Peter Pan - At Epstein Theatre

Peter Pan - At Epstein Theatre

Wow! They say save the best for last and we certainly did! Saturday morning, I took my nieces to see the latest offering from Panto season – Peter Pan at the Epstein Theatre.  Now I’ve seen many pantomimes over the years, each one slightly different, giving their own slant on a traditional or familiar story but this production was summed up perfectly by both my nieces ‘It was the best ever’.

It begins with the only way a Panto involving Claire Simmo can begin, glitter, glitter and more glitter.  I think she has a contract with some glitter company but nothing has been confirmed!  She sparkles on to the stage giving the audience the perfect start - full of life, full of personality and full of sparkly!

We are then taken into a dance routine with the young dance troupe, who never let down any of the dance routines they did, and there were quite a few.  The dance routines were very well choreographed and to give that much effort after 20 odd shows is a credit to the team.  Shortly afterwards, we see the beautiful Joanne Harper as Wendy.  Joanne has an unbelievable singing voice and demonstrates how good it is on several occasions.  How she keeps singing while flying through the air is a testament to her singing strength. I had never seen Joanne perform before and I’m delighted to say I would definitely see her again, especially if she is singing.  She is soon followed on stage by another new performer for me, Lewis Pryor or Peter Pan has he was better known. He again is a strong performer who looks so natural on stage and had very good chemistry with Wendy (Joanne).  He mastered flying through the air and even managed to give us a summersault. 

Of course, no pantomime is great unless the baddie is great and Dane Bowers proved to be a hit. He certainly took the bad guy routine up ‘Another Level’.  His side kick, Smee,  gets a special mention for this performance as he was only asked to fill the role in the early hours of the morning and boy did he do a great job and squirting my nieces with water was, of course, an added bonus!

Every pantomime should have a dame character but in Peter Pan there isn’t one.  Not a problem for this production – create your own character.  I’m not going to lie to you but I loved Dame Betty, played by Michael Chapman.  In some productions, the dame can look too much like a woman.  This was not the case for Dame Betty, who was clearly a man.  He worked the jokes brilliantly.  The jokes were predictive, poor (Like they should be) and sometimes very risky!  Michael delivered them with a charm and the accent worked brilliantly with the manly walk!

Last but certainly not least, Tiger Lily, played by Georgia Austin.  Georgia can sing, dance and act and I would like to see her in more challenging roles.  There is something about scouse timing when delivering lines and Georgia delivers her lines with real sassiness!

If this was the standard for the Christmas Pantomime, then I would urge you all to book your tickets now for their Easter pantomime.  One of the best things I like to see is the fun the cast have on stage.  They made the audience feel part of the show and I don’t care what anyone says, there is something magical about pantomimes and this was certainly magical!

Thank you

Darren Partington

A New Year (War is over tune)

Start of a new year

Let’s learn from the past

No more hate around us

Why not give love a blast

And so it’s a new year

A time for a change

Our love should only last

One world for all

Here is hope for the future

At the start of the year

We can’t go on like this

Pray for love not fear

And this is a new year (Love will conquer)

For good and for bad (If we want it)

Positive not negative (Love will conquer)

Be happy not sad (Now)

And this is a new year (Love will conquer)

For culture and race (If we want it)

For young and for old (Love will conquer)

The world a better place (Now)

Here is hope for the future

At the start of the year

We can’t go on like this

Pray for love not fear

Start of a new year (Love will conquer)

Let’s learn from the past (If we want it)

No more hate around us (Love will conquer)

Why not give love a blast (Now)

And so it’s a new year (Love will conquer)

A time for a change (If we want it)

Our love should only last (Love will conquer)

One world for all (Now)

Here is hope for the future

At the start of the year

We can’t go on like this

Pray for love not fear

Christmas Eve

It’s Christmas Eve and Santa’s on his way

Ready to surprise you, on that special day

Children are restless, they head up to bed

Presents all wrapped, one more story is read

One more hug and they close their eyes

You sneak down stairs, set out the mince pies

You slump on the couch, knowing your work is done

You’ve done your best, for your daughter and son

The tiredness kicks in, your time to head up

You bite the mice pie, drink milk from the cup

Lay on your bed, no one to be seen

The door bursts open, has he been?

