About Us :: Get-In! Reviews
As part of an initiative here at the Grand Theatre, we send members of our Get-In! scheme to press nights for various theatre productions, so that we can get an alternative opinion on our new shows from someone who isn't a journalist or professional theatre critic - rather someone who's a member of the public just like you!
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to see Murdered to Death. It is a great whodunit but also with a lot of comedy and I loved the characters! I thought Inspector Pratt was very funny, especially when he mixed up his words. Bunting also made the audience laugh but he played a dark and mysterious role. I found Margaret Craddock very demanding and nosy. Elizabeth Hartly-Trumpington plays a very opinionated role, she clearly dislikes Dorothy. You could see that Dorothy was very loyal to her Aunt and upset when she died, but she was also interested in her Auntie’s will. Colonel Charles Craddock played a very funny and forgetful part. Pierre was a very dark, quite and menacing character, we see why when Dorothy spots out that the paintings he is selling are fakes. The end of the last scene provides a massive red herring, which no-one expected. This is a great show and I would recommend it to both young and old.
It’s Never Too Late tells the story of Susan Shaw, (Joanna Van Gyseghem) a woman in her late fifties whose husband has left her for a younger girl, and how she copes and adapts to her new single life. The plot shows us how Susan is influenced by her friends, how Susan becomes a new woman and soon has three men after her affections.
The show is slow to start off with but really warms up with the second scene of the first act and really does have the entire audience in hysterics! The show had some truly spectacular one liners that had the audience gasping for breath. In my opinion the chemistry between the actors made the show as good as it was. You could tell that it wasn’t just the audience who were having fun.
For me the two stars of the show were Jeffrey Holland who portrayed the role of Peter and Michael Shaw who played the role of Thomas. I loved the way Holland portrayed his lines and I thought he was extremely funny as was Michael Shaw who delivered the best line of the entire show - ‘Can I be your toy boy?’ However it must not be forgotten that Joanna Van Gyseghem (Susan) was on stage throughout the entire show demonstrating what a fine actress she is.
The show is a must see especially if you are in need of a good laugh!
As her husband Gregory Black (amazingly played by Stephen Beckett with a two sided face and an interesting philosophy) has the trouble of her funeral and also a police detective (Stephen McGann, who in my opinion made the show with his superb delivery and at times funny stage presence) poking his nose in when it comes his attention that the late Edwina Black did not die from natural causes.
Panic is driven through the secret lovers Gregory and his secretary, when they believe the other had committed the crime, and if that wasn’t enough to get your mind going there’s a servant who looked after Edwina (Katie Evans, who had the most comical lines as she delivered them with a dominance) and was with her all through her life till death do they part. As the end draws to a close you're let into the secret behind Edwina’s death.
The play is set in an apartment near to Marbella. Using three people and one set the writer, Brian Clemens, uses a mixture of tension and laughter to build up the plot. It’s hard to guess just who is bluffing who and what is going to happen next.
Michelle Morris (Suzy), Matt Healy (Larry) and Christopher Villiers (Alex) bring the characters realistically to life. The play moves along at a lively pace and provides a nice twist in the tale.
Inside job, job well done!
The scenery and backdrops were very realistic. Jonathan Ansell played a very good escaped convict and showed lots of emotion not only when acting but in the singing as well. The child actors were as good as the adult actors and actresses and Poor Baby was very comical and made me laugh with his one liners.
I would recommend Whistle Down The Wind to the older audience as the 50’s setting didn’t really make sense. The play had religion and faith running through the story but even though I’m not strongly religious I still enjoyed it. It shows how children only see the good in people. The ending just topped it all off. Overall a very good performance.
The scenery was fabulous! My favourite scene was Tracey in bed, as it was really good how they made it all stand up so it looked like she was lying down.
My favourite characters were Edna Turnblad (Brian Conley) and Wilbur Turnblad (Les Dennis). It was really funny, they stayed on for ages just laughing at each other and giving each other kisses, which really got us laughing.
I really enjoyed the show it was one of the best shows I have seen - I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Before going to see this production, I managed to watch a film of Columbo so that I could see what the original Columbo, (Peter Falk) was like. Lieutenant Columbo is played by Dirk Benedict (Faceman from The A Team) and I was not disappointed, in fact, Dirk Benedict plays a very accurate Columbo.
The play revolves around psychiatrist Roy Fleming, (Patrick Ryecart) who is celebrating his wedding anniversary, when he is called away to deal with a female patient. On returning, Fleming’s wife played by Karen Drury, is found dead and Lieutenant Columbo is brought in to investigate.
