Theatre

THEATRE REVIEWS

By Tim Baros

Moulin Rouge Piccadilly Theatre

The highly anticipated and much delayed ‘Moulin Rouge’ is finally open and ready to entertain us - and what a show it is, and isn’t!

‘Moulin Rouge’ has the razzle, the dazzle, super amazing sets, the famous windmill, great costumes etc., and there’s a huge elephant in the room - literally and figuratively.

While the blue elephant overlooks the stage, the other elephant is the book (written by John Logan and which is based on the Baz Luhrmann 2001 film musical of the same name), which is very thinly stitched together by pop songs, and a love story that’s a bit weak, acted and sung by two leads who don’t quite give us what we want and crave. It’s a show that should be larger than life, but actually just gets by with it’s sets, lighting, choreography, orchestration, sound, venue and especially the supporting cast.

One can’t help but notice that ‘Moulin Rouge’ is similar in style to ‘Cabaret,’ which has stolen all the thunder.

The Moulin Rouge is in threat of closing down, and it’s compere and director Harold Zidler (the wonderful and funny Clive Carter) strikes a deal with the Duke of Monroth (an ok Simon Bailey) who promises to invest in the Moulin Rouge to save it from financial ruin. This is in exchange for part ownership of the club, and possession of its star chanteuse Satine (Liisi LaFontaine - a perfect name for a theatre actress). But you see Satine has fallen in love with penniless songwriter Christian (Jamie Bogyo). Nonetheless the show must go on. While the Moulin Rouge performers pretend to create a new show for the Duke to impress him, complications abound from every angle, but the excellent back up cast (including Jason Pennycooke and Elia Lo Tauro as Christian’s mates) makes you forget the weak and unbelievable storyline in the show that brings us 74 pop songs (Chandelier, Firework, Single Ladies, Bad Romance) that thread the story together, giving you a sense of deja vu (‘& Juliet’ does it so so much better, and original).

There are lots of memorable moments in the show (Lady Marmalade in the opening number), and the set is just simply delicious and amazing - think Paris skyline, romantic themes including an endless wall of hearts, the fabulous Moulin Rouge sign, so all of this is worth the price of admission (tickets range from £49 to top tier £225). While LaFontaine might be trying a bit too hard, and Bogyo, starring in his first West End musical, is not quite West End ready. But, yes, it’s nice to be back in the theatre again, and ‘Moulin Rouge’ just about ticks that box! Enjoy!

www.moulinrougemusical.co.uk

Jeremy Pope and Paul Bettany in The Collaboration (c) Marc Brenner

The Collaboration The Young Vic

Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat are brought back to life in the new show ‘The Collaboration’ at the Young Vic.

Paul Bettany (The Avengers, Wandavision) is brilliant as Warhol, and Jeremy Pope very good as Basquiat, in the show that gives us a peak on a fictionalised collaboration by these two artists who were living in the same city at the time and who both travelled in the same circles.

It’s 1984 NYC, local girl Madonna was just hitting the big time, the AIDS crisis was decimating the gay community, and closeted Ed Koch was Mayor. A meeting arranged by their manager (Alec Newman) puts Warhol and Basquiat together to create a painting. Their time together, in the apartments of both men, is a chance for two very difficult high profile artists to come together to create more art, and make lots more money. Warhol extols about being shot by radical Valerie Solinas, while Basquiat is enjoying the ride of being famous, and selling paintings for lots of money. Money that he keeps in the refrigerator, with plenty for drugs.

It’s sad, but true, that Warhol would be dead three years later, whilst Basquiat would die four years later of a drug overdose at the age of 27.

The world premiere of Anthony McCarten’s thrilling new drama, directed by Kwame KweiArmah, gives Bettany the role of a lifetime - he smashes playing Warhol - bringing him to life with his mannerisms, voice, awkward body language. Pope is also very believable as the young troubled artist. Set to a soundtrack fit for its time (Money Talks, I Feel For You, Smalltown Boy) played by an on-stage DJ, ‘The Collaboration’ will, if you are old enough, take you back to the 1980’s.

www.youngvic.org

CABARET - Amy Lennox and Fra Fee at the Kit Kat Club. Photo credit Jason Hetherington

Cabaret The Kit Kat Club

NEW CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED CABARET AT THE KIT KAT CLUB

The hottest ticket, and the hottest show in town - Cabaret - has announced a new cast to replace the megawatt superstar casting of Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley.

Opened in December, 2021 amidst the beginning of the Omicron variant, Cabaret had an extremely successful initial run. With ticket prices that were in the neighbourhood of £250.00 - Cabaret was a show not everyone could afford to see. And now, after being nominated for 11 Olivier awards, the most of any show, including nominations for Redmayne and Buckley, a new cast is being brought to the Kit Kat Club to relieve the exhausted leads and allow them to go back to their very successful film careers.

