Great News for West End Theatregoers - Harriet Walter and Jemma Redgrave Are Set to Return to the London Stage in Two Very Exciting New Dramatic Productions

 By James V. Ruocco  

Two of London's female theatre greats - Harriet Walter and Jemma Redgrave - are set to grace the West End Stage in two very different dramatic productions.
One arrives mid-September. The other in November.
Walter will headline a brand-new revival of Federico Garcia Lorca's three-act tragedy "The House of Bernarda Alba" while Redgrave will star in the world premiere presentation of Marek Horn's "Octopolis."

Set to play the National Theater this November. "The House of Bernarda Alba" - the final work of Lorca's "trilogy of the Spanish homeland" - was completed 19 June 1936 just two months before the playwright's death (he was brutally murdered) during the Spanish Civil War. It officially premiered 8 March 1945 at the Avenida Theatre in Buenos Aires.

As the play opens, Bernarda Alba, the 60-year-old matriarch of the house of Andalusia has imposed an eight-year mourning period on the entire household following the death of her second husband. In accordance with family tradition, all five daughters are prohibited to form any kind of relationship - casual or sexual - with any member of the opposite sex including Pepe el Romano, the love interest of Bernarda's angst-ridden daughters and the actual suitor of Angustias, her 39-year-old unattractive daughter.
This being a tragedy as penned by the controversial Lorca, tension mounts, as does the sexual aggravations and claustrophobic frustrations of five women being confined to the house alongside a mad, controlling mother, a crazy grandmother and a very concerned and understanding housekeeper.

Walter will play the lead role of Bernarda Alba.
Known primarily for her extensive work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Walter's London stage credits include "Twelfth Night," "Three Sisters," "Life x 3," "Mary Stuart," "Macbeth" and "Antony and Cleopatra."
On television, she is best known for appearances on "Succession," "Killing Eve," "Ted Lasso," "Downtown Abbey," "The Crown," "Law and Order: UK," "Patrick Melrose" and "London Spy."

Olivier Award-winner Rebecca Frecknall ("Cabaret," "A Streetcar Named Desire") will direct the National Theatre production which features a completely revised script by Alice Birch ("Normal People," "Dead Ringers").

"The House of Bernarda Alba" will begin its limited engagement at the National Theatre (Lyttleton Theatre, South Bank, London, UK) 16 November 2023 and run through 6 January 2024.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 2:15 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Tickets are £49 to £89.
For advance reservations and more information, call 020 7452-3961.

(Jemma Redgrave To Star on World Premiere Drama "Octopolis.") 

Octopus intelligence as seen through the eyes of a brilliant, behavioral biologist and her recently deceased husband is the story conceit behind Marek Hunt's world premiere drama "Octopolis" which finds Jemma Redgrave trying to make sense of it all alongside an ambitious anthropologist (Ewan Miller) anxious to prove his worth by introducing new ideas and theories to the ongoing university octopus' project.

"I'm so pleased that Jemma Redgrave and Ewan Miller will star in this fiercely smart and soulful play, as scientists from differing disciplines who form an intense bond as they study the same octopus," explains "Octopolis" director Ed Madden, best known for the stage productions of "Yellowfin," "A Table Tennis Play" "A Number" and "The World's Wife." 
" 'Octopolis' is a proper theatrical workout for the heart and mind and needs two stage animals at its centre."

Redgrave's previous theatre credits include "The Cherry Orchard," "Mood Music," "Farewell to the Theatre," "Easter," "Our Town," "The Three Sisters," A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "An Ideal Husband."
On television, the actress has appeared on "Doctor Who," "Grantchester," "Holby City," "Bramwell," "Cold Blood" and "Silent Witness."
Miller made his London stage debut in the National Theatre's production of "Much Ado About Nothing." He has also appeared in "The Comedy of Errors" and "A Christmas Carol."

"Octopolis" will kick off its limited engagement at the Hampstead Theatre (Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, Downstairs, London, UK) 15 September and run through 28 October 2023.
Performances are 7:45 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 2:45 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays.
Tickets are £10 to £25.
For advance reservations and more information, call 020 7722 9301.

London Theatre News: Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Sunset Boulevard," "Dear England" and "Cabaret."

 By James V. Ruocco 

And so, it begins.

Joe Gillis: "Say, aren't you Norma Desmond? You used to be big."

Norma Desmond: "I am big, it's the pictures that got small."

Beginning this September, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Sunset Boulevard" returns to London's West End in an all-new revival reimagined for the stage by visionary director Jamie Lloyd whose credits include "The Homecoming," "Evita," "Macbeth" and "A Doll's House."
Based on the 1950 Billy Wilder film that starred Gloria Swanson and William Holden, the two-act musical portrays Desmond's delusional attempt to resurrect her faded film career by hiring a struggling Hollywood screenwriter to rework a mediocre screenplay that would mark her triumphant return to the big screen.
Featuring a musical score by Webber (composer) and Don Black/Christopher Hampton (lyrics), "Sunset Boulevard" includes the iconic showtunes "With One Look," "As If We Never Said Goodbye," "Too Much in Love to Care," "The Perfect Year" and "New Ways to Dream."
Nicole Scherzinger, best known as the lead singer for The Pussycat Dolls" has been tapped to portray Norma Desmond in this highly anticipated revival of Webber's 1993 musical that originally started Patti Lupone and Kevin Anderson when it debuted at London's Adelphi Theatre.
In 2014, Scherzinger made her West End debut as Grizabella in the acclaimed revival of the Webber/ Rice musical "Cats" at the London Palladium. She played the part for a 12-week run for which she received rave reviews and an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for a Musical.

