All interviews are now under the 'News' section with each show.

Viva Youth Half a Sixpence 30 July 2015
What audiences respond to is all-out musical entertainment and Half a Sixpence must be classed as one of the great family musicals loaded as it is with excellent songs. H.G. Wells wrote “Kipps – The Story of a Simple Soul” over a century ago. Originally staged in the West End in 1963 (book by Beverley Cross, music and lyrics by David Heneker), it later became a film, both very much a vehicle for Tommy Steele.
Now the script has been re-worked but the new version still has all the old favourites Flash, Bang, Wallop!, Half A Sixpence, All In The Cause of Economy etc. plus nine new songs added by Warren Brown which, I feel, fit in with the original songs splendidly.
On stage continually from the start of the show to the curtain call, Charlie O’Connor had the warmth and sense of humour necessary to make Kipps lovable. It must be a daunting prospect for any lead male cast in this role and Charlie should be congratulated on his performance. His singing, dancing and comic delivery were excellent throughout.
Good strong performances were had too from Kipps’ fellow employees at Shalford’s emporium Aaron Lord as Sid, Olly Manley as Buggins and Max Bovingdon as Pearce. This trio was augmented by a flamboyant and enjoyable performance from David Tickner as Mr Chitterlow who did a very fine line in socks. Not to be outshone by the boys, we enjoyed equally strong performances from Rhiannon McBean, Madison Eddy and Amy Jelleyman as their coworkers Victoria, Kate and Flo respectively.
Rebecca Storey, who has a very fine voice, made an excellent Anne giving us flashes of her character’s feistiness when needed. The argument with Kipps was extremely believable.
Zara Minns as Helen Walsingham imbued her character with much warmth and kindness – I really liked her and believed she cared for Kipps. This was a fine performance added to by Zara’s beautiful singing voice.
The addition of new songs gives the ensemble more to do and one song Finesse belongs to the Walsinghams. This little scene showed us that Mrs Walsingham (Anthea Kenna) was a force to be reckoned with – everyone’s nightmare mother-in-law. Dan Lane is a fine young actor but I would perhaps liked to have seen his Young Walsingham more sly and ingratiating showing Walsingham was not at all the sort of person to do business with. That said I thought this was a good performance.
The hardworking chorus ensemble was excellent. All fully involved with the action when they were on stage and all totally confident in their own ability. Also worthy of mention is David Moat who managed to leave his mark in the on-off role of Mr Shalford.
The scenery and props were minimal yet effective. The huge cast coped well with the small acting area and full marks to the stage crew and cast for handling the myriad of scene changes swiftly and efficiently. The costumes were beautiful and very colourful although the green and white gingham dresses and the red and white striped jackets were a bit eye watering.
The lighting and sound was first-rate, and the music supplied by Musical Director Stephen Kenna was tight and polished.
Dan Schumann’s direction kept things cheery and animated and Louise Plummer’s choreography was deceptively simple and executed well by the whole cast. Everyone who saw Viva Youth’s Half A Sixpence, was delightfully entertained so there is not really a lot left to say.
Talented leading artists displaying some fine singing and acting and an excellent supporting cast.
Viva, Viva Youth! Knock -em dead in Edinburgh.
Julie Petrucci Regional Representative, NODA E4S
What audiences respond to is all-out musical entertainment and Half a Sixpence must be classed as one of the great family musicals loaded as it is with excellent songs. H.G. Wells wrote “Kipps – The Story of a Simple Soul” over a century ago. Originally staged in the West End in 1963 (book by Beverley Cross, music and lyrics by David Heneker), it later became a film, both very much a vehicle for Tommy Steele.
Now the script has been re-worked but the new version still has all the old favourites Flash, Bang, Wallop!, Half A Sixpence, All In The Cause of Economy etc. plus nine new songs added by Warren Brown which, I feel, fit in with the original songs splendidly.
On stage continually from the start of the show to the curtain call, Charlie O’Connor had the warmth and sense of humour necessary to make Kipps lovable. It must be a daunting prospect for any lead male cast in this role and Charlie should be congratulated on his performance. His singing, dancing and comic delivery were excellent throughout.
Good strong performances were had too from Kipps’ fellow employees at Shalford’s emporium Aaron Lord as Sid, Olly Manley as Buggins and Max Bovingdon as Pearce. This trio was augmented by a flamboyant and enjoyable performance from David Tickner as Mr Chitterlow who did a very fine line in socks. Not to be outshone by the boys, we enjoyed equally strong performances from Rhiannon McBean, Madison Eddy and Amy Jelleyman as their coworkers Victoria, Kate and Flo respectively.
