Category: Entertainment

THEATRE REVIEW | Side Show at Southwark Playhouse

★★★ | Side Show at Southwark Playhouse

There’s something grimly fascinating about conjoined twins. As a child, I longed for a twin, someone within the family who would be just like me and understand me completely. Conversely, I also found family life constraining and claustrophobic and wanted solitude and escape. Imagine having a twin who you share a body with and the implications of this? It’s a strange notion to consider.
CREDIT: Pamela Raith
One of the most fascinating sets of conjoined twins in history was Daisy and Violet Hilton. They were born in Brighton in 1908 and were joined at the pelvis, sharing some blood supply. Displayed in freak shows, they ultimately hit the vaudeville circuit in America and ended up appearing in films. Their personal life was unconventional: they ‘divorced’ their guardian and manager, both married gay men and died alone with one twin dying a few days before the other.

Russell and Krieger’s 1997 musical Side Show should be a fascinating and moving tale. It is and it isn’t. There are some spectacularly good songs but also some drearily forgettable ones. The musical feels a tad derivative at times with too many echoes of Chicago and Cabaret but at others feels unique and powerful. Daisy and Violet’s story begins at the freak show and the ‘freaks’ act out the events of their life; doubling as reporters, courtroom attendants, wedding guests etc. Again, this could have worked well but the whole show feels less of a missed opportunity but more like an almost achieved opportunity.

The two leads are the supremely talented musical theatre actresses Louise Dearman (the only actress to have played both Glina and Elphaba in Wicked) and Laura Pitt-Pulford. They carry the show and have an electrifying presence. They’re ably supported by Dominic Hodson and Haydn Oakley as their career propelling prospective suitors. The problem lies in how the rest of the cast are used.

The ‘freaks’ are dressed in what looks like Halloween costumes made by someone’s mother and they’re all a bit too stagey in their actions and expressions. There are lots of broad gestures and facial contortions whilst they enthusiastically plod through the seen-before choreography. The Southwark Playhouse is a small and intimate space and works well for close-up musical theatre but not when the cast is behaving like it’s The London Palladium and the clothes don’t bear up to scrutiny from anything less than 50 feet away.

Overall, it’s a show worth catching, if only for the chance to see two of musical theatre’s rising stars perform so beautifully at such close quarters. Just try not to ‘Come Look at the Freaks’ (as the opening and closing songs implore). You might feel embarrassed and not for any of the wrong reasons.

Side Shows plays at the Southwark Playhouse until 3rd December

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31st October 2016
Is this the rudest cake ever?

Forget “gay cakes”… We’ve found our new favourite kind of cake.

In a week full of cake news, including “gay cakes” and Bake Off ending, those naughty minxes over at Carvaka have been busy in the kitchen baking away like sexy elves and they’ve come up with a rather impressive looking product.

With no less than 14 sex toys, this one cake that will definitely leave you feeling full!

General Manager at Carvaka, Elizabeth Morris says,

“At Carvaka, we’re all great fans of the Bake Off and last week in jest I said ‘I wish we could bake a showstopper for Carvaka!’ One thing kind of lead to another and voilá we now have what we think is a pretty decent showstopper!”

We do wonder what certain religious bakers would think about this cake being ordered.

28th October 2016
THEATRE REVIEW | The Woman In Black – West Yorkshire Playhouse & National Tour

★★★★ | Set in an old theatre in the late 1950’s, a solicitor, Arthur Kipps, enlists the assistance of a young actor to tell his story. His tale revolves around a terrifying incident when he was younger, when he travelled to Eel Marsh House to settle the estate of a long standing deceased client. Initially finding a conspiracy of secrecy from the locals, he makes his way across the Nine Lives Causeway, which is cut off at high tide. Alone in the mansion, he is plagued by the sound of a pony and trap, an unexplained banging noise and a door which appears to be locked from the inside. What secrets does the estate hold? What lurks in the swirling mist…? And who is the woman in black he keeps seeing?