"Sunset Boulevard" will begin its limited 16-week run at the Savoy Theatre (Savoy Court on the Strand, London, UK) 21 September 2023 and run through 6 January 2024.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays.
Tickets for the Stalls and Dress Circle are £56.50, £80.30, £104.10, £148.80 and £208.30. Upper Circle tickets are £56.50, £44.60 and £23.80.
For advance reservations and more information, call 844 871 7687.
For general enquiries, call 03330 096 690.

Per the Savoy Theatre, Scherzinger will not be performing the role of Norma Desmond for the 2:30 p.m. performance on 5 October 2023 and all 7:30 p.m. Monday performances from 9 October 2023.
Casting for the roles of Joe Gillis, Betty Schaefer, Max von Mayerling and the Norma Desmond alternate will be announced in the coming weeks.

["Dear England" at the National Theatre]

James Graham's "Dear England," directed by Rupert Goold ("Spring Awakening," "Judy," "Tammy Faye"), continues its run at the National Theatre (Upper Ground, Southbank, London, UK) through 11 August 2023. The play, a serio-comic retelling of Gareth Southgate's earnest, uncanny leadership of England's football squad, which led to the team's participation in the 2018 World Cup semifinals and beyond, has received high scores for its life-like narrative, its grounded classroom and stadium scenes, its edgy 60-minute first act and Es Devlin's moody, atmospheric set design.
The production stars Joseph Fiennes (Gareth Southgate), Will Close (Harry Kane), Kel Matsena (Raheem Sterling), Darragh Hand (Marcus Rashford), Gina McKee (Pippa Grance), Paul Thornley (Mike Webster), Gunnar Cauthery (Gary Lineker), John Hodgkinson (Greg Clarke), Josh Barrow (Jordan Pickford) and Crystal Condie (Alex Scott).
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Tickets for the Stalls are £60.00, £89.00 and £99.00.
For advance reservations and more information, call 20 7452 3000.

Per National Theatre, "Dear England" is a fictionalized account of the struggles, conflicts and successes of England's football teams. It features characters, incidents and events that are imagined by the playwright or inspired by real-life individuals.

["Cabaret" Extends West End Run through June 2024]

It was bound to happen.
And happen, it has.
The West End revival of Kander and Ebb's "Cabaret," which received seven Olivier Awards including Best Musical Revival, has extended its run at the Kit Kat Klub (The Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, London, UK) through 29 June 2024.
And why not!
It's one of the hottest musicals in London and it's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Directed by Rebecca Frecknall, this revival adapts an immersive, in-your-face staging process that thrusts the audience into Berlin's notorious Kit Kat Klub of the 1930s - a place where anything goes, and anything can happen as theatergoers find themselves enjoying drinks, good food and musical fare alongside "Cabaret's" Sally Bowles, The Emcee and members of the band, dance ensemble and other decadent patrons and on-lookers.
Word on the street is that no two performances are alike.
Per Kit Kat Klub management, theatergoers are advised to enter the venue in advance of the entry time listed on the ticket and the performance of the main show. What happens next, is anybody's guess. 
Just remember: You can look. You can drool. You can flirt. You can get naughty.
But don't touch.
Based on Christopher Isherwood's "Berlin Stories" and John Van Druten's 1951 play "I Am a Camera," "Cabaret" replays the familiar story of an American bisexual writer and his relationship with an English female cabaret performer during the twilight of the Jazz Age and the subsequent rise of Nazism in Berlin, Germany.
First performed on Broadway in 1966, the musical has been subsequently revised and reworked to include songs from the 1972 film adaptation in addition to new material from various revivals including the 1993 London production and its 1998 remounting for Broadway. 

Musical numbers include "Willkommen," "Maybe This Time," "Don't Tell Mama," "Cabaret," "What Would You Do?" "I Don't Care Much," "If You Could See Her," "Mein Herr" and "Tomorrow Belongs to Me."
Heading the West End production of "Cabaret" are Mason Alexander Park as The Emcee, Maude Apatow as Sally Bowles, Nathan Ives-Moiba as Cliff Bradshaw, Beverly Klein as Fraulein Schneider, Teddy Kempner as Herr Schultz, Danny Mahoney as Ernst Ludwig and Michelle Bishop as Fraulein Kost.

Park and Apatow are scheduled to appear in "Cabaret" through 23 September 2023. Emily Benjamin portrays Sally Bowles at certain performances.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Tickets are £300.00, £250.00, £200.00, £175.00, £150.00, £100.00, £80.00, £60.00 and £50.00.

Pre show dining (evenings only) on a stage side table is available for £75.00 (+ show ticket) and must be booked in pairs. The three-course meal includes smoked salmon, fresh strawberries, champagne and assorted cheeses. Dining for matinee performances is £40.00 (+ show ticket) and includes a similar menu.

For advance reservations or more information, call 844 871 7631.

