesus Christ with an anthemic rock score the show has been reinvented many times from the most intimate theatres to full arena productions.

Edinburgh based Southern Light bring the show to the Festival theatre stage for the first time in its 128 year history in a production that is markedly different from anything they have done before. Directed by Fraser Grant with musical direction from Fraser Hume and choreography by Louise Williamson this is a production that borrows heavily from acclaimed west end director Jamie Lloyd.

Lloyd is achieving great success on both sides of the Atlantic with productions of Sunset Boulevard and Romeo and Juliet thanks to his inventive use of live cameras and projections on stripped back sets. Fraser Grant deploys the same style to great effect in a production of the show that brings the show into the modern world. For the most part it works and is aided by the contemporary costume design from Sandra Summers. Choreography by Louise Williamson also embraces the contemporary and isn’t scared to push the boundaries with a heavy infusion of sexuality and same sex couples it’s a joy to watch the well drilled dance troupe in the show give it their all.  

This production truly puts the light onto the performances and there are many west end worthy turns from across the company.  Colin Sutherland as “Jesus” brings a raw intensity to the role and captures from the off and equally delivers strong vocals that emote the feelings of the character with ease. Ethan Baird delivers a more understated turn as “Judas” with the traditional tenor falsetto belt being replaced with an edgy rock lilt in his voice however a lot of the lyrics are lost due to poor diction and annunciation.  The true stand out star of the show is the divine Lara Kidd in the role of “Mary” with powerhouse vocals and a finally crafted characterisation that draws you to her in every second she is on stage, she is indeed a fine west end performer of great skill. Special mention has to go to Darren Johnson as “Pilate” who delivers the most intense and capturing performance of a conflicted soul. This is an impressively big ensemble cast numbering over ninety although for the majority there pushed to the sidelines of the stage almost like additional audience members and they do feel slightly under used at times.

Production wise the show truly succeeds the set design from Fraser Grant and James Gow takes the modern feel up a notch making the large expanses of the Festival Theatre feel like a rock arena and this is bolstered by Gow’s beguiling lighting design  that is a triumph of detail and colour and brings its own emotions to the stage. The live video element also adds to the aesthetic but it does feel like more could have been achieved with it. Paul Smith’s sound design is excellent with a perfect balance between musical director Fraser Hume’s stellar 12 piece band and performers, given its a rock open that’s a tricky balance to achieve but Smith has achieved it with ease.

Southern Light has delivered a brave production with a passionate heart that embraces its ambition to be somewhat of a departure for the company. With a cracking pace and clear story telling it’s a show that captures. However it does feel like more could have been achieved from the individual elements but what you do have is a cracking night of theatre from a musical which has become a modern classic! Wonderful stuff indeed.

Southern Light Presents Jesus Christ Superstar, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, runs until Saturday 10^th May, For more information and tickets go to: Southern Light: Jesus Christ Superstar

*** (3 Stars)

“Filled with classic musical joy!”

Astonishingly it’s been sixty six years since Rogers & Hammerstein most famous collaboration, The Sound of Music, made its debut in 1959 in Connecticut at the Shubert Theatre before moving to Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre starring the legendary Mary Martin in the title role of Maria.

The show went onto become a beloved classic for generations thanks to the 1965 motion picture adaptation  starring  Dame Julie Andrews as Maria. The show is also eternally popular with local and community companies and always draws the audiences so it’s no surprise that Edinburgh’s Forth Children’s Theatre have produced there third production of the show which is enjoying a week long run at Broughton High School Theatre and delivers a production filled with classic musical joy!.

The Sound of music adapted from the real life story of the Von Trapp Family singers tells the story of Captain Von Trapp, living in the mountains of Austria finding love again with his governess, Maria, sent to him from the local abbey, she has to discover the powerful truth of love of faith and love of the heart as she wins over the heart of Captain’s seven children. This is set against the turbulence of Nazi Germany’s sweeping power over Europe in the late 1930’s. Can they find true love and freedom? This musical will give you the answer.

This production directed by Aoife Summers, Choreographed by Jayne Orchard with musical direction from Jack Gardner delivers many astonishing performances from a truly gifted young cast but does get slightly bogged down due to its slow pacing and often clunky scene transitions. Given the show already has a lengthy running time (Act one coming in at 90 minutes alone) these longer than needed transitions make it feel all the longer.