Fra Fee will play ‘The Emcee’ and Amy Lennox will play ‘Sally Bowles’ from 21 March – 25 June 2022.

Fra Fee most recently starred as Kazi in the hit Disney+ series Hawkeye, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He created the role of Michael Carber in the award-winning play The Ferryman at the Royal Court, the Gielgud Theatre in the West End and the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway. His other theatre credits include Owen in Translations and Amiens in As You Like It, both at the National Theatre and the title role in Candide at the Menier Chocolate Factory. He played Courfeyac in the film of the musical Les Misérables and also appeared in the stage production at the Queen’s Theatre.

Amy Lennox received an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her portrayal of Lauren in the West End production of Kinky Boots. Her other credits include Ellie in the London premiere of the David Bowie and Enda Walsh musical Lazarus. She was in the original West End cast of the musical Legally Blonde and created the role of Doralee in the original UK production of 9 to 5 The Musical. Fra and Amy appeared together in the critically acclaimed production of The Last Five Years in Belfast.

Also joining the production on 21 March 2022 will be Omar Baroud as ‘Cliff Bradshaw’ and Vivien Parryas ‘Fraulein Schneider’. Continuing in their roles will be Elliot Levey as ‘Herr Schultz’, Stewart Clarke as ‘Ernst Ludwig’ and Anna-Jane Casey as ‘Fraulein Kost’.

The cast is completed by Josh Andrews, Emily Benjamin, Sally Frith, Matthew Gent, Emma Louise Jones, Ela Lisondra, Theo Maddix, Chris O’Mara, Daniel Perry, Andre Refig, Christopher Tendai, Bethany Terry, LilliePearl Wildman and Sophie Maria Wojna.

In a time when the world is changing forever, there is one place where everyone can be free… Welcome to the Kit Kat Club, home to an intimate and electrifying new production of CABARET. This is Berlin. Relax. Loosen up. Be yourself.

The Kit Kat Club has laid siege to the Playhouse Theatre. The performers have infiltrated the premises. The artists have staked their claim. Who knows for how long they’ll stay, but for now they are enjoying the party. The party at the end of the world.

Transforming one of London’s most famous theatres with an in-the-round auditorium and reimagined spaces, before the show guests are invited to enjoy and explore the Kit Kat Club with pre-show entertainment, drinks and dining all on offer. When booking, guests receive a ‘club entry time’ to allow enough time to take in the world of the Kit Kat Club before the show starts. But of course, the show reallystarts when you first join us in the Club…

Tickets for CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB are currently on sale until October 2022.

www.kitkat.club

The Heart of It Riverside Studios

Acclaimed performer Liza Pulman brings dazzling new show The Heart of It to Riverside Studios, 101 Queen Caroline St, Hammersmith, London, W6 9BN, from Sunday 24th – Saturday 30th April 2022

After wowing sell-out audiences with her highly acclaimed West End tour de force, Liza Pulman Sings Streisand, Liza returns with her brand-new show The Heart of It. Featuring songs from her 2021 album, this sparkling night of music premieres in London for a limited run at Riverside Studios, before playing Cadogan Hall with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra on 25th May 2022 and Wilton’s Music Hall on 4th and 5th June 2022.

As the inaugural female solo artist in Riverside’s Studio 3, this stage production captures the magic of Liza’s spectacular album, which rediscovers and reimagines timeless classics and lost gems. Her funny, intelligent and emotional connection to lyrics and melody goes straight to the heart of every song, with a diverse and eclectic range of influences encompassing Michel Legrand, Irving Berlin, Randy Newman, Judy Collins and a host of other iconic artists.

Liza’s varied career proves her magnificent talent in music, theatre and comedy, from Glyndebourne Opera through to West End musicals.

In addition to being one third of the British satirical comedy group Fascinating Aida, whose 2022 tour includes two dates at the Royal Festival Hall, she has also established herself as an acclaimed solo performer and recording artist, proving that one woman can do it all. As a solo artist, Liza’s connection to a song and to a lyric is second to none and takes her right to the heart of every ballad and every note. Flawless vocals accompanied by easy wit and natural storytelling make Liza one of the most compelling performers of her day.

Box Office Tickets are priced £30, available from www.riversidestudios. co.uk/ and 020 8237 1010 The Heart Of It Tour dates & tickets can be found on: www.lizapulman.com/tour-dates Fascinating Aida tour dates & tickets www.fascinatingaida.co.uk/tour-date.