Rebecca Storey, who has a very fine voice, made an excellent Anne giving us flashes of her character’s feistiness when needed. The argument with Kipps was extremely believable.
Zara Minns as Helen Walsingham imbued her character with much warmth and kindness – I really liked her and believed she cared for Kipps. This was a fine performance added to by Zara’s beautiful singing voice.
The addition of new songs gives the ensemble more to do and one song Finesse belongs to the Walsinghams. This little scene showed us that Mrs Walsingham (Anthea Kenna) was a force to be reckoned with – everyone’s nightmare mother-in-law. Dan Lane is a fine young actor but I would perhaps liked to have seen his Young Walsingham more sly and ingratiating showing Walsingham was not at all the sort of person to do business with. That said I thought this was a good performance.
The hardworking chorus ensemble was excellent. All fully involved with the action when they were on stage and all totally confident in their own ability. Also worthy of mention is David Moat who managed to leave his mark in the on-off role of Mr Shalford.
The scenery and props were minimal yet effective. The huge cast coped well with the small acting area and full marks to the stage crew and cast for handling the myriad of scene changes swiftly and efficiently. The costumes were beautiful and very colourful although the green and white gingham dresses and the red and white striped jackets were a bit eye watering.
The lighting and sound was first-rate, and the music supplied by Musical Director Stephen Kenna was tight and polished.
Dan Schumann’s direction kept things cheery and animated and Louise Plummer’s choreography was deceptively simple and executed well by the whole cast. Everyone who saw Viva Youth’s Half A Sixpence, was delightfully entertained so there is not really a lot left to say.
Talented leading artists displaying some fine singing and acting and an excellent supporting cast.
Viva, Viva Youth! Knock -em dead in Edinburgh.
Julie Petrucci Regional Representative, NODA E4S
NODA REVIEW: AVENUE Q
Winner of the Tony “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is a renowned piece of cult theatre and with a cast of very talented actors and skilled puppeteers, is a hybrid of South Park, Sesame Street and the Muppet Show.
Avenue Q is home to some lively and off the wall characters that are performed by an alliance of humans and puppets.
The story follows Princeton (Nick Huntingdon), a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. He soon discovers that the only neighbourhood in his price range is Avenue Q; still, the neighbours seem nice. There’s Brian the out-of-work comedian (Lee Sherwood) and his Japanese therapist fiancee Christmas Eve (Kerry Hibbert); Nicky (Michael Kowalczyk) the good-hearted slacker and his roommate Rod (Ben Clark)—a Republican investment banker who seems to have some sort of secret; an Internet addict called Trekkie Monster (Charlie Gillett); and a very cute kindergarten teaching assistant named Kate Monster (Naomi Porter). Plus a building’s superintendent called Gary Coleman (Becky Bush), a night club singer Lucy the Slut (Emily Norman), and two very naught bears with bad ideas Ellie Bovingdon and Charlie Ellerton. Together, Princeton and his newfound friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.
However much I eulogise about the furry members of cast and their manipulators I should not ignore the human members. We enjoyed great performances too from Kerry Hibbert, as Christmas Eve who has excellent comic timing, and Lee Sherwood as the energetic Brian both larger than life Avenue Q ‘human’ residents who more than held their own amongst all the fur.
It is a rare thing for me to do but I must name the members of the six-strong Band: Richard Hayward, Keith Hayward, John Cotton, Keven Wright, Alan Grayer and Becca Robinson, who under the baton MD of Graham Brown, were absolutely brilliant and only overpowered the dialogue the odd time (but that is nit-picking and it was the first night!).
It was absolutely fascinating to see the puppeteers making the puppets shadow their own physical movement (or should that be the other way round?) with lip-syncing perfection. Without exception the whole cast were confident and obviously extremely talented. The singing was superb and the puppeteers were all absolutely amazing.
There was little to criticise in Josh Schumann’s production for Viva!. This show was obviously a team effort with the backstage support team as much involved as the cast who must have done some swift work back stage changing puppet costumes. The cast also executed some swift and smooth scene changes and there were some great staging/props ideas. The singing packing cases were a hoot. I could go on! Suffice it to say the whole confident and talented cast worked as one to create an outstanding show. I loved it - Viva’s Avenue Q was definitely up my street!
