THEATRE REVIEWS

By Tim Baros

Ain’t Too Proud

The story of one of the biggest selling groups of all time is now a West End show billed as ‘Ain’t Too Proud’.

It’s the story of The Temptations, the group behind very memorable songs such as ‘My Girl’, ‘Pappa Was A Rolling Stone’, ‘The Way You Do The Things You Do’,and of course ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’.

Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial

In one corner we have Rebecca Vardy, who has been accused by the woman in the opposite corner - Coleen Rooney - of leaking personal information about her to the press, so Vardy sues Rooney for defamation, and all of this is cleverly put together in the play ‘Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial’. We all remember the tribulations, the gossip, and the salacious details that were revealed in the case which was called by the press as the trial of the century. Vardy (Lucy May Barker) and Rooney (Laura Dos Santos) slugged it out in court, and we all know that Vardy was not able to prove her case (last year), that Rooney libelled her by blaming her for the leaks from her private Instagram account. Rooney was the victor, according to the judge (the actual ruling, by Judge Mrs Justice Steyn, saw Vardy’s claims as inconsistent and unfounded. There were large parts of evidence that simply did not hold up in court, or were deemed too farfetched or ‘implausible’).

In the show, which plays out like a football match as a battle between two very famous WAGS (Wives and Girlfriends), two pundits (Halema Hussain and Nathan McMullen) give us the play by play - commentary on what is happening, what has happened, and what is about to happen, adding quite a clever and fun twist to the trial, and not allowing the show to succumb to just another play about a trial (this is definitely not ‘Witness for the Prosecution’!).

Writer (adaptor) Liv Hennessy, has taken bit parts of the actual trial testimony and turned this into the crux of what this show is all about - the amazing, exciting and unbelievable testimony that these two women gave to the judge on the witness stand. Some of it is hard to believe (a lost phone, deletion of all messages, and Davy Jones), while one of the women keeps digging herself into a large whole, with her credibility sinking fast. But taken as satire, this show gives you food for thought on social media, celebrity and privacy, and when you combine all three, you get a situation like this. It’s the modern age of social media, and as we now know, anything is possible.

To book, please visit: www.atgtickets.com/shows/vardyv-rooney-the-wagatha-christie-trial/ ambassadors-theatre/

The show is seen through the eyes of founding member Otis Williams, now 80 years old, and brilliantly played by Sifiso Mazibuko. ‘Ain’t Too Proud’ tells of the ups and downs of the group. From their beginnings in Detroit in 1962, where five young men with soulful voices came together, through to being signed by Motown right after David Ruffin joined the group (a brilliant Tosh Wanogho-Maud), where they were guided by legend Smokey Robinson and managed by Shelly Berger (Dylan Turner). From then their rise to fame continued, through thick and thin. They then became one of the first African American artists to crossover into the mainstream. They were even bigger then The Supremes (told in the mega hit show ‘Dreamgirls’).

But eventually the path to fame would be a rocky one. Ruffin never adhered to the groups rules, was kicked out and would eventually die of a drug overdose aged 50. Original member Melvin Franklin would also die young, aged 52. And Williams was also no stranger to tragedy, his only son would die at the young age of 23.

But ‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg’ isn’t all about tragedy. It’s a musical with beautiful music, with songs that are not sung to the very end that leave you begging for more, and when you get more it’s just not enough. The men who play all the Temptations in this show are perfectly cast, and all with incredible voices (with a lot of sweating involved).

Excellent Choreography by Sergio Trujillo and superb direction by Des McAnuff makes this show a winner. ‘Ain’t Too Proud’ is the best thing to happen to the West End in years, and expect it to snatch lots of prizes at next years Olivier Awards. www.london.ainttooproudmusical.com

Brokeback Mountain

It was first a book, then an award winning ‘out movie’ with two Hollywood mega stars, and now it comes to the stage. A story of two men who meet on a mountain called Brokeback.

Annie Proulx wrote the book, Ang Lee directed Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger in the film, and now two Hollywood stars - Mike Faust (West Side Story) and Lucas Hedges (Oscar nominated for Manchester by the Sea) - are in this stage version that is faithful to both the book and movie, plus it’s set to music.

It’s a moving and fine production.

Jack Twist (Faust) and Ennis Del Mar (Hedges) are cowboys out together on Brokeback Mountain in 1963 to do sheep herding, yet both men, alone on the mountain, have a quick tryst in a tent (as you do), but both declare it didn’t mean anything. But there is more than just lust between them, it’s deeper. They continue to meet up on the mountain and, through marriages, children, divorce - years and years - they still have a bond between them. But unfortunately, because of the days they were living in, they were never able to live as a couple. And then eventually it’s too late.

An older Ennis hovers around the stage looking back at what could’ve been, his regrets lingering throughout the entire show. A live band beautifully captures music relevant to the theme and it’s time. And while the romance and show feels rushed (it’s a short 90 minutes), both leads are just superb and perfectly cast, with Faust the exuberant Jack and Hedges the laid back and sullen Ennis. The beautiful setting - camp ground one minute to a bedroom and then a kitchen - are perfectly captured, while Soho Place is the perfect venue for this show. Don’t miss it, it’s playing until August 24th. www.sohoplace.org

Frozen

You’ve no doubt seen the film version of ‘Frozen’ (especially if you have young daughters), but if you have not yet seen the stage version I urge you to do so.

The stage of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Covent Garden is amazingly turned into an ice kingdom right before your very eyes in a show that transports you to the world of Queen Elsa (Samantha Barks) and her sister Anna (Emily Lane). From their lives as young children - to grown up women who’ve grown apart due to Elsa’s secret powers that turns the kingdom into ice, and it’s up to Anna to find and save her sister, and the kingdom, from perpetual winter. You see, afraid of her own powers, Elsa isolates herself in her icy castle, away from society, and her family.

It’s like magic that the theatre stage stays very true to the animated movie that has made Disney billions of dollars. From the bedroom the girls share to the ballrooms to the ice castle, and including the gorgeous lavish costumes and, of course the music (including obviously ‘Let it go’ - sung by Barks), and Olaf the snowman. It all comes beautifully together on stage in a production that’s perfect for the young ones and mesmerising enough for the adults.

The most successful animated film of all time has been transformed into a magical, sweeping and memorable stage production, and it has everything you’d want from a fairy tale: beautiful princesses, a snow palace, reindeer, handsome and charming men, ice bridges and sleigh rides, but at its heart is the story of two sisters and their love for each other, no matter the circumstances.

Tickets to ‘Frozen’ are very affordable, just be aware that in keeping with the theme of the show the theatre inside is actually very cold (everyone around us had their jackets and scarves on), and beware of little children chatting away during the show as if they are watching it in their own living rooms.

www.frozenthemusical.co.uk