Matilda The Musical

I have just recently come back from London where I went to see Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre. I had never seen the show before but it had been recommended to me many times.

Cast - Children 

Matilda - Tasha Chapple

Bruce - Arthur Yamaguchi

Lavender - Polly Grace Coombes

Nigel - Denzel Eboji

Amanda - Kira Caple

Eric - Rory Toms

Alice - Robyn Ashwood

Hortensia - Annabel Otterburn 

Tommy - Joshua Cameron

Adults

Doctor - Tommy Sherlock

Mrs Wormwood - Kay Murphy

Mr Wormwood - James Clyde

Michael Wormwood - Joshua Wyatt

Rudolpho - Jason Winter

Mrs Phelps - Lisa Davina Phillips

Miss Honey - Lara Denning

The acrobat - Charlotte Scott

The Escapologist - Antony Lawrence

Miss Trunchbull - Craige Els

Matilda is a stage musical based on the novel of the same name by Roahl Dahl. It was written by Dennis Kelly, with musical and lyrics by Tim Minchin.

Since seeing Matilda I have definitely added it to my list of favourite musicals. It is hilarious, magical and moving. We were sitting right in the front row for the performance that I was at, and I didn't see anyone put a foot wrong. The children in the show are wonderful, and you can tell how well rehearsed ever single number is.

Matilda is a fabulous family show. It has strong tunes, great lyrics and enough funny moments to make even the most revolting child laugh. Tasha Chapple was a great Matilda, who had a lot of talent and it was clear that she was having a lot of fun on the stage. James Clyde and Kay Murphy are memorably vile as Matilda's vulgar parents. Lara Denning also stands out with her great voice as the sweet and kind teacher who helps Matilda.

For me, it was Craige Els as Trunchbull who very nearly stole the show. Els' comedy timing makes Agatha Trunchbull both terrifying and hilarious all at once and is the cherry on the cake of this wonderful production.

Overall, Matilda is a brilliant show that I cannot recommend highly enough. The songs stand out both on their own but also blend well into the show. If you ever get the chance to see this musical I urge you to do so.

Dylan Saunders - 'Confluence'

Many of you may have heard of the theatre group 'Team Starkid' through online musical hits such as the 'A Very Potter Series', 'Starship' and most recently 'Twisted'. On the 30th of September, one of their original members Dylan Saunders (pictured below) released his debut album. 

For Starkid fans, Dylan has always been a favourite due to his strong singing voice. The name of the album is 'Confluence'. I pre-ordered it recently and so today I was finally able to listen to it for the first time. It was everything I had hoped for and even more; a mix of song styles, great lyrics and catchy tunes. If you haven't bought confluence yet it is available on iTunes - you won't regret it!

Singin' In The Rain UK Tour

CAST:
Don Lockwood - James Leece
Kathy Selden - Amy Ellen Richardson
Cosmo Brown - Stephanie Anelli
R F Simpson - Maxwell Caulfield
Lima Lamont - Vicky Binns
Dora Bailey/Miss Dinsmore - Jacqueline Clarke
Roscoe Dexter - Paul Grunert

In 1927, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a famous on-screen romantic pair. Lina, however, mistakes the on-screen romance for real love. Don has worked hard to get where he is today, with his former partner Cosmo. When Don and Lina's latest film is transformed into a musical, Don has the perfect voice for the songs. But Lina - well, even with the best efforts of a diction coach, they still decide to dub over her voice. Kathy Selden, an aspiring actress is brought in, and while she is working on the movie, Don falls in love with her. 

I wasn't sure what to expect when I went to see this musical. Having only ever seen the 1952 film, I didn't know how it would be transferred onto stage.
The show was definitely much better than what I had been imagining. The singing was great, and when it came to the dancing, there was not one person on the stage who was out of time. 

James Leece as Don Lockwood and Amy Ellen Richardson both bring a lot of talent to each of their roles, and create a loveable pairing. Vicky Binns gets a lot of the laughs as the troublesome, yet harmless, Lina Lamont. She is spot on with comic timing, especially in the film clips that are shown. Personally, I enjoyed Stephane Anelli as Cosmo Brown the most. He has great delivery of one liners and almost steals the show in ‘Make Em Laugh’.