Photo Credit – Tristram Kenton (PR supplied Photograph)

This chilling and effective ghost story is beautifully crafted and uses simple techniques to create a very taught atmosphere in the theatre. The lighting design in particular was incredibly well done – who would have thought that a dark stage with just a door highlighted would draw worried mumblings from those around you?

The production slowly cranks up the tension, which quite literally draws you to the edge of your seat and then throws you back into it with “cattle prod” jolts that elicited genuine screams of fright from the audience. The narrative of the piece draws you in; and the production avoids spoon feeding you the story, leaving you as the audience to create your own horrors in your imagination. The set, staging and props were remarkably effective in their simplicity and created an atmosphere where you held your breath with the central character as he explored the darkness. Setting the show in a theatre made you feel very much part of the story and the dark atmosphere and low level lighting only add to the gloominess and intimacy of the piece.

The performances from the two leads were both very good, with Matthew Spencer playing the part of The Actor and Young Kipps, and David Acton providing the elderly Kipps and the other characters he comes across. It’s a production which shows just how effective a simply staged double hander could be; and the way in which the audience is manipulated via the events unfolding on stage is testament to the quality of writing behind the show.

This show is faithful to its original source material, the book by Susan Hill, rather than the 2012 film; and The Woman In Black is well crafted fireside ghost story which proves that there is more to what is unseen than what is seen. This show is a chilling pre-Halloween treat and a perfect way to spend a dark, stormy winter evening.

The Woman In Black is currently at West Yorkshire Playhouse until 29^th October 2016 (www.wyp.org.uk) before continuing on its national tour until June 2017 (http://www.thewomaninblack.com/).

27th October 2016
TV REVIEW | Red Dwarf XI Episode 6: Can Of Worms

★★★★ | Red Dwarf XI Episode 6: Can Of Worms

Red Dwarf XI / DAVE TV

So another very different episode. A very unique one too as it gives the, long overdue, lead to the Cat (Danny John-Jules).

Even though the trope is simple: Cat finds love but all is not what it seems, the execution isn’t; Just when we think we know where this is going we suddenly find that we are not going there at all. This is the episodes strength as well as it’s weakness: there often is too much going on and every element would have been a perfect episode by its-self.

The characters, though, are spot on as are the actors: Dany John-Jules clearly relishes giving the Cat more freedom while Chris Barrie and Craig Charles add a new facet to Rimmer and Lister – concerned parents looking after their naïve cat-child. Although very short, the guest performance by Dominique Moore as the Cat’s love interest really left us wanting Moore (yes, pun intended).
All in all a strange but worthy ending to a brilliant series.

We can’t wait till XII next year!! See you then!!

Red Dwarf XI continues tonight on Dave at 9PM

27th October 2016
PROBLEM AUNTY | Are fruit smoothies healthy for you?

The UK’s bitchiest agony aunt answers your questions. This week she has ever eyes fixed on a smoothie maker.
CREDIT: Jordan Lohan
Dear Aunty,
Is it good to have too much fruit juice or smoothies? Some sites say good and others bad. Very confused and feeling unhealthy.
Ken, Manchester

Dear Ken,
I know I’m an advice column but I ain’t Dr bleedin’ Christian! Though, I have heard there’s a lot of sugar in fruit. Which is why I like to take a healthy dose of veg to the body instead.

It’s renewed my physical energy levels. Experiment with all the wonderful shapes and sizes of veg out there and you’ll soon be living a much more fulfilled life, though I can’t guarantee it’ll be healthy or wholesome!

Read more of Aunty’s insights.

26th October 2016
THEATRE REVIEW | THE EXORCIST, THE BIRMINGHAM REP

★★★★★ | The Exorcist was a frightening occasion with jumps, bumps, and lights were left on in my home.
Robert Day

The original ‘The Exorcist’ written by William Peter Blatty brought horror to U.K. cinemas in the 1970’s being banned in most of them, for people fainted, were sick and were left immobilised from the terror. The Birmingham Repertory Theatre developed the play version alongside Bill Kenwright, and playwright John Pielmeier for a U.K. premiere which happened on the 21^st October.