Michael Ball Stars in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Aspects of Love" Opening This May at London's Lyric Theatre

By James V. Ruocco 

"Love, love changes everything: hands and faces, earth and sky

Love, love changes everything: how you live and how you die

Love can make the summer fly, or a night seem like a lifetime

Yes, love, loves changes everything, now I tremble at you name

Nothing in the world will ever be the same"

Thirty-four years after starring as lovestruck Alex Dillingham in the original 1989 West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's celebrated romantic musical "Aspects of Love," Michael Ball returns to the production, this time playing the older role of George, Alex's distinguished, wealthy uncle.
The musical, based on the 1955 novella of the same name, traces the romantic entanglements of both Dillingham's and their conflicted liaisons with stage actress Rose Vibert and Italian sculptor Giulietta Trapani over a period of 17 years ranging from 1947 to 1964.
The "aspects" of the show's title refers to the musical's many "forms of love" that take place during the course of the actual story including love between two consenting heterosexual couples, their romantic infatuations as married couples and a same-sex attraction between Rose and Giulietta.
The West End production, directed by Trevor Nunn, opened on April 17, 1989, at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London and ran for a total of 1,325 performances. It starred Ball as Alex Dillingham, Ann Crumb as Rose Vibert, Kevin Colson as George Dillingham and Kathleen Rowe McAllen as Giulietta Trapani. A Broadway production featuring the four original members of the London cast opened April 8, 1990, at New York's Broadhurst Theatre, where it ran for 377 performances.

" 'Aspects of Love' holds a very special place in my heart," says Ball. "I am absolutely delighted to revisit Andrew Lloyd Weber's glorious score in a reimagined chamber production on the West End.
"I am also happy to be collaborating again with the brilliant director Jonathan Kent who was so inspiring when we worked together on 'Sweeney Todd' back in 2012." 

Joining Ball for the 2023 staging of "Aspects of Love" is Jamie Bogyo as Alex Dillingham, Laura Pitt-Pulford as Rose Vibert and Danielle de Niese as Giulietta Trapani. The role of Jenny, Rose's 18-year-old daughter with George Dillingham will be played by Anna Unwin. In the musical, young Jenny develops a crush on her handsome cousin Alex at the tender age of 13. Five years later, that crush becomes a romantic obsession.

Featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black and Charles Hart, "Aspects of Love" is told mainly through musical numbers that feature very little spoken dialogue.
The Tony Award-nominated score - lush, melodic, joyful, inspired - includes the iconic "Love Changes Everything," "Seeing Is Believing," "Anything But Lonely," "The First Thing That You Remember," "There Is More to Love" and "Hand Me the Wine and the Dice."

"I fell in love with Andrew Lloyd Webber's beautiful scores and melodies as a child," recalls de Niese. "And now, even more so with these gorgeous new orchestrations which are so rich and so romantic."

"Aspects of Love" will begin performances at the Lyric Theatre (29 Shaftsbury Avenue, London, UK) May 12, 2023, and run through November 11, 2023.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Ball will not perform on Monday nights beginning May 29, 2023.
Tickets are £30 to £173.
For reservations or more information, call 0330 333 3412. 
website: lyric-theatre.co.uk

An Immersive Telling of "Guys and Dolls" Is Set to Open in March, 2023 at the Bridge Theatre in London's West End

 By James V. Ruocco

A new staging of Frank Loesser's iconic 1950's musical "Guys and Dolls" is set to open in central London at the Bridge Theatre in March, 2023.
The good news: this isn't just any revival.
The production, directed by Olivier awarding-winner director Nicholas Hytner (Director of the National Theatre from 2003-2015) will be performed - up close and personal - in a completely immersive setting that will place London theatergoers on the streets of Manhattan and the back alleys of Havana, Cuba to experience classic song-and-dance routines, dice rolling, crap games, late-night clubbing, big religious mission band sermons and romantic love stories involving two decidedly different couples.
There's also a big sinner's revival at the mission, a grand and beautiful wedding and a very happy ending.

Prior to "Guys and Dolls," Hytner has staged several plays at the Bridge Theatre including "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Young Marx," "Julius Caesar, "Beat the Devil," "A Christmas Carol," "Two Ladies" and most recently, "Straight Line Crazy" starring Ralph Fiennes.
Other directorial credits include "Miss Saigon," "Les Miserables," "Carousel," "The Madness of King George," "The History Boys," "Talking Heads," "Hamlet," "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Major Barbara."

"Guys and Dolls" is the first musical to be staged at the Bridge Theatre.
First performed on Broadway in 1950 and followed three years later by its debut in London's West End, "Guys and Dolls" is based on two short stories by Damon Runyon. Written for the stage by Abe Burrows, the two-act musical charts the hilarious misadventures of the New York City underworld's gangsters, wheeler dealers, gamblers, showgirls and other assorted characters.

The Frank Loesser score (he composed the music and lyrics) features several popular showtunes including "Luck Be a Lady," "Fugue for Tinhorns," "I'll Know," "A Bushel and a Peck," "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," "If I Were a Bell," "Take Back Your Mink," "Guys and Dolls," "Sue Me," "Marry the Man Today" and "I've Never Been in Love Before."

The Bridge Theatre staging of "Guys and Dolls" stars Andrew Richardson as Sky Masterson, Marisha Wallace as Miss Adelaide, Daniel Mays as Nathan Detroit, Celinde Schoenmaker as Sarah Brown, Cedric Neal as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Cameron Johnson as Big Julie, Anthony O'Donnell as Arvide Abernathy, Mark Oxtoby as Benny Southstreet and Adam Pearce as Harry the Horse.
Member of the ensemble include Charlotte Scott, Ike Fallon, Callum Bell, Simon Anthony, Isabel Snaas, Dale White and Sasha Wareham.