That being said performances across the board are excellent especially from the companies leads. Maria McDonald takes on the title role of Maria and delivers a truly charming performance filled with heart and glorious vocals to boot; a career in the industry awaits this talented gem. Harry Aspinall’s Captain Georg Von Trapp shows real acting chops. His journey from strict authoritarian to losing his heart in a way he never though he would again is equally engaging as it is truthful. All seven of the von trap children shine in there moment in the spotlight especially Orla Harrison as Liesel Von Trapp who captures brilliantly the transition of teenage years to adulthood with ease. Special mention also has to go to Elyssa Tait as Mother Abbess whose peerless vocals provides a true show stopping moment to bring the curtain down on act 1.

The thirty strong ensemble company make the most of their stage time and deliver extremely well with Jayne Orchards (assisted by Mirrin Macleay) choreography that not only see the cast dancing but also the sets pillars. The show also features a classy 15 strong pit orchestra under the baton of Jack Gardiner who bring real polish and Gardiner has achieve many spring tingling vocal arrangements from the cast which is impressive given the age of the performers.

Production wise however work is needed to smooth the rough edges. Gavin Macleay’s set design does invoke the Austrian mountains well and the clever use of gauzes allows the orchestra to be brought into the piece but the stylisation of brick work is a strong choice that doesn’t always work. The show is lit well by lighting and sound designer Callum Farrell and given how expansive the venue is the lighting makes the most of its abilities. The sound design does have problems with a few mics failing to come on but this probably more opening night nerves that will ease as the show beds into its run.

FCT’s The Sound of Music delivers well and the directorial choice to really bring out the very best performances from the cast is inspired and if the company can tighten the transitions and smooth out the sound issues then a fourth star is within their grasp.

For now This Sound of Music offers up an engaging night of musical theatre fun that charms its audiences and those performances really do capture from the curtain up! So head to Broughton High School and see for yourself the hills coming alive to the sound of music.

Forth Children’s Theatre, Presents the Sound of Music, Broughton High School Theatre, Edinburgh, runs until Saturday 12^th April, For more information and tickets go to: Upcoming Shows | Forth Children’s Theatre

***** (5 Stars)

“Calls to the child like heart in all of us!”

The beloved 1991 Disney animation Beauty and the Beast would launch the Mickey Mouse company into a glorious revival renaissance period that would see the film achieve classic status. The film would also become Disney’s first venture into live stage adaptations and the tale as old as time would become an Olivier award winning smash hit.

The show is now available to local theatre companies across the UK and Edinburgh’s long running Edinburgh Music Theatre brings the tale to life for a week long run at the Church Hill Theatre in a stunning production that truly calls to the child like heart in all of us.

 Beauty and the Beast with Music by the legendary Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Sir Tim Rice featuring a book by Linda Woolverton tells the tale as old as time of a prince forced to live under a enchantment due to his selfish ways only to discover that the power of true love can set him and his servants free.

EMT’s production beautifully captures the spirit of the animated original thanks to the ingenious use of a giant video wall featuring animation creative designs from the shows Director Louise Sables. Sables also ensures her top drawer cast are sprinkled in enough stage magic so it delivers to a professional level befitting any theatre in the country.

Performances are universally excellent with Wallis Hamilton Carmichael as Belle and Seb Schneeberger as Beast leading the company with beguiling performances that capture the characters beautifully and they have the vocals to match too. Andrew Hally’s “Cogsworth” and Peter Tomassi’s “Lumiere” are comedy joy and shine every time there on stage. Special mention must go to Lauren McAnna as “Mrs Potts” whose pathos rich delivery of the title song brings tears to the eyes in a stunningly emotional moment. Every Disney story needs a good baddie and Louis Delaney delivers in spades as “Gaston” he walks a fine line of villainy but succeeds thanks to his onstage partner “Le Fou” played with a wonderful physicality by the sublime Sean Vannet.

David Bartholomew’s “Maurice”, Sheona Dorrian’s “Babette”, Mia Hatch’s “Chip” and Sarah Louise Donnelly as “Madam de la Grande Bouche” all shine whenever they grace the stage as does Lindsay MacLaren, Elizabeth Martin and Amanda Woodhouse as “Les Filles”. The principals are joined by a twenty two strong ensemble company who truly bring Belles world to life especially when delivering Chanel Turner-Ross inventive and well executed Choreography.