Like the movie, Singin’ in the Rain the stage show delivered all-singing, all-dancing entertainment, with help from a highly talented cast. James Leece clearly had fun during the title track ‘Singin’ in the rain, where Don dances in the street and swings from lampposts, kicking puddles of water all over the first few rows - which fortunately made the whole audience laugh. The songs and dance routines including the great 1920s costumes brought the performance to life.

The buzz from the audience was obvious from the start, with everyone clearly enjoying it from beginning to the end. The standing ovation at the end just showed how loved this musical is.

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James Leece, Amy Ellen Richardson & Stephane Anelli.

RIP Robin Williams

I know that I haven't posted on this blog for a while (I will start again soon) and this isn't the type of post I would normally make, but I felt like I should do it anyway. I'm sure you've all heard the sad news of the great actor and comedian Robin Williams' death.  He was loved by many, which is shown just by the amount of messages and posts there were the morning that the news was heard. No matter what, Robin Williams would always be able to make me laugh. I remember watching Mrs Doubtfire, Jumanji and Aladdin when I was younger. If you haven't watched any of his stand up, I highly recommend it. I felt like I should share some tributes to Robin Williams, just to show how much he will be missed by everyone. Credit to everyone who owns these pictures.

The Best Friend Tag!

Hello! I have just made a video with my friend Jess - “ The Best Friend Tag”. Click here if you want to check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUJlXdR_3qc
She has also made a video with me in it - “Beauty Questions Tag” which you can find here. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEeQRWL1CFY

Please leave a comment of anything you would like me to review/videos you would like me to make.

Megan x

Holidays!

Hello! I haven't been posting recently as I am on holiday in Almeria in Sunny Spain. 

Having a lot of fun here and getting slightly sunburnt! 

Yes, that is a picture of me in the boot of a car. Don't ask why.

I have a few things lined up to review when I get home but in the mean time you can check out my youtube channel: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCBZD5fzGWC_uL7sHGDFUG0w

I will be posting a vlog of my time here in Spain when I get home, so look out for that! 

Hope you all have a nice summer!

Modern Family: The Wedding Part 2

Some spoilers for Modern Family season 5 finale below.
After last week’s mishaps, Mitch and Cam race to go through with their ceremony at a different venue. Rushed from their original site by a fire, down one preacher and stuck with Phil officiating, all the guests are forced to get on the shuttles and make a mad dash to another site, only to eventually end up at Cam and Mitch’s house. Meanwhile, Haley, who realizes she likes Andy the Manny thanks to a talk with her sister, briefly leaves the wedding to see him because his flight’s been delayed again, then struggles  as she tries to help him decide if he should go to visit his girlfriend.
The Wedding Part 2 is a strong, well-written, funny and yet emotional episode. 

Thankfully, the wedding eventually did happen, and the writers didn't go down the road of having the couple argue and decide they don't want to get married. It will be nice to see what married life is like for the Tucker-Pritchetts in Season 6.
Finally reaching levels of emotion that the show may not have touched in a while, The Wedding Part 2 is a strong episode and, even though it is a happy and touching one, the writers still remember that it is a comedy and there is enough laughs and jokes. Overall I enjoyed the episode and I am looking forward to the next season.

I think Pepper Saltzman gets the best lines of this episode;
- “As they say in my native South Carolina, it's time to marry your brother in law”
- “Lets send the flower girl before she's a flower teenager”
- (When speaking to the firemen) “Hi I'm Pepper Saltzman, Big supporter of your work, I have all your calendars!”

- “Oh my mistake, let’s go over the details. It’s a quaint rustic spot and it's chief selling point is IT’S NOT ABOUT TO BECOME A KILN!”

Lend Me A Tenor - Runway Theatre Company

SYNOPSIS - On an important night at the Cleveland Opera Company, world-famous tenor Tito Morelli is to perform in Otello. Through a series of mishaps, Tito receives a double dose of tranquilizers, causing the house manager to believe he is dead and setting off a chain reaction of mistaken identity.