The 2023 revival is being choreographed by Arlene Phillips. Tom Brady serves as musical director. Charlie Rosen is in charge of orchestrations. Bunny Christie is costume designer. Lighting design is by Paule Constable. Paul Arditt will design the sound for the Bridge Theatre presentation. Charlotte Sutton is casting director.

Per a statement from the Bridge Theatre booking staff: "In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' you raved with us in the forest. In 'Julius Caesar,' you ran wild with us as the mob.
"Now, come join us on Broadway for the biggest party yet as The Bridge transforms for one of the greatest musicals of all time.
"It has more hit songs, most laughs and more romance than any other show written."

As with the London production of "Cabaret," currently on view at the Kit Kat Club's Playhouse Theatre, all seating for "Guys and Dolls" will be wrapped around the action of the two-act musical.

"Guys and Dolls" will begin previews at the Bridge Theatre (3 Potters Field Park, London, UK) March 3, 2023 with opening night slated for March 14, 2023.
It is scheduled to run through September 2, 2023.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturdays
Tickets are £15 to £150.
Email: boxoffice@bridgetheatre.co.uk
For tickets or more information, call 0333 320 0051.
website: bridgetheatre.co.uk.

The Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)

 

By James V. Ruocco

Monday, September 19, 2022.

LONDON - After ten days of public mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the body of the beloved monarch will be laid to rest during a full schedule of funeral proceedings, slated to begin in London and end in Windsor.

At Westminster Abbey, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be attended by world leaders, including President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden of the United States, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, Denmark's Queen Margrethe II and heir Crown Prince Frederik, Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Irish President Michael D. Higgins and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Others in attendance include Commonwealth heads of state Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia and Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Order of Events For the Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, U.K. Time

6:30 a.m. - The doors of Westminster Hall, located at the House of Parliament, the place where the body of the late Queen Elizabeth II has been lying in state, will close to the general public.

10:44 a.m. -  The royal procession begins from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey. The state gun carriage will carry the coffin of Queen Elizabeth on a designated London route, accompanied by the royal band of marines and other musicians lined up through the streets with members of the royal navy and the royal marines. Members of the royal family including King Charles III, Prince William and the Princess Royal Anne, will follow the procession behind the carriage.

10:52 a.m. -   The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II will arrive at the gates of Westminster Abbey and be carried inside for the official ceremony.

11 a.m.  - The ceremony, led by David Hoyle, the Dean of Westminster, begins. It will include prayers and readings by both political and religious leaders including Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

11:55 a.m. - Within the walls of Westminster Abbey and all across the United Kingdom, there will be two minutes of silence with silent prayers and recollections.

12:00 p.m. - The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will draw to a close with reveille, a lament by the Queen's piper and the singing of "God Save the King," the official national anthem of the United Kingdom. The coffin will leave the Abbey for yet another procession through the streets of London with tolls continuously from Big Ben.

1:00 p.m. - The coffin will arrive at London's Wellington Arch, where it will be loaded into a hearse. At this location, the royal family - King Charles III, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince William, Prince Harry, among others - will depart for Windsor castle, estimated to be about 20 miles west of Buckingham Palace. 

3:06 p.m. -  The state hearse will arrive at Windsor, to join a special procession up Albert Road. King Charles III, the Princess Royal Anne and other members of the royal family including Prince William will join the procession on foot to St. George's Chapel.

4 p.m. - At St. George's Chapel, the committal service will begin, conducted by the Dean of Windsor. It will conclude with a blessing from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

 7:30 p.m. - The body of Queen Elizabeth II will be laid to rest in a private ceremony in King George VI Memorial at Windsor Castle. She will be buried alongside her husband, the late Prince Phillip.

More than two million people are expected to line the streets of London to pay homage to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrated her Platinum Jubilee this June in the United Kingdom. Everyone in attendance will have opportunity to glimpse members of the royal family walking behind the monarch's coffin, throughout the funeral procession.
It is an opportunity for everyone to participate and enjoy.

"Well done, Ma'am. Thank you for everything."

Immersive "Guys and Dolls" Revival to Open in February, 2023 at the Bridge Theatre in London's West End

 By James V. Ruocco

A new staging of Frank Loesser's iconic 1950's musical "Guys and Dolls" is set to open in central London at the Bridge Theatre in February, 2023.
The good news: this isn't just any revival.
The yet-to-be-cast production, directed by Nicholas Hytner (Director of the National Theatre from 2003-2015) will be performed  - up close and personal - in an completely immersive setting that will place theatergoers on the streets of Manhattan and the back alleys of Havana, Cuba to experience song-and-dance shows, crap games, dice rolling, late-night clubbing, religious sermons by mission bands, and romantic love stories involving two decidedly different couples. There's also a big sinner's revival, a wedding and a very happy ending.

Prior to "Guys and Dolls," Hytner has staged several plays at the Bridge Theatre including "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Young Marx," "Julius Caesar, "Beat the Devil," "A Christmas Carol," "Two Ladies" and most recently, "Straight Line Crazy" starring Ralph Fiennes.
Other directorial credits include "Miss Saigon," "Les Miserables," "Carousel," "The Madness of King George," "The History Boys," "Talking Heads," "Hamlet," "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Major Barbara."