A magical time, it’s great they believe

A special time, It’s Christmas Eve!

Over thinking

It four o’clock in morning and my mind is racing away

Over taking my body, the night slowly turns to day

I pour myself a drink and slump in my favourite chair

Tears frozen like icicles in the cold midnight air

The silence of the room filled with the ticking clock

My hear wants to speak but my head puts up a block

Chorus

Over thinking thoughts

They always play at night

Replaying in my mind

From darkness to light

Over thinking thoughts

Keeping me awake

What do I have to gain?

Our love is at stake

It started with a message it took you hours to reply

I asked you a question, you told me a lie

What did I do?  Why are you playing a game?

How can I love you when you don’t feel the same?

The sun is rising and the rain slowly begins to fall

My over thinking thoughts have hit an imaginary wall

Bridge

I want to try and forgive you but I don’t know when

So tomorrow comes and so does the over thinking again

A Dancing Heart

A Dancing Heart

She turned away and the world suddenly looked completely different.  The once evergreen trees now washed in battleship grey.  The houses in the distance drained of life.  No hope.  No future.  The life I was used to ripped apart and the only partner I now have - loneliness.  How did it get to this?  Could I have done something different?

When did it all start?  If I’m honest I don’t know.  Maybe that was the problem.  I didn’t pay her enough attention. I didn’t listen.  I was too busy planning for our future that I forgot the present.  Too bust trying to please work and move up the ladder that I forgot the most important thing in the world to me – Hannah.  She was perfect.  I only ever had eyes for her.  If I’m honest, I have only ever loved her.  That feeling when we first met.  The butterflies inside.  The not knowing if I was going to get a second date. And then our first kiss.  The moment our lips touched, the moment we became one, the moment I stopped being ‘I’ and started being ‘us’.  I needed to win her heart again!

As my mind began to listen to my heart, I knew what I had to do.  I knew I had to show her how much she meant to me, how much I loved her.  She was a fan of old MGM movies.  A simple gesture was needed - a song and a dance.  How she loved to dance.  She was elegant across the dance floor.  Flawless in her movement – beautiful!

Through a friend, I asked her if she would meet me.  She agreed, thankfully.  I asked her to meet me in the place where we first met, the ballroom, an old building with character and charm.  A cold winters night outside but inside I was hoping for a warm reception. 

I stood silent in the middle of the blackened dance floor.  As she stepped inside, a spotlight struck.  She stood there, a picture of beauty.  She called out my name.  A spotlight hit me.  She walked towards me.  Every step she took, I missed a breath.  Not knowing what would happen next.  I played this moment in my mind so many times and it always ended differently.  How would this end? 

As Hannah’s spotlight touch mine, the music softly began to play.  She looked at me and I looked at her.  Our eyes met and a smile took over my hopeless face.  This was our song; this was our dance. Almost instantly, we moved our bodies closer to one another and began to move like we had done many years before.  I was transported back to a happier time, a time when life meant more to me than work.  We glided around the dance floor, laughing, smiling, like two people in love once more. Tonight I realised what life meant to me – Hannah!

Snow White and the seven dwarfs

St Helens Theatre Royal

Snow White and the seven dwarfs

Review: 6^th December 2017

It is that time of year again! (Oh no it isn’t) Snow White comes along to the Theatre Royal in St Helens until 14^th January 2018.  This production has all the usual charm and enthusiasm that I have seen in previous pantomimes at the theatre but for one special moment!  I’ll tell you more on that later (I know the suspense is unbearable). 