I was stunned immediately by the ambition of the set design and special effects used throughout the play. I previously thought it would be a play that was going to be hard to get a scared out of as you knew what was going to happen, as well as you are not manipulated by the sounds and editing that you normally experience in a film. However, The Birmingham Rep’s ‘The Exorcist’ took you by surprise and you daren’t bat an eyelid. The illusionist setting and apparition of the evil spirit were special effects you would see in a film now. The illusion design was masterfully developed by Ben Hart. The way the walls appeared to move and the dark cloud traveling along the set as the demon were just otherworldly!
Robert Day

The performance, delivered by the cast, matched the effects with equal conviction with Regan, in particular, played by Clare Louise Connoly, shining brilliantly. Clare’s multifaceted portrayal of Regan was sublime, and delivered every ounce with dexterity. She surpassed herself when becoming possessed with ambitious physicality and movement that contributed to the eerie ambience of the production. Jenny Seagrove played Chris, Regan’s mother, and played her emotions very authentically as well as showcasing anger and fear very intelligently.

Peter Bowl’s Father Merrin stole the show for me. He played the Father quietly, confidently, and made the audience feel at ease as the one who was going to solve the puzzle. An incredibly gifted actor whose short time on stage provided entertainment to the last second, and the audience hung onto every word he said. The flamboyant character Burke, played by Tristram Wymark, had genial comedic timing. A couple of times leaving some audience members in hysterics. Adam Garcia contributed to the sombre mood of the play with his portrayal of Father Karras, whose mother had been ‘taken by the devil’, and had died from the event.

It was a well-accomplished production, with effects that could not be believed were possible, acting that was on point, with all characters providing an air of mystery and suspense; and the effects that made the audience jump, which to me was a treat that I won’t be forgetting any time soon.

26th October 2016
50 of the biggest one-hit-wonders…ever

Eighties pop smashes “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles and The Weather Girls’ “It’s Raining Men” have been voted the nation’s favourite one-hit wonders.

CREDIT: Weather Girls / YouTube

The two tunes tied for the top spot, beating Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky” and “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers.

Bruce Woolley, who co-wrote “Video Killed the Radio Star” with fellow music producer Trevor Horn, said,

“It was a one-hit wonder but it has had a wonderful life and I’m very proud of it.

“It only took a few hours to write but we worked on the recording for months and I think it’s stood the test of time.

“My kids were slightly embarrassed by it when they were younger, but it paid for their education!”

Lou Bega’s “Mambo No.5” came fifth, ahead of Sinead O’Connor’s 1990 smash “Nothing Compares 2U”, Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby”, “Don’t Leave me This Way” by Thelma Houston, “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex and “Macarena” by Los del Rio.

Kevin Smith, a spokesman for online market researchers OnePoll, which conducted the poll of 2,000 music fans, said: “It’s interesting to see that the most popular one-hit wonders were originally released before the 21st Century.

“In fact, the highest ranking post-Millennium track was released in the year 2000 and landed at number 12 in the poll.

“It might be that musicians have learned the trick behind their biggest hits and know how to keep their momentum up.

“But whatever the reasoning behind the results of the top 50 list, we can see that all of them are unforgettable tracks”.

The Top 50 featured several well-known party tracks such as “Saturday Night” by Whigfield and “The Ketchup Song” by Las Ketchup.

“Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992 reached the 17th spot in the rankings while Billy Paul’s “Me and Mrs Jones” reached 19.

And many will remember the ear-worm by Witch Doctor, “Ooh Ee Ooh Ah Aah Ting Tang Walla Walla Bing Bang” from 1998.

The 90s claimed the most one-hit wonders, followed by the seventies, which included one-off hits like “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas and “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks.

ALSO READ: 10 forgotten 90’s gems

One track which may surprise many as a one-hit wonder was “MMMBop” by Hanson which placed at number 30.

And “Barbados” by Typically Tropical which later was rewritten to be about Ibiza and sang by the Vengaboys in the nineties reached 44.