"Guys and Dolls" is the first musical to be staged at the Bridge.
First performed on Broadway in 1950 and followed three years later by its debut in London's West End, "Guys and Dolls" is based on two short stories by Damon Runyon. Written for the stage by Abe Burrows, the two-act musical charts the hilarious misadventures of the New York City underworld's gangsters, wheeler dealers, gamblers, showgirls and other assorted characters.

The Frank Loesser score (he composed the music and lyrics) features several popular showtunes including "Luck Be a Lady," "Fugue for Tinhorns," "I'll Know," "A Bushel and a Peck," "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," "I'll Know," "If I Were a Bell," "Take Back Your Mink," "Guys and Dolls" and "I've Never Been in Love Before."

The 2023 revival is being choreographed by Arlene Phillips. Tom Brady serves as musical director. Charlie Rosen is in charge of orchestrations. Bunny Christie is costume designer. Lighting design is by Paule Constable. Paul Arditt will design the sound for the Bridge Theatre presentation. Charlotte Sutton is casting director.

Per a statement from the Bridge Theatre booking staff: "In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' you raved with us in the forest. In 'Julius Caesar,' you ran wild with us as the mob.
"Now, come join us on Broadway for the biggest party yet as The Bridge transforms for one of the greatest musicals of all time.
"It has more hit songs, most laughs and more romance than any other show written."

"Guys and Dolls" will begin previews at the Bridge Theatre (3 Potters Field Park, London, UK) February 27, 2023 with opening night slated for March 9, 2023.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturdays
Tickets are £15 to £150.
Email: boxoffice@bridgetheatre.co.uk
For tickets or more information, call 0333 320 0051.
website: bridgetheatre.co.uk.

Upcoming Bridge Theatre productions include "The Southbury Child" (July 1-August 27, 2022), a new play by Stephen Beresford starring Alex Jennings; and Henrik Ibsen's "John Gabriel Borkman" (September 24-November 26, 2022) starring Simon Russell Beale.

Gary Barlow Brings "A Different Stage" to London's Duke of York's Theatre This August and September

By James V. Ruocco

"I've done shows where it has just been me and a keyboard. I've done shows where I sit and talk to people. I've done shows where I've performed as part of a group. But this one, well, it's like none of them. When I walk out this time, well it's going to be a very different stage altogether."

Gary Barlow

Following a sold-out tour in Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Cheshire, Salford and Runcorn, British pop star, singer and songwriter Gary Barlow (of "Take That" fame) brings his acclaimed one-man show to London's West End this August and September.

Performances begin Tuesday, August 30 at the Duke of York's Theatre.

"Bringing it to London is a dream," says Barlow. "And the Duke of York's is the perfect setting for this story."

So what's it about?

"A Different Stage" is a unique, up-close and personal look at Barlow who, according to those who have already seen the show, tells the story of the singer's life through music, song, conversation and recollections. In between chatting directly with the audience, the handsome entertainer will sing, ad lib, play instruments, take the audience behind the performance curtain and have great fun doing all of the above.

Nothing is off limits.

The Duke of York's is "thrilled to host the event," welcome Barlow to the West End and sit back and enjoy his "intimate performance."

Expect to hear hits like "Back for Good," "Patience," "Rule the World," "Shine," "Love Won't Wait," "Pray," "The Flood," "Shame," "So Help Me Girl," "Forever Love," "For All That You Want, "Why Can't I Wake Up With You" - and so many more.
But be forewarned: This is not a "greatest hits" show. With Barlow pulling the strings, there's a "surprise element" with every performance. Therefore, no two shows are alike.

On tour, "A Different Stage," not surprisingly, opened to rave reviews, thus, prompting  one "sold-out" show after another.

"A brave and beautiful retelling of his whole life story...a seriously emotional experience."

Manchester Evening News

"Well worthy of a standing ovation."

Warrington Guardian

"The story of his life told in a completely unique, theatrical style."

Runcorn & Widnes World

"Two hours of close exposure produces an utterly ecstatic response."

The Scotsman

For the record, the British-born Barlow (he hails from Frodsham, England) is one of the UK's most acclaimed performers. As part of the popular boy band "Take That," he has received eight BRIT Awards and sold over 50 million records. He has also co-written and produced music for other renowned artists including Sir Elton John, Robbie Williams and Shirley Bassey.
In 2012, he was appointed an "Officer of the Order of the British Empire" at the 2012 "Queen's Birthday Honours" for his collaborative efforts to the music industry and various UK charities. 

"I'm absolutely thrilled and feel very privileged to be in the company of so many brilliant people who I know have received an OBE," said Barlow in a prepared statement. "Every minute of the work that I do, with a lot of it being a reward in itself. So for somebody to decide I should get recognised for that is just amazing."

More recently, he composed the musical score for the London and Broadway production of "Finding Neverland" and worked alongside Tim Firth on "Calendar Girls: The Musical." He also collaborated on the record-breaking stage musical "The Band" with Firth and his "Take That" team. It is presently being adapted into a 2022 feature film titled "Greatest Days."