The shows begin with the introduction of the mirror, and one of the stars, Jonny Vegas!  He was introduced by the resident dame but now wicked queen, Simon Foster.  Simon did his usual good job working the audience but I have to admit I much prefer him as a nicer dame as this gives him more license to work around the script.  Following was the ‘Star’ of the show, Lucy-Jo Hudson.  She breezed on to the stage and glided across it perfectly in every dance she performed.  If Disney was to cast Snow White, then Lucy-Jo would surely be in contention.  She works the stage and interacts with all the cast from dancers to the Prince superbly. 

Snow White’s side kick was of course Muddles, played by the fantastic Lewis Devine.  I had never seen Lewis perform before and I have to say it was a pleasure to watch him.  He is an all rounder, which is unusual in the theatre these days.  He can sing, dance, act and do impressions!  He worked so hard every time he was on stage to keep the audience on their toes and his interaction, again, top draw!  Playing the Prince was another performer I had not seen before, Jack Rigby.  He had great chemistry on stage with Lewis and I think more could have been made with the humour between these two characters, particularly the horse scene.  Again, I was pleasantly surprised with his performance and a perfect match for Lucy-Jo.  The last remaining main character was Herman the Henchman, Richard Hazlewood.  Richard played he role wonderfully especially working the audience when they didn’t respond to his dagger! 

A special deserved mention for the choreography in the show.  Every time I visit this theatre, I am always impressed with the dancers and the choreography.  The only thing I would mention that could be discussed was when Snow White was singing and being lifted around the stage. The sets were simple but very effective and the changes seamless. 

I’ve saved the best for last (the anticipation is over).  The 3D effects were absolutely amazing.  The children’s reaction to each and every one was worth the admission alone.  This was definitely a high but I don’t want to spoil it!

The show, for me, was a tad long and feel some of the younger children and young performers may be struggling tomorrow.

I’m a massive fan of live theatre and believe everyone should go and support local theatres so I urge you to get yourself down to the Theatre Royal, you won’t be disappointed! 

Who’s there?

As the time was approaching, my mind was racing.  What do I say?  How do I say it? How will we react? I began to slowly rock back and forth on the rocking chair my grand father used to sit at in his later years.  I was surrounded by loved ones but felt alone in my thoughts.  The mumbling of voices filled the air and I sat there not listening, staring out at the flowers my mother planted before her untimely death. 

My eyes closed and I’m back to when I was five, playing with my train set in front of the fire.  A smile sneaks up on my face.  I can almost smell the cigar smoke drift through the open windows from a familiar face.  I can hear the old, battered lawn mower break down once more and the usual coaxing that followed to resuscitate it one more time. 

The door bell rang.  An uneasy silence surrounded me as I slowly opened my eyes and brought my rocking to a halt.  A deep breath.  The drumming of my heartbeat began to double, a paradiddle followed.  I took a moment to stand and then began to take small, purposeful steps towards the door.  As the silence continued, each step echoed around the small hall way, reverberating off the uneven walls.

Another ring on the bell, I could see the outline of a figure standing behind the patterned glass.  My hand shook as I struggled to turn the key anticlockwise in the door.  I opened the door to a noise that wouldn’t be out of place in a horror movie from the 1960’s.  A smile welcomed me and a voice said, ‘Hello Jack’.

A Chance Meeting

An unusual crowd appeared.  A slow scanning of the blurred faces and then stop!  A vision of beauty so clear, leaving an instant photograph in my mind.  You turned away without a thought, unknowing you had attracted my attention.   I meander through the ever increasing crowd, quickly scanning once more.  I see the back of your hat, sporting what could be your team, with your blond hair peeking out from underneath.  I quicken my pace as you have stopped to talk.  Is this man your husband? 

I decide that I need to speak to you.  I have to act on this feeling inside, a feeling I’ve not experienced before.  Not sure what it is or why it is there but something deep down in my soul is telling me that this is right.  Am I crazy for believing? Have I watched too many 1950’s movies? I’m now living my own.