The play was broken up into three acts. The sets were really good and very interesting but had lengthy scene changes in each. The costumes were realistic for the year and Columbo’s dirty overcoat, crumpled suit and cigar were true to the original Columbo.
I thought Columbo was funny, with his bumbling and clumsy appearance and I especially loved the “ And just one more thing” just when you thought he was about to leave.
Dirk Benedict was supported by a very good, strong cast, but he was the obvious star throughout.
I thoroughly enjoyed the production and would recommend going to see it and if you’re a fan of the cult 1970’s show, then it should not be missed!
I love Blood Brothers, it's one of my favourite musicals - I’ve seen it 3 times now, my mom's seen it 14 and it always gets a standing ovation.
It's set in the 1950s about twin boys separated at birth. I love the twin boys especially in the first half when they play their younger selves. My favourite is Sean Jones as Mickey. I’ve seen him before in this role and he’s brilliant, very funny.
I also thought that Paul Davis (Eddie) and Tracy Spencer (Mrs Lyons) had wonderful voices. I thought that the Narrator was good because he built the tension up throughout the play.
This musical has everything - great story, great songs, it makes you laugh and cry so don’t forget to take your tissues.
For people who take an interest in this sort of dance it is great but I didn’t know the story behind Giselle before I went to the show. Now I’ve been I’m still not sure I fully understand.
Elegant, sophisticated and graceful. The beautiful ballet set the standards high for other shows.
When you came into the theatre lots of 60s Rock n Roll music was playing.
When the curtains came up there was this man called Bobby and he was with his granddaughter called Daisy and Bobby was telling the story of how he was in a band, then the lights went bright and you could see a border of a collage of 60s adverts and singers.
You could see Bobby as a teenager and he was auditioning to be in a band and you could see lots of denim jackets and high-waisted skirts.
They had a live band and there was lots of music, there wasn’t a song where nobody was singing! The singing was brilliant.
Dreamboats and Petticoats is a must see musical!
Neil Morrissey plays an autistic man called Raymond Babbitt. He must have studied autistic people prior to his performance, as his portrayal of the character was truly moving and very realistic. Oliver Chris's role as Charlie, his brother, was excellent, as this is a very "wordy" part and carries most of the show.
Although there were some very serious scenes, there was comedy too, and some of the humour would appeal to a younger audience, even if the main plot didn't. I really enjoyed this play, because the storyline makes you think about the fact that there are lots of different people in the world, but we are really all the same.
I would recommend you go and see Rain Man, but only if you are prepared to overlook the adult content to find a very emotional story.
Liam Doyle, who plays the role of Troy Bolton, had an excellent singing voice and was good a dancing but was let down by the fact that he did not look like the original Troy. Les Dennis who played Mr Fulton was perfect for the role - he was funny but strict! He also showed his emotion and was really energetic. Nikki Mae who plays Gabriella Montez was brilliant. She had a great singing voice and performed all the dances perfectly. Lauren Hall who plays Sharpay Evans was ok. Her dancing was good but this was let down by her singing voice.
The rest of the cast performed brilliantly with everyone supporting each other, performing the dances perfectly. They all sang the lyrics excellently.
Altogether, I would give it 8/10.
Little Shop of Horrors has arrived at the Grand Theatre this week with much anticipation from everyone around.
I really wasn’t sure what I should expect from this show having not knowing the storyline or any of the musical numbers. I must say I did not expect an eating and talking plant called ‘Audrey II’ who enjoys the odd meal of fresh blood! Even with this bizarre twist I really enjoyed the show and could not stop laughing.
The main theme of this show is Audrey II, a plant who loves to eat fresh blood and will do more or less do anything it can to get what it wants even if it means getting people to kill for it but has at the same time brought wealth and romance for its owner Seymour!
All the cast did an absolutely amazing job and had the audience in stitches of laughter from the word go. Claire Buckfeld (Audrey), Damian Humbley (Seymour) and Alex Ferns (Orin Scrivello & everyone else) really made the show enjoyable and made their characters stand out above the rest.
The show made a fantastic night out for both the younger and older generations. A thoroughly enjoyable show that really is a must see for all.
My Fair Lady is one of my favourite films and watching the show at the theatre I felt that I understood the storyline more. I have never seen so many people on a stage at one time - it was so entertaining, humorous and enjoyable.
I loved the way the characters were identical to the film and all the scenes were so precise, and I loved the scenery. I was mesmerised throughout the show, definitely one I will remember watching.