In October 2021, Barlow released "The Dream of Christmas," his first Christmas album. A collection of holiday classics and news songs, the Deluxe CD featured 15 tracks including "Sleigh Ride," "The Dream of Christmas," "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Come On Christmas," "Merry Christmas Everyone," "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" and "Winter Wonderland."
Other albums include "Music Played by Humans," "Sing," "Open Road," "Wonderland," "Nobody Else," "Progress" and "Since I Last Saw You."

"A Different Stage" runs August 30 through September 25, 2022 at the Duke of York's Theatre (104 St. Martin's Lane, London).
Performances  are 19:30 on Tuesdays through Saturdays and 14.30 on Sundays. 
Tickets are  £22 to £169.40.

"There's definitely music in the show," says Barlow via "Gary Barlow Official" on YouTube. "I'm in the show. It's me on stage with a piano and an organ. There's chat. There's funny times. There's emotional times. It's a show about a life. It's a theatrical show.
"The one thing I realized from doing this show is that it's not just actually my life. It's our lives. So many of the things in the show you'll all relate too. It's a show of firsts - right here."

Barlow, of course, can't contain his excitement over this project, which, was in development for exactly four years.
"It's the most demanding and scary thing I've done in a very long time. I'm very proud of it. So please come and see us."

To reserve tickets for "A Different Stage," call The Duke of York's Theatre at 0884 871 7627. You can also book tickets through Ticketmaster at 0161 425 7563.

The Platinum Jubilee Celebration of Queen Elizabeth II

 

By James V. Ruocco

It's the celebration of the year.

Puddings.
Parties.
Concerts.
Parades.
Picnics.
Pageants,
Tributes.
Remembrances.
Exhibits.
Grand lunches.
Church services.

On February 6, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II will become the very first British monarch in history to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. Prior to 2015, Queen Victoria, who died on January 22, 1901, held the title of the longest official ruling monarch on the throne of England for 63 years and seven months. She was also the first monarch to live in Buckingham Palace.

To date, seven decades have passed since Elizabeth II acceded to the throne at the age of 25 following the death of her father, King George VI on February 6, 1952 of lung cancer at the age of 56. As Queen of England, she has advised 14 prime ministers including Sir Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron and met with 13 U.S. presidents from Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
As Queen, she has supported the nation as ruler and figurehead through many crises - The Gulf War, the mining disaster in Wales, the death of Diana, the Princess of Wales and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
She will be 96 when the main Jubilee celebration begins this June.
More than 10 million people are expected to participate in the event - a first for the monarchy as The Platinum Jubilee has never been celebrated before.

The Platinum Jubilee will honor Queen Elizabeth II through various tributes and celebrations throughout the year, culminating in a gala four-day national bank holiday weekend of public events from Thursday, June 2 until Sunday, June 5, known as "The Queen's Jubilee Weekend."  These "national moments of reflection," as dictated by Buckingham Palace, will pay homage to the Queen's 70 years of service. The upcoming celebrations - themed events at Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle - plus  specially organized community activities throughout the United Kingdom will mark the first Jubilee event without her husband Prince Philip, who died April 9, 2021 at the age of 99.

Senior members of the royal family expected to attend are Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, Anne, the Princess Royal and Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

To kick things off, a nationwide baking contest has been launched to find a brand new dessert dedicated to the Queen's Jubilee. Titled "The Platinum Pudding Competition," this nationwide event, a collaboration with Fortnum & Mason, is open to UK residents only, ages 8 and over.  All competitors are asked to create a unique and delicious original recipe designed to honor Queen Elizabeth II.
All entries must be submitted by February 4. Following three rounds of judging, the five best entrants will be invited to attend a live final bake-off competition before a specially selected panel that includes Mary Berry, Monica Galetti and Mark Flanagan, the head chef at Buckingham Palace. The winning recipe will be made available to the general public in June to be enjoyed during the nation's street parties and Jubilee celebrations honoring the Queen.

The Platinum Jubilee Events

The BBC Platinum Party at the Palace - As with both "The Golden Jubilee" and "The Diamond Jubilee," this LIVE concert event, scheduled for Saturday June 4, will bring together a variety of the world's biggest entertainers from around the globe to honor and celebrate the Queen's reign of 70 years.
It has yet to be confirmed who will perform, but Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney, Ed Sheeran and Sir Cliff Richard are among those rumored to be performing at the concert, which will also be broadcast on BBC One. 

The Beacon Lighting - More than 1,500 towns, villages and cities throughout the United Kingdom  including London, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Leeds and Windsor will light a specially designed beacon to mark the Jubilee celebration on Thursday, June 2. The capitals of the Commonwealth countries will also participate in the event.
The Principle Beacon will be lit on the same day during a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The lighting of the Sandringham Beacon will also take place on June 2 in the Royal Parkland, accompanied by live music from the Norwich Pipe Band and the Hunstanton Band.

The Big Jubilee Lunches - Specially designed and catered lunches will take place across Britain on June 5,  including flagship events in both London and at Cornwall, where the idea for the afternoon lunch celebration began, honoring the Queen. As before, these "Big Lunches" often feature some of the Queen's favorite foods including smoked salmon, grilled steak and chicken, chocolate sponge cake, Gleneagles pate, Morney-sauced spinach and fresh peaches and strawberries. Shepard's pie, banger's and mash and fish and chips are also part of the menu depending on the culinary tastes and budgets of the participants.
Large or small, these lunches bring everyone together in the spirit of fun and friendship to not only honor the reigning Queen, but share a cuppa, a cake, a biscuit, a meal, a drink and a hearty conversation or two. 