CAST:
Henry Saunders - Iain Condie
Max Garber - Kris Haddow
Tito Merelli - J Campbell Kerr
Maria Merelli - Aileen Johnston
Bernie Guter - Graeme McKay
Maggie Saunders - Roslyn Hogg
Diana Divane - Chriss Mills
Opera Guild Lady No. 1 - Susan B Russell
Opera Guild Lady No.2 - Anne Fraser
Opera Guild Lady No.3 - Margaret Ann O'Neil
Harry - Ken Christie
Mickey - Matthew McCallion
Joe - Kevin O'Dell

Runway Theatre Company never fail to put on a good show, and this was no exception. Not having heard of this musical before, I had no idea what to expect, but it certainly delivered a lot of laughs. The singing was outstanding and each of the cast members are very talented.The comedy in this musical is great, and had the whole audience in stitches throughout the show. It may seem like I am being biased considering that I know so many members of the cast, but I have being going to see Runway's Pantomimes and Shows since I was about three now, and have never left feeling disappointed.

In recent years Runway Theatre Company have performed Scottish Premieres of shows such as The Drowsy Chaperone, Whistle Down The Wind and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. These have all been big hits with their audiences and I'm sure Lend Me A Tenor will follow this pattern. If you haven't bought a ticket to this hilarious show, get one while you still can! 

Lend Me A Tenor performed by Runway Theatre Company at Eastwood Park Theatre from the 21st-24th of May. 

Leave a comment if you have any questions!

Megan x

Twitter & Instagram

If you would like to keep up to date on what I post, I have just set up a Twitter page and an Instagram account:

TWITTER: www.twitter.com/BroadcastReview

INSTAGRAM: BackstageBroadcastBlog

Megan X

Modern Family - “The Wedding: Part 1”

SYNOPSIS - It's the day of Cameron and Mitchell's wedding, but of course everything doesn't quite go to plan. Mitchell, Cam, and Lilly go to get Cam’s suit, as he has been given the wrong one, while Hayley takes Joe's nanny to the airport. Alex helps Phil after an eye exam to make sure their wedding gift is purchased, and Jay and Cam’s father Merle enjoy a day at the spa. Claire and Luke go out on a boat to spend some time together. As this is a two parter, they actual wedding won't be until the next episode.

It seems that for Cam and Mitchell, everything that could go wrong with a wedding, has gone wrong for them. This episode is just as funny as all the others. If you like modern family, you will certainly love this one. The brilliant Nathan Lane returns as Pepper Saltzman - who is organising the wedding. Jay and Mitchell are still not speaking to each other over what happened in the last episode, but hopefully that will be resolved in the finale. During the episode, there is an homage to the brilliant cam and mitch scene “I'm breaking the window”, when Lilly was locked in the car. The dream wedding ends up being evacuated due to a fire, just as Lilly throws flowers down, and next week’s season finale was set up well. As the first part of a two-part story, things may have been a bit predictable as the audience probably knew the wedding wouldn’t happen here. It was still great to watch and made me laugh out loud. Overall, I enjoyed this episode, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing next weeks episode.
I have to say my favourite line came from Pepper Saltzman (Nathan Lane): “Oh calm down, this can't be the first time you've woken up to find other men in your bedroom”. I'll leave you to make of that what you will....enjoy the episode!

Wicked UK & Ireland Tour

Last night, I went to see Wicked at The King's Theatre in Glasgow while it was on it's UK & Ireland Tour. This is the second time I have seen Wicked, and seeing it again reminded me of why I loved it so much the first time round.

SYNOPSIS- Wicked tells the story of what happened before Dorothy dropped in. It shows the relationship between the two witches, 'Glinda the Good' and 'The Wicked Witch of the West'.