“Video Killed the Radio Star” writer Bruce Woolley, 62, who has also penned hit songs for dozens of other artists including ‘Slave to the Rhythm’ for Grace Jones, added, “The song’s been covered by hundreds of artists, used in video games, TV ads and has appeared in several Hollywood movies.”

“The song’s been covered by hundreds of artists, used in video games, TV ads and has appeared in several Hollywood movies.”

TOP 50 ONE-HIT WONDERS
1. Video Killed the Radio Star – Buggles (1980)
2. It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls (1982)
3. Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum (1969)
4. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers (1988)
5. Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of) – Lou Bega (1999)
6. Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor (1990)
7. Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice (1990)
8. Don’t Leave Me This Way – Thelma Houston (1976)
9. Cotton Eye Joe – Rednex (1995)
10. Macarena – Los del Rio (1993)
11. Sugar Sugar – The Archies (1969)
12. Who Let the Dogs Out – Baha Men (2000)
13. Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas (1974)
14. Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks (1973)
15. Saturday Night – Whigfield (1995)
16. There She Goes – The La’s (2006)
17. Achy Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus (1992)
18. Tell Laura I Love Her – Ricky Valance (1960)
19. Me and Mrs Jones – Billy Paul (1972)
20. Mickey – Toni Basil (1982)
21. Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin (1988)
22. Stay – Shakespeare’s Sister (1992)
23. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry (1976)
24. What Is Love – Haddaway (1993)
25. 99 Red Balloons – Nena (1983)
26. Jump Around – House of Pain (1992)
27. My Sharona – The Knack (1979)
28. We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off – Jermaine Stewart (1986)
29. Turning Japanese – The Vapors (1980)
30. MMMBop – Hanson (1997)
31. In the Year 2525 – Zager & Evans (1969)
32. Funkytown – Lipps Inc. (1979)
33. A Girl Like You – Edwyn Collins (1994)
34. Pass the Dutchie – Musical Youth (1982)
35. Rock Me Amadeus – Falco (1985)
36. The Hustle – Van McCoy (1975)
37. Ooh Eeh Ooh Ah Aah Ting Tang Walla Walla Bing Bang – Witch Doctor (1998)
38. Tubthumping – Chumbawamba (1997)
39. The Ketchup Song – Las Ketchup (2002)
40. Grandad – Clive Dunn (1971)
41. Spaceman – Babylon Zoo (1996)
42. Groove Is in the Heart – Dee-Lite (1990)
43. Don’t Give Up On Us – David Soul (1976)
44. Barbados – Typically Tropical (1975)
45. Unbelievable – EMF (1990)
46. Too Shy – Kajagoogoo (1983)
47. Pop Muzik – M (1979)
48. You Get What You Give – New Radicals (1999)
49. The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats (1983)
50. Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell (1984)

26th October 2016
THEATRE REVIEW | Hotel For Criminals, New Wimbledon Studio

★★★ | Hotel for Criminals
PR Supplied

Hotel for Criminals is a reworking of Louis Feuillade’s silent film Phantasmagoria – Director Patrick Kennedy’s adaptation of Richard Foreman’s musical went the other way and implements a form of Chinese torture, attempting to impair the audience’s eardrums sixteen times in the form of a deafening hand pump emergency horn buzzer. Nodding off isn’t an option.

You’ll be transported to a perverted French realm where sense has no bearing – a concoction of Mary Poppins’ Chim-Chim-Cheree with more of an Elvira approach, thrown together with a clown-style Night of the Living Dead meets Dracula – guided through by creepy narrator.

Betwixt the chess-piece mobile, camp whirling walks of terror, a journo’s nuptials, vampire blood-supping, dead-pan humour, a hit-and-jaunt and a foreboding big black bird are some ghoulishly good musical numbers and spanking face-painted blood suckers: masters of their craft. Warning: Kate Baxter’s (Irma Vep) chilling vocals and the live band could possess – don’t forget your crucifix.

Not everyone should check into Hotel For Criminals: you’ve got to have the right constitution for this sort of chaos, riddledom and buzzer torment – get clearance from your parole officer first.