Musically the show is a triumph with musical Director Libby Crabtree ensuring every ounce of emotion from the score is felt by the audience thanks to the peerless vocals onstage and gorgeous nine strong pit orchestra under her baton, it’s truly the cherry on the cake.

Production wise EMT has delivered well within the constraints of the intimate theatre that the church hill is. Jacob Henney’s lighting design captures the magic of piece perfectly and Rhys Tuner’s Sound design is faultless ensuring every lyric and note is heard with ease and never overpowers.

The unmitigated high point of the show has to be Lauren McAnna’s (alongside playing Mrs Potts) staggering Wardrobe design. The costumes knock the eye out and while they capture the essence of the original look of the Broadway show they also feel fresh and relevant for a show which has celebrated its thirtieth anniversary and incredible achievement for a local company.  

EMT’s Beauty and the Beast is everything you could wish for and so much more and is a perfect evening of musical theatre magic that rightly deserves its standing ovations and sold out performances its currently enjoying.  You never know you might just be lucky enough to get a return ticket for an EMT show that will go down in history as setting the bar to stratospherically new heights! Wonderful stuff indeed.

EMT Presents Beauty and The Beast, Church Hill Theatre, Edinburgh, runs until Saturday 5^th April, For more information and tickets go to: Beauty and the Beast – Edinburgh Music Theatre

***** (5 Stars)

“The true heart of the ocean of comedy musicals!”

James Cameron’s 1997 motion picture retelling of the Titanic disaster featuring the beguiling love story of Jack and Rose has been parodied many times but none more successfully than in 2017 when Titanique debuted in Los Angeles.

Featuring a book by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli this comedic tour de triumph retells the movies story from the point of view of Celine Dion, Played by the stunning Lauren Drew in the performance of lifetime. It’s a one hundred minute long romp blending Dion’s hit songs with up to date musical and cultural references in a show that simply can’t fail to raise a smile with its joyful heart.

This show directed by book writer Tye Blue features an outstanding ensemble cast lead by Drew as Dion and everyone of them shine and no wonder as it features the very best of the current generation of west end stars.  Rob Houchen “Jack Dawson” and Kat Ronney “Rose DeWitt Bukater” are everything Leo and Kate were and so much more delivering excellent comedy timing and honey soaked vocals throughout. Darren Bennett “Victor Garber”, Charlotte Wakefield “Molly Brown” and Stephen Guarino “Ruth DeWitt Bukater” equally shine and make the most of there on stage time.  Every show needs a good baddie and west end star Jordan Luke Cage delivers in spades as “Cal Hockley” he enshrews panto villainy but captures the comedic potential of the character beautifully.

In the role of Seaman/Iceberg is strictly come dancing break out star Layton Williams who works hard especially in drag as “Iceberg” but as with all the shows Williams does heis simply being himself on stage rather than a character, that being said he does himself awfully well! Rounding out the onstage company are three powerhouse vocalists, Adrianne Langley, Madison Swan and Rodney Vubya who bring extra sparkle and magic to the songs which are delivered in polished style by musical director Adam Wachter and his four piece onstage band.

Production wise this is a show that can hold its head up high with any of the bigger productions and theatres in the west end and proves that while the Criterion is one of the more intimate venues it’s a beacon for the arts. Gabriel Hainer Evansohn and Grace Laubacher’s scenic design perfectly captures the essence of Titanic’s grandeur but also the golden era of musical theatre. This is enhanced by Alejo Vietti stunning costume design that perfectly recreates Jack and Rose from the film alongside the other characters but also ensures Layton looks stunning in full stockings, Heels and silver glittering drag. Paige Seber lighting design makes the most of the Criterion’s stage and auditorium and gives true musical glamour to the whole show which is ably supported by the excellent sound design from Lawrence Schober.

Titanique was due to have limited run in the west end but has proven so popular it’s been extended into 2026 and its the true show of the moment and brings to the stage the one thing we need more than any other right now in our lives and that’s Laughter! This is a joyous extravaganza that is the true heart of the ocean of comedy musicals and long may its heart go on! Unmissable! So grab those tickets now!!!

Titanique, the Criterion Theatre, London booking until January 2026, For more information and tickets go to: Titanique the Musical