 

The girl moves on.  The heat is pouring from the sun.  She decides to embrace it and place her sunglasses on her now perfect face.  I’ve now began to walk quicker, quicker in the hope I can catch her.  What will I do when I do catch her?  The process begins to unravel in my head and I begin to have the self doubt that has haunted me in previous relationships.  My quick steps become slower with every thought.  The realisation that this never happens outside of the movie theatres, suddenly hit me. 

She paused.  Turned around and began to walk straight towards me.  I froze.  I wanted to move but I couldn’t.  Our paths were now the stage and the lights were firmly fixed on us.  The crowd slowly parted. The path now clear, her eyes fixed on me and my eyes fixed on her.  This was the moment.  This was our moment.  The moment the MGM movie became real.  My throat was dry.  She smiled.  I smiled back.  A simple ‘Hi’ told me everything I needed to know.

Forever in our hearts

I remember the day

We found out the news

Our world came crashing down

Not knowing what to do

Not knowing what to say

The hurt a deafening sound

The treatment soon began

You kept your spirits up

The world you met with a smile

Would it all work out?

We just never knew

The pain you met with denial

Each day a joy

Just to see your face

Not just a daughter more of a blessing

I held my tears back

I tried to be strong

My smile was just a dressing

Nothing more to do

You had a final wish

To spend a day with friends

We watched you play

Your laugh said it all

True love that never ends

We think of you

Each and every day

You’ll be forever in our hearts

You’ve left a legacy

The world was brighter then

Forever in our hearts

Missed Nights

As winter approaches and the nights draw to a close

I used to welcome you by the door with a single red rose

A gentle kiss on your cheek and a warm sensual hug

I would light the sunset fire and we’d wrap ourselves snug

We’d talk about our day as the TV noise fades into the background

The two of us together as one with no one else around

But that was then when we were both young and free

We were right for each other but we don’t know what the future would be

As time passed, we both knew we were slowly drifting further apart

We tried desperately and succeeded not to hurt each other’s heart

As winter approaches, the invisible shadows indicate the darker lights

I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to those special missed nights

Flashdance – Liverpool Empire

I find it is always difficult to turn a well known film into a stage musical and this is no exception.  The story is a familiar one, boy meets girl but class difference and a few twists and turns later they fall in love with each other. 

The beginning of the show started with high energy and the cast showed enthusiasm for the first number.  The audience took a while to warm up and I do wish the theatre / Production Company would lower their prices so more people would attend and create an atmosphere. 

There were a few issues with the sound quality and one or two songs seemed to be mimed, which is a pet hate of mine.  The choreography was superb and a real highlight of the show.  The staging of the show was fantastic with a simple moveable set that the cast relocated on several occasions. 

Joanne Clifton plays Alex and gives a very good performance, full of energy and has god chemistry on stage with her fellow dancers.  Ben Adams is her romantic interest and the two of them make their characters believable to the audience.  The other girl dancers were superb but I would have liked a bit more grit in some of the songs they sang. 

The cast all gave very good performances and showed their versatility, playing several roles throughout.   At times, there needed to be a bit more controlled passion in some of the dialogue.

I think they missed an opportunity for a song by the lady who played the carer of the old dance teacher.  Her voice at the end deserved to be showcased more in the show.

Overall a good show with good performances and the last twenty minutes really came alive and ended the night on a high like every show should! 

Aiming Too High

Another girl and another crush

My mind is racing about the two of us

Flirting begins but you don’t notice me

You have a lock but I’ve got a different key

Chorus

Am I aiming too high?

Is my limit not the sky?

Never been in love, don’t know why

Am I aiming too high?

Has loved sailed, goodbye

Not giving up, not going to lie

Keep searching, I’ll try

Am I aiming too high?

A beautiful smile and I am gone

A night dreaming that you are the one

I send message and tag the bait

Another week but still I wait

Bridge

Can’t seem to find what others have got

Don’t want just a bit

I want the lot