I would recommend My Fair Lady to all ages - though it was on for 3 hours, one of the longest shows I have ever watched, but probably will definitely be one of my favourites!
None of the cast were able to dissatisfy the audience. Andrew Dunn (Tony), Shobna Gulati (Anita) and Sue Devaney (Jane) who were all from the TV cast of the series played true to their characters as they did on the show and the rest of the company were so akin to the original cast, both in appearance and voice, that it felt as if you were just watching a recording of the original show. The chemistry and behaviour between them all was easy to see and showed the audience what we all saw on TV.
While much of the dialogue wasn’t for younger audiences, this was not to say that the audience didn’t appreciate the jokes. A great deal of the show rests heavily on word play and all of the audience did not hesitate to laugh whenever they wanted to, much to the delight of the cast.
The supporting cast are as essential as the main stars are and the story is both comical and emotional. This show is a must see for fans old and new!
This play is about a late teenage boy who has four different personalities hence the name Quadrophenia. Jimmy has four sides to him that are displayed as romantic, lunatic, tough guy and hypocrite. Jimmy had grown up with a hard life with his Dad having been an alcoholic and beating his mom and him at a young age. They portrayed his four personalities very well and made it look so realistic.
On stage all through the performance was a 9 piece band that also dressed according to the mod style and re-created The Who soundtrack to great applause. The cast and crew defiantly deserved that standing ovation and Quadrophenia is a must see performance!
Everything loved in the original “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” was there: the stubborn, loving father Caractacus Potts, the pompous but fun-loving Truly Scrumptious and the mischievous little Jeremy and Jemima. The comedy scale of this performance was huge, with Grandpa Potts and “Vulgarian” royalty and spies singing hilarious songs and making daft remarks entertaining all ages. The Child-catcher’s role, in my opinion, was slightly smaller than originally so children weren’t so frightened.
You never got bored or fidgety and the show wasn’t too late for children. The colour and detail of Caractacus’ inventions was electrifying. The dogs on stage added to the comedy and overall pleasure of watching the show.
A pound for every smile in the theatre would be enough to buy “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” the car that flew, floated and stole our heart! Just say please and you’ll have one fantastic night!
The use of set throughout the play is brilliant, but in particular, the opening scene caught my eye as it is reminiscent of a James Bond opening and it really has you glued to the stage wondering what is about the happen next.
The singing throughout is fantastic but it is the dancing that keeps you on the edge of your seat, with lifts and flicks to out-do the best of dancers and the choreographer, Javier De Frutos deserves the credit.
Samantha Barks gives an incredible debut performance, but it is Wayne Sleep who steals the show with his comedy charm and fantastic singing voice.
All in all, a brilliant show and one to go and see if you are able.
As I sat down the curtains were up and the stage was set. It was all I could wish for, it had all the features from the series and immediately made me feel part of the show. As the house lights faded Rene Artois, the owner of a café in World War 2 played by Jeffrey Holland, came on stage to tell of his dramatic and hilarious life story with his wife Edith, a very very bad singer played very well by Corinne Marlowe, his two very lovely waitresses Mimi la Bonque played by Claire Andrews who looked and sounded just like the original ex-resistance fighter, and the stunning Yvette played by the wonderful Vicki Michelle from the original series.
It was soon apparent that Jeffery Holland played the part with lots of enthusiasm as he spoke in a brilliant French accent, he fulfilled René as a character to the maximum. It was wonderful to see Vicki Michelle playing her character Yvette from the original TV series, she looked the same gorgeous woman from when the series first started 27 years ago.
To be bad you must be bad but the villain in this production was one of the funniest men and greatest dancer I have seen for a long time. Herr Otto Flick, played by James Rossman showed a new and loving side to a German, he kept up his act throughout the show and was a highpoint in the show.
That concludes this review, overall it was one of the greatest and funniest shows I have seen at the Grand Theatre. A must see for old fans and new.
The story was about seven brothers. The oldest, Adam, found a girl to marry named Milly, but she was shocked when she returned to his cabin to find he lived with not just one, two or three, but six brothers.The story continues as the brothers try to find their own brides.
The seven brothers danced impressively doing high energy moves such as split leaps and turns. They were truely spectacular. The girls costumes were very colourful and they danced elegantly. There was lots of humour in the show such as when the brothers were running off with the girls after covering their heads with blankets, and when one brother pretended to be a cat so that he could get his girl out of her house.There was also some tender moments like when Milly sang "I'm Glad You Were Born" to baby Hannah.