This show is going to Edinburgh in August where I am sure they will definitely find their ‘purpose’. Edinburgh audiences are in for a real treat.
Reviewed by Julie Petrucci Regional Representative NODA East District 4S
Winner of the Tony “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is a renowned piece of cult theatre and with a cast of very talented actors and skilled puppeteers, is a hybrid of South Park, Sesame Street and the Muppet Show.
Avenue Q is home to some lively and off the wall characters that are performed by an alliance of humans and puppets.
The story follows Princeton (Nick Huntingdon), a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. He soon discovers that the only neighbourhood in his price range is Avenue Q; still, the neighbours seem nice. There’s Brian the out-of-work comedian (Lee Sherwood) and his Japanese therapist fiancee Christmas Eve (Kerry Hibbert); Nicky (Michael Kowalczyk) the good-hearted slacker and his roommate Rod (Ben Clark)—a Republican investment banker who seems to have some sort of secret; an Internet addict called Trekkie Monster (Charlie Gillett); and a very cute kindergarten teaching assistant named Kate Monster (Naomi Porter). Plus a building’s superintendent called Gary Coleman (Becky Bush), a night club singer Lucy the Slut (Emily Norman), and two very naught bears with bad ideas Ellie Bovingdon and Charlie Ellerton. Together, Princeton and his newfound friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.
However much I eulogise about the furry members of cast and their manipulators I should not ignore the human members. We enjoyed great performances too from Kerry Hibbert, as Christmas Eve who has excellent comic timing, and Lee Sherwood as the energetic Brian both larger than life Avenue Q ‘human’ residents who more than held their own amongst all the fur.
It is a rare thing for me to do but I must name the members of the six-strong Band: Richard Hayward, Keith Hayward, John Cotton, Keven Wright, Alan Grayer and Becca Robinson, who under the baton MD of Graham Brown, were absolutely brilliant and only overpowered the dialogue the odd time (but that is nit-picking and it was the first night!).
It was absolutely fascinating to see the puppeteers making the puppets shadow their own physical movement (or should that be the other way round?) with lip-syncing perfection. Without exception the whole cast were confident and obviously extremely talented. The singing was superb and the puppeteers were all absolutely amazing.
There was little to criticise in Josh Schumann’s production for Viva!. This show was obviously a team effort with the backstage support team as much involved as the cast who must have done some swift work back stage changing puppet costumes. The cast also executed some swift and smooth scene changes and there were some great staging/props ideas. The singing packing cases were a hoot. I could go on! Suffice it to say the whole confident and talented cast worked as one to create an outstanding show. I loved it - Viva’s Avenue Q was definitely up my street!
This show is going to Edinburgh in August where I am sure they will definitely find their ‘purpose’. Edinburgh audiences are in for a real treat.
Reviewed by Julie Petrucci Regional Representative NODA East District 4S
NODA REVIEW OLIVER!
by Lionel Bart Performed by Viva Youth Theatre. Director Daniel Schumann, Musical Director Stephen Kenna, Choreographer Louise Plummer. For over fifty years the musical Oliver! has held its place as one of the most performed by musical societies and most-loved by audiences. Based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, and set amongst the harsh and poverty stricken backdrop of Victorian London, the award winning score features many well-loved songs such as ‘Consider Yourself’, ’Who Will Buy’ ‘Oom Pah Pah’ and ‘As Long as He Needs Me’. The large Viva Youth cast were well rehearsed and enthusiastic working their way skilfully around the confined acting area. From the excellent opening number Food Glorious Food, they acquitted themselves with confidence and discipline. 10-year old Zak Potts took on the role of Oliver. A talented young actor, epitomising everyone’s vision of Oliver Twist, with good stage presence and a fine voice. Jack Stearne as the Artful Dodger was confident in his role and he too has a good voice. I did though think his outfits were a bit pristine for such a scamp. We enjoyed a highly amusing scene between Widow Corney (played superbly by the talented Emily Smith) and Mr Bumble (Charlie Gillett) again everyone’s idea of this character in all its aspects. The scene in the undertakers with a highly comedic performance from Aaron Lord as Mr Sowerberry together with Samantha Williams (Mrs Sowerberry), Charlie O’Connor (Noah Claypole [also doubling as Dr Grimwig]) and Macey Bennett (Charlotte) all working hard in an endeavour to control Oliver was very well done. Joseph Beach in the much coveted role of Fagin was excellent: he worked well with the younger children and has a good singing voice, a great performance. Another excellent performance came from Becky Bush as Nancy. Beautiful