Hotel For Criminals plays at New Wimbledon Studio from 18-29 October

26th October 2016
THEATRE REVIEW | Sunny Afternoon – Sheffield Lyceum Theatre & National Tour

★★★ | Sunny Afternoon

In this musical biopic, the swinging sixties are brought back to life as Sunny Afternoon tells the story of the early days of the classic British band, The Kinks, as they fight with their management and with each other on the road to fame. Featuring a slew of classic songs, including “Waterloo Sunset“, “You Really Got Me”, “Lola”, “Dedicated Follower of Fashion” and “Sunny Afternoon”, the show charts the on-stage antics, backroom bickering and personal lives of one of Britain’s seminal rock and roll bands.
Picture Credit : Kevin Cummins
Whilst the production gives a flavour of the band’s history, the narrative is stripped back to allow for the soundtrack to take pride of place. The show never really provides any detailed or thorough insight into the band, their relationships or into the music industry of the 60s, but instead offers a show brimming with musical numbers which sit fairly comfortably within the story and remind you just how many great songs the band have done. The musical numbers veer from the tender ballads to some raw and energetic performances, with one of the musical highlights of the show being an acapella version of “Days“.

Using a wall of speakers, the recording studio style set was visually striking; and a runway from the stage leading out into the audience added gravitas to the concert style feel of the piece and drew the audience in. The costumes accurately reflected the stunning sixties style and period detail littered the set; whilst the lighting design fitted the bill without ever being intrusive.

Ryan O’Donnell provided a charismatic performance as Ray Davies, bringing with it an air of a thoughtful, reflective and somewhat fame-resistant individual to whom music was the most important thing, which was juxtaposed nicely with Mark Newnham’s confident performance as pill popping, hard drinking and cross-dressing Dave Davies. But what impressed most was the musical talent on display with the cast playing a variety of musical instruments; and in a play which holds the musical numbers out as its key feature, live performances like these really bring the show to life.

Sunny Afternoon presents as a nostalgic slice of the sixties which benefits from a soundtrack comprising of more hits from the band than you thought you knew; and an interesting, if light, insight into the band which helped define the era.

Sunny Afternoon is currently on tour around the UK until May 2017 (visit www.sunnyafternoonthemusical.com for details) and is currently playing at Sheffield Lyceum Theatre (www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk) until 29^th October 2016.

26th October 2016
Someone just called Nicole Scherzinger the c word

This is all kinds of kray. An X Factor contestant just called Nicole Scherzinger the c-bomb.

CREDIT: ITV/YouTube

Remember cutie James Hughes who bounded his way into viewers’ heart with his 6 chair challenge and then his smiley nature at Judges’ Houses – well apparently he’s just dropped the c bomb on the judge.

CREDIT: ITV/YouTube

Speaking to Now Magazine, he said at a charity event,

“She’s a c*nt!, She’s so nice on camera, but I felt she had no time for me once they were off.”

CREDIT: ITV/YouTube

He then questioned whether the judge actually chose the final 3 in her category, saying,”I don’t even think she picked her final three boys!”

That’s you off the Christmas card list then poppet.

25th October 2016
Can you guess which 3 things Disney has banned from all its films?

So imagine this – your film has been optioned or greenlit by Disney – the contract comes through. There’re 3 things you absolutely must not include in your film – can you guess what they are?

©2013 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

So there you are, pen poised, to sign on the dotted line ready to make the next Disney hit… and then you spot in the fine print there are three things you cannot put into your film.

Film director David Lowery, director of the new Disney film Pete’s Dragon, revealed what he was banned from including in the movie…

ALSO READ: Did Disney sneak gay family into Frozen?

ALSO READ: 10 Disney hunks you wish were gay

Speaking with Ain’t It Cool News Lowery said,

“When you sign a contract with Disney, the things it says your film cannot have are beheadings, impalement or smoking.

“Those are literally the three things you are not allowed to put into a Disney film.”

Luckily there can be no smoking under the sea in Finding Dory!

Who knew. So no beheadings, impalement or smoking.

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25th October 2016