My favourite part was the song Goin' Courtin' when Milly was tring to teach the brothers to dance and behave like gentlemen. It was a hard task! I thought the show was extremely enjoyable and I would recommend going to see it.
This play makes you think about the problems of modern life compared with those of our ancestors and how similar those issues are. I think that Jason Merrells is a very talented actor and he portrayed his character very well, using facial expressions, body language and hand gestures to emphasise his role as Angelo. The character of the Duke was portrayed as strong willed, determined and persistent by Alistair McGowan. Alistair McGowan swapped his comedy roles to serious acting, and performed very well.
For one night only Coppelia was at the Grand Theatre! A story of magic, mischief and comic chaos. Dr. Coppelius creates a beautiful living doll who is animated to make you believe she is real.
The costumes were bright and dazzling and the story was brought alive by the fantastic orchestra of Siberia. The choreography was so imaginative and the dancing was outstanding so words were not needed.
Humour was also high on the agenda of this show. My favourite part was when Franz was playfully showered with a watering can by fiancé Swandilla!
The high reputation of this Russian State Ballet of Siberia was more than well deserved. Congratulations to the cast and crew of Coppelia!
Oh, what a feeling!
The music, the dancing, the romance and the leg warmers! Get ready to experience all the drama as the hit film of the 80’s returns to the stage. Flashdance tells the story of Alex (Victoria Hamilton-Barritt) a welder by day, flash dancer by night whose goal is to win a place at a prestigious dance academy.
The performance was exciting with excellent singing and acting from all especially Alex and Gloria (Ruthie Stephens). The stage set was original and spectacular with amazing lighting and special effects. There were many new songs written for the musical along with the favourites ‘What A Feeling’ and ‘Maniac.’
The storyline was better than the film and the step from film to stage worked well. All in all it was a brilliant musical which had the audience clapping and singing to ‘What a feeling’ by the end of the show.
Last night was the opening night of the 2008 Charles Vance Rep Season with the first play of the season “The Murder Game” It was an evening of suspense, twists and turns. It had a punchy start which introduced all the characters to us.
The play takes place in the living room of Brian Hamilton a motoring journalist who is having marital problems when an encounter with a stranger seems like the answer to his prayers. Maybe a little too good to be true. The story has a good plot that cannot be revealed. The play saw the characters being pushed to their limit right up to the end.
There was good lighting throughout the play and excellent sound at the end and good speedy scene changes. The actors showed enthusiasm and seemed to fit the parts very well.
The Grand Theatre was turned into a stage of ice last night as the Russian Ice Stars put on Beauty and the Beast On Ice.
This incredible story was brought to life thourgh naration, splendid scenery changes and a variety of music whilst the skaters did magnificant overhead lifts and turns. A range of dazzling effects such as fire, circus tricks and rope climbing kept you captivated from start to finish.
The costumes were stunning and their facial expressions were better than words. My favourite part was the part when the beast was transformed into a handsome prince. Irina Ikachuk stood out as my favourite skater, she played the part of Beauty superbly!
You should not miss this show - it's a great night out filled with happiness, love, energy and fun!!
As I am doing Blood Brothers for my drama GCSE I thought this would be good experience... which it was. The story is about two brothers separated at birth and how they come to being friends and then become blood brothers before growing up and falling for the same girl.
The play was acted brilliantly throughout - especially by Sean Jones who plays Mickey. You could really believe what Mickey was going through and really feel for him. Linda Nolan was probably the best singer out of the lot - she really put the emotion across to the audience. Simon Willmont - who plays Eddie (as do I in GCSE drama) was well suited for the part.The narrator - Keith Burns - was extraordinary at keeping his accent during his songs as did everyone.
With realistic scenery, brilliant music, special lighting to add to the mood of the play this really is a must see.
The award winning series Horrible Histories came to the Grand Theatre. Four very funny, talented and professional actors came on stage and performed as Dr. Dee, Dross, Drab and Miss Tree (and other characters).
Haz Webb played the part of Dross very well, she made it very funny (as did Drab), and at a distance looked a bit like Dawn French with blond hair. Dr. Dee was very good with a variety of accents, my favourite of which was the Spanish and very funny.
The show had some good special effects like the Bogglevision 3-D part, costumes and fascinating props. It involved the audience a lot with the journey through the Tudor times; although some parts were scary most of it was funny and made me laugh with the use of pantomime innuendo.
I was looking forward to seeing this show as I have read some of the books; the performance was to the same high standard.
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