The music in Wicked it outstanding, so naturally two female leads would be needed to do it justice. For this tour they definitely had this. Jemma Alexander (Elphaba) and Emily Tierney (Glinda) are both equally great with their emotional performances, and the humour also. The whole cast were amazing when put on stage together and vocals were brilliant. The costumes were stunning and they all fitted in so well with the scenery. One of the reasons I loved Wicked the first time I saw it, was due to it's special effects. As this is a tour and the venues will be smaller, I expected a few changes to made, however a lot of it was kept the same and worked very well. I think Wicked is one of these shows that, no matter how many times you go and see it, you will always find something new to enjoy, or even be taken aback by the same things that excited you the first time you watched it. If you were ever on the fence about wanting to go and see Wicked, I urge you to get a ticket, or even just go on YouTube and listen to the music. No matter what age you are, you will find something to love about this show. 
I have uploaded a vlog of our visit to see Wicked. You can view it here: http://youtu.be/4gdjth9SkTI
My friend Jess also did a review on it and you can read it here: http://jesshayward03.wordpress.com

The Fault In Our Stars

I was lucky enough to win a chance to see the film adaptation of John Green's 'The Fault In Our Stars' a month early as I won a competition called 'Little Infinities'. This was special for me as I am a huge fan of the book and an even bigger fan of The Vlogbrothers.

SYNOPSIS- This is the story of Augustus Waters and Hazel Grace Lancaster. It begins when they meet at a support group for cancer patients and survivors. The two meet, and they quickly fall in love. The story follows the two through their story, and each of their struggle with cancer.

When I first read the book, I loved it. I laughed, and I cried. John Green is one of my favourite authors currently and this book was so cleverly written and I enjoyed going on Augustus and Hazel's journey.
I think the fans of the book will definitely enjoy this as pretty much every last inch of the movie was exactly like the book. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort work very well together and there is a definite chemistry between them as it shows that they love working together.
All the famous lines that made the book so great are included and I'm sure fans will be pleased about this. It is possible that this particular book and film have made me cry more that anything else. I won't go too far into the story just incase some people have not read the book and do not want spoilers. I will say this, take some tissues to the cinema. You're going to need them. 

I went to see this with my friend Jess and she has also done a review on this - http://jesshayward03.wordpress.com

New Reviews To Come!

Next Wednesday, I will be going to see the musical 'WICKED' with my friend Jess and our mums while it is at The King's Theatre in Glasgow. I have already seen the show in London, so I will mainly be reviewing how it differs or how well it has been put together for a touring version. The review will hopefully be up by    the end of next week.

I will also be reviewing the first part (and possibly second part) of the season finale of Modern Family. This episode is called 'The Wedding; Part 1'. Fans of the show will be looking forward to this particular episode as it is when Cameron and Mitchell will finally get married. This review will also be up by the end of next week.

Please comment if there is anything else that you would like me to review!
Megan X

Prey - Episode 1 Review

New ITV Drama Prey opens with police officer Marcus Farrow (John Simm) emerging from a crashed police van: not as a policeman, but as a prisoner. 

He swiftly escapes after helping other people who were in the crash in a opening that quickly sets the tone and atmosphere for the rest of the episode. Flashback to three days earlier, Marcus Farrow is helping his work colleague, Sean (Craig Parkinson), with an investigation into a body that could be a missing gangster, the answer to which could be on some floppy disks which have the  case files.

What begins as a murder investigation soon turns into something worse as Marcus’ family is threatened by a witness. Marcus is already separated from his wife, though still often spends time with  his two sons.  The audience already know that Marcus will end up in the back of a police van, and so the writers use the opening sequence to maintain a  sense of worry throughout the episode and they begin to question what will happen.

The biggest shock of the episode for both Marcus and the audience,  s the discovery that his youngest son, Max, has also been murdered along with Abby, his wife. Simm’s performance is brilliant, as is DCI Reinhardt’s (Rosie Cavaliero) , making it particularly dark after it becomes clear she doesn't  believe that he didn't kill Abby and Max.  

The net begins to close tight around Marcus and so begins the investigation by Rosie Cavaliero superintendant, who arrests him for the crime which leads Marcus to uncover  police deception that follow his every move..

From the mix of  creative storytelling,  excellent direction and a strong acting led by John Simm  it is clear why so many people are intrigued by this show.

If Prey continues like this, there is no doubt that it will have more people talking about it with each instalment.