The Platinum Jubilee Celebration: A Gallop Through History - A 90-minute tribute to the Queen, this show will take place on the grounds of Windsor Castle between May 12 and May 15. It will feature more than 1,000 performers and 500 horses in a specially designed event that will take its audience from the days of Elizabeth I to the present day monarchy of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Platinum Jubilee Pageant - Scheduled for Sunday, June 5, this pageant will tell the story of the Queen's 70-year reign on the throne utilizing the talents of a variety of performers including dancers, musicians, key workers, volunteers and military personnel. It will take place in London and feature street arts, costuming, banners, circus attractions, theater, music, dance and visual technology as its primary focus.

The Queen's Birthday Parade: Trooping the Colour - On Thursday, June 2, the United Kingdom will celebrate the Queen's birthday with a Parade through the streets of London featuring the traditional trooping of colours with over 1,400 participating parading soldiers.
Beginning at Buckingham Palace, the celebratory procession will move down The Mall to the Horse Guard's Parade, joined by members of the royal family on horseback and in carriages. It will end with a RAF fly-past, viewed by the Queen and select royals from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
The practice of Trooping the Colour was introduced in 1805 and has been a highlight of the royal ceremonial calendar annually except in bad weather or periods of mourning.  

The Queen's Mass - A special church service of thanksgiving with be held on Friday, June 3 at London's St. Paul's Cathedral honoring the Queen's longtime reign on the throne.

After the Platinum Jubilee - In July, the Jubilee celebration will continue with three specially designed displays commemorating the most significant and important moments of Queen Elizabeth II's reign - accession, coronation, past jubilees. These events will be staged at her royal residences.
The state rooms of Buckingham Palace will also be open during the summer months. Early portraits of the Queen will be on display alongside the jewels she wore for these sittings. At Windsor Castle,  the Queen's coronation dress and robe of estate worn in 1953 at Westminster Abbey will be showcased. The Palace of Holyroodhouse will exhibit the Queen's outfits from the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilee.

Until then...

(This column is dedicated to the memory of longtime best friend Darren J. McKenty)

"Eton Mess" - A Perfect Dessert for any Time of the Year

  

By James V. Ruocco

"Eton Mess."

It's a dessert like no other and one that is best enjoyed primarily in the summer months, at sporting events or during the Christmas, New Year's and Boxing Day holidays.

But, what exactly is it?
And, how did it get its name?

The origins of "Eton Mess" - a delicious confection of fresh strawberries, meringues and whipped double cream - supposedly dates back to a late 19th century cricket match at Eton College. While the game - Eton vs. Harrow - was in progress, the dessert was accidentally dropped on the floor and smashed to bits by the college's elite wait staff.
Not to worry, though.
Within seconds, it was scooped up and placed in individual bowls for serving.
The staff went wild. The students were thrilled. Bowls were scraped clean. Seconds and thirds were requested. And within the half-hour, this slightly "messy concoction" became an immediate hit with everyone on sight.
And rightly, so.

It's simple.
It's flavorful.
It's delicious.
It's fun.
It's easy to make.
It tastes real good.

An English dessert jumbled-up to resemble a "messy twist" on traditional pudding fare, "Eton Mess" is a sweet treat that has withstood the test of time.

The recipe is quite simple.

Strawberries.
Meringues.
Double cream.
Caster sugar.

Cut the strawberries in half after washing them. Add a dash or two of caster sugar. Crumble the meringues into bits. Toss the double cream into a mixer or blender and allow it to swirl around until it becomes thick, creamy and frothy looking. Stir everything together until it is evenly blended. Place in bowls and chill for about 15-30 minutes and then serve. 

And voila, the "Eton Mess" pudding tradition continues.

Variations of the original recipe are also a common practice.
If strawberries are not to your liking, you can substitute raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, gooseberries or redcurrants. You can mix them together if you so choose. Chocolate shavings are quite popular as is a spoonful of strawberry or cranberry jam, lemon curd, minced ginger and vanilla chips. Elderflower cream can also be substituted in place of double cream.

Whatever recipe - classic or variation - the idea, of course, is to keep things messy while creating a dessert that no doubt will become a sweet pleasure for the palate.

Enjoy!

Eton College, an exclusive English school for boys (ages 13-18) was founded in 1440 by Henry VI. One of three public schools, including Harrow and Radley, to retain a seven-day-a-week boarding only tradition policy, it well known for its wealth, its history and its noteworthy alumni. Tuition is roughly £48,501 per year.
Distinguished alumni include Prime Minister Boris Johnson, David Cameron, Prince William, Prince Harry, Charles Spencer, Ian Fleming, George Orwell, Alexander Windsor, John Maynard Keynes, Antony Armstrong-Jones and actors Eddie Redmayne, Hugh Laurie, Domenic West, Damian Lewis and Tom Hiddleston.