voice and considerable acting talent. Her emotional rendition of ‘As Long as He Needs Me’ was greeted with rapturous applause which it fully deserved. The role of Bill Sykes is surprisingly small: he does not appear until Act Two but Charlie Ellerton proved that being quietly menacing is just as scary as ranting and raving and certainly sent shivers down the spine. There was good support for the main principals too from Jack Wright (Mr Brownlow), Molly Gordon (Mrs Bedwin), Zara Minns (Bet), Fred Kirk (Charlie) and Laura Davies as Old Sally. There are only two or three really big chorus numbers in the show but needless to say they were all done exceedingly well. Choreographer Louise Plummer and her assistant Emily Smith rose to the challenge of manoeuvring the huge cast round the small space. The scene in the Three Cripples was lively and very well executed especially the Pearly King and Queen’s dance which was first-rate. Excellent musicians under the direction of Stephen Kenna added to the overall fine quality of the production. My only quibble would be that the music was once or twice too loud over dialogue. The scenery was excellent with well-used levels, the lighting atmospheric, hair and make-up (apart from some over-enthusiastic dirty-faced children) was pitched just right and compliment must be made to Kate Taylor for the excellent costuming of this show. Overall this was a well rehearsed, well performed show full of up and coming talent. I would say it wouldn’t look out of place on a London stage but as the final performance takes place at The Shaw Theatre in London that has stolen my exit line. Well done to all involved in this show, and congratulations to all those who worked hard behind to scenes (and front of house) to turn The Brook into a theatre auditorium. Julie Petrucci Regional Representative NODA East (4S) |
NODA review of Viva! ABIGAIL’S PARTY
Although written for the theatre, "Abigail's Party" became a 70's cult classic when produced as Play for Today on BBC TV and it would be easy to dismiss it as dated. Written and set in the 1970s, the outfits are, naturally, dated but the situation is not - five adults "enjoying" an evening together, discussing buying houses, music, work, their children. Bossy and obviously sexually frustrated Beverly is holding a small drinks party at their plush home. Joining her is Sue, who has escaped her home while her 15 year old daughter Abigail of the title holds her party down the road, new neighbours Tony and Angela, and Beverly's overworked estate agent husband Laurence. Within minutes we just know that Beverley is the hostess from hell as she holds court in her own house, bullying her guests while making cringe-inducing social blunders; but as the evening wears on we see the inadequacies of each character surface. Sarah Dowd-Crosby’s chain- smoking Beverley made you cringe virtually from her first entrance. She threw herself totally into the role and was unimaginably believable. It made you really feel for the downtrodden Lawrence played by David Moat, who also gave a very good account of himself. The build-up to his on-coming heart attack was gradual but well flagged and ultimately handled well ‘at the death’. Ange's feeble attempts at conversation are laughable and Kirsten Martin was impressive in this role, with her excellent delivery and her good timing this was the performance of the evening for me. John Bedford got an enormous amount from his role as the monosyllabic Tony. He created such a laid-back character it came as a shock when he turned on Ange and his attitude towards her became quite heartless. Maybe it was all the bottom groping from Beverley! Rania Kurdi was excellent as Sue. This was a wonderfully understated but a no less quality performance allowing us to see beneath the polite and socially superior exterior to the uncomfortable and lonely person Sue is beneath. The setting was excellent. All 70s retro furniture and props which were a credit to Maggie Breckenridge and the cast. Lighting and sound too were suitable and director Emma Moat made excellent use of the whole acting area. Director and cast completely understood both the play and the era which they brought over well. Top marks to the three actors who managed to extricate them-selves from the steel framed cushioned chair without loss of dignity. But bottom marks for drinking straight from the beer bottle - not something one habitually did in the 70s from memory! There was good pace too only flagging slightly at the end when the heart-attack scene was perhaps less frenetic than it should have been but that is nit-picking given how well everything else had gone. This production was well cast, the performances were first-class and the humour and characterisations well maintained throughout. I had forgotten how funny Mike Leigh's script is. The humour, although mocking, is touching but uneasy at the same time. A good example of tragic-comedy. Congratulations to Emma Moat and all who brought nostalgia back with this play choice which provided an extremely enjoyable evening. Julie Petrucci Regional Representative NODA East District Four South |