The Laughs are Non-Stop in "Going the Distance," Henry Filloux-Bennett and Yasmeen Khan's Hillarious New UK Comedy That Pokes Fun at Community Theatre

 By James V. Ruocco

"Going the Distance," a streamed, collaborative effort co-produced by The Lawrence Batley Theatre, Oxford Playhouse, The Dukes Lancaster and The Watermill Theatre, does exactly what it promises to do.
It not only "goes the distance" in terms of non-stop frivolity and laughter, but its ripe, playful and acidic attack of UK community theatre (for that matter, community theatre anywhere) is absolutely wicked and spot on. It's so much fun, you're going to be hitting "replay" over and over till your hand hurts.
Farcical with plummy chatter amidst egos, blunders, star turns, giggles, jitters, backstage fights and  rehearsal catastrophes, "Going the Distance" never falters for a moment.

Cheeky.
Clever.
Irrepressible.
Energetic.
Inspirational.
Zingy.
Fresh.

What's not to like? Or enjoy?

The production is set during March, 2020, a time when the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forced  hundreds of UK arts centers, venues and prestigious theatrical organizations to face the prospect of closing their doors for good. One of them - the fictitious Matchborough Community Theatre - not only refuses to give up, but hopes to bounce back with a special fundraising production of "Wizard," a musical take inspired by, but for purposes of rights, cash flow and legalities, not based on anything to do "The Wizard of Oz."

The saucy text, written with flair and gusto by Henry Filloux-Bennett and Yasmeen Khan, gets right to the heart of the matter. Knowing the ins and outs of community theatre - backwards, forwards, left, right, center and upside down - "Going the Distance" is fueled with a marvelous sense of truth, spirit and honesty. The words flow. The jokes slap you in the face. The characters, their quirks and their oddities hit home. The storyboard and its scene by scene reenactment captures the vibe, the passion, the process and the dedication associated with theater as an art form.
As the story evolves over its 75-minute running time, Bennett and Khan concoct a breezy theatrical affair that breathes, resonates and inspires with nary a hiccup or rough conjunction in its pathway. It's all here: the auditions, the publicity, the radio interviews, the egos, the rehearsals, the read through, the tech week, the clash between actor to actor and director, the required budgetary cuts, the stop-and-go of rehearsals, the silly questions about direction, motivation, line readings and characterization, the mistimed cues, the lunch breaks, the jealousies, the backstabbing and lastly, the death of a major player when the dog playing Toto "takes the yellow brick road to the sky."
Better yet, it all makes perfect sense if only because it's all true, a fact that the writing duo set forth believably from their personal experiences with theaters, opening nights, showcases, rewrites, performers, audiences, budgets and the entire rehearsal process.

Staging the ensuing comedy, chaos and mayhem is actress Felicity Montagu (she hails from Leeds) whose credits - film, television, theatre- include "I'm Alan Partridge," "Bridget Jones's Diary," "Pride and Prejudice," "Confetti," "Resistence," "The Durrells" and "Quartermaine's Terms." Well versed in the mechanics of all things theatrical, Montagu addresses "Going the Distance" with deft direction and flair, which, of course, takes the material down the right path to Oz, the UK and beyond, etc. There are moments of high passion, entitlement and edge. There are moments of farce, wickedness and verbal ping pong. There are moments of  warmth, sweetness and candy-coated sympathy. And lastly, moments of gratitude, appreciation and illumination.

What's fun about "Going the Distance" is that Montagu knows exactly what she wants and she runs with it. She takes chances and they work. She gets Bennett and Khan's conceit and connects to it most effortlessly. She loves actors and it shows. She knows how to frame, build and time a scene, a joke, a close up, a reaction and a character move. She also has a keen sense of cheekiness which she uses to full advantage here. And that, in a nutshell, is why this production works so wonderfully well.

"Going the Distance" stars Matthew Kelly as Frank, Penny Ryder as Maggie, Sarah Hadland as Rae, Nicole Evans as Billie, Shobna Gulati as Vic, Emma McDonald as Gail, Sarah Crowe as En and Merch  Husey as Kem. Stephen Fry (off camera) serves as The Narrator.

Casting is key to the success of any production and Montagu has assembled a first-class team of actors and actresses, all of whom share her love of theatre, performance and acting. Here, everyone is exactly right for the parts they are asked to play - and play them they do. As actors, they possess the right mindset for comedy, characterization, farce, verbal banter, interplay, exchange, expression and laugh-out-loud silliness. Whatever they are asked to do, they do it. And it works...incredibly.

Guaranteed to drive you into an absolute frenzy of hysterics, "Going the Distance" is British comedy at its very best. It's a comic coup for all parties involved - the director, the writers, the actors, the production team, the audience - with observations and attacks so wildly consistent, it's impossible to resist. Director Felicity Montagu's spectacular timing, offset by outrageous interplays, close ups and expert line delivery, produce non-stop silliness, but with both purpose and drive. The cast - one of the funniest on record - tackle the comedic chaos brilliantly. And the script, the brainchild of Henry Filloux-Bennett and Yasmeen Khan, is filled out with sparkling wit and standout verbiage you might want to jot down with pen and paper.

If you're in the mood for comedy guaranteed to put a smile on your face, "Going the Distance" is highly recommended. You'll absolutely love it. 

"Going the Distance," co-produced by The Lawrence Batley Theatre, Oxford Playhouse, The Dukes Lancaster and The Watermill Theatre, is being streamed online, now through October 31, 2021.

Tickets are £15.00.

Once you have purchased your ticket, you will receive a booking confirmation that includes your screening link. The link will be active on the date you have chosen to watch the production and will expire after 48 hours.

website: goingthedistanceplay.com