Review: 20th Century Boy, Mayflower | Winchester Today

Winchester Today's Kevin Gover discovers plenty of Hot Love at the Mayflower for 20th Century Boy - 6 May, 2014 (***** Five Stars)

From the moment I walked in to the Mayflower, I knew this was going to be a good night. Even the music being played beforehand was of an era that just transported me back to a time that was just... just so special.

You either loved glam rock or hated it. Me? I didn't just love it, I simply ADORED it.

Blasting out of the speakers was Roxy's Virginia Plain - one of THE songs in 1972 that transformed my life and career. I heard that particular song at a disco in 1972 alongside T. Rex and all those other greats. I immediately wanted to be a DJ.

Not that I have ever forgotten those times anyway. Marc Bolan's music has survived, long after some of his contemporaries have been forgotten about. How many people can honestly say that they don't sing along to Hot Love when they hear it on the radio?

Marc Bolan and I have previous. He was part of my life in the early 1970s when it was just great to be a teenager. If I couldn't play an instrument, then I was sure going to play his records on the radio later in life.

I can remember as if it were yesterday the day one of my classmates brought Electric Warrior to school. This was the album that shot Marc Bolan and T Rex to superstardom, and the one which is featured in the Billy Elliot.

Perhaps it was strange that in an all-boys school, this one moment should have caused so much fuss.

But it was clear that Bolan appealed to us and to female fans. We all loved the music - they did the screaming and loved the look. Many of them feature in archive footage that's flashed up around the stage.

Marc was one of those guys that we all talked about in school on a Friday morning post Thursday's Top of the Pops. The way he commanded the stage in the studio, forever looking at himself in the monitors.

And here it is, laid out before us; the life and music of a man who wanted to be "Bigger Than Elvis"... and yet both he and Elvis died within a month of each other in 1977.

Marc's death as we know was a sudden and unexpected one for a person who wrote lyrics that talked of a life of peace and love. His beloved purple Mini car hit a tree in Barnes. He wasn't even driving; that was Gloria Jones, Marc's girlfriend and backing vocalist in T. Rex at the time. Marc was 2 weeks short of his 30th birthday. She survived, he didn't.

Their son, Rolan, escaped being a passenger because he was at his grandparents' house. He was barely two at the time, and the show is his quest to discover his father's life, to come back to England, to see people and places and discover his past to make peace with his own future.

We're taken through the early days of Bolan's initial quest for stardom, and how his music was initially triumphed by Radio 1 DJ and friend John Peel.

The rest comes at you thick and fast; I already had tears in my eyes towards the end of the first act with songs like Ride a White Swan - and those I had forgotten like Debora.

There are plenty of jokes too. I mean, just how do you get to Number 1 when Grandad is already there?!

Director Gary Lloyd says casting was "a joy... and needed to have a combination of characters who could also pick up an instrument and play this iconic music..." - and so they do, because T.Rex had that unique sound. The band is, quite simply superb.

The cast do not disappoint; Luke Bailey is a familiar face and gave a tender portrayal of Rolan. Donna Hines (Gloria) can sure belt out a tune. I loved the infectious smile (particularly in the encore) of Lucy Sinclair who plays Marc's wife June. Sue Jenkins is another familiar face and revelled in her role of Phyllis. Warren Sollars has Marc's speech, singing and mannerisms down to a 'T'. At times, it is quite uncanny.

The show had promised to be warts-and-all, and it is difficult to watch these aspects of the show sometimes; Gloria blaming herself for the accident, Marc's bust-ups with former friend DJ John Peel and his record producer Tony Visconti.

But we cannot forget the legacy, and the reason we are here: the music. Boy, what a legacy. 4 Number 1s...10 songs in the UK Top 10...

The encore is sensational, bringing even more hits and the audience to their feet, clapping and singing along. Everyone around me was still singing the chorus to Hot Love as we left the theatre.

The show is a triumph for all of us who knew all of the words, and for those who discovered them tonight.

And girls... sorry, but the red fluffy boa I was given tonight is MINE!

20th Century Boy is touring around the UK until July.

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Review: West Side Story, Mayflower | Winchester Today

Review: West Side Story, Mayflower, 23 April 2014

Winchester Today's David Cradduck LOVED to be in America! Fast, furious, frenetic, fabulous – four stars!

The latest incarnation of classic musical West Side Story took downtown Southampton by storm this week.

It is perhaps fitting that as the day we watched this elderly but hugely energetic show at The Mayflower it was also William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday (and death day too, apparently). 

It was The Bard’s dramatic tale of passion, unrequited love, prejudice and violence –Romeo and Juliet - that inspired the creators of West Side Story in the late 50s. 

The big difference is that instead of the doomed passion of the two young lovers being set amongst feuding aristocratic families, the Montagues and the Capulets, the backdrop for this story is the turmoil of post war New York streets and the gang warfare between the Jets – young rebellious, disillusioned American whites – and the Sharks, incomers from Peurto Rico seeking the American Dream.

This phase in New York’s history was a troubled one –crime, unemployment and poverty hit an all time high, the tension between the multi-ethnic communities and the police a constant simmering pot of tension and delinquency.

It all seems an unlikely place to set such a colourful, flamboyant musical, given all those foot-tapping and infectious songs we grew up knowing so well: ‘Tonight’, ‘Maria’, ‘America’ and ‘Somewhere’ from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim are as familiar to many a generation as more recent West End showstoppers. 

But though the storyline is intense and gritty, this amazing show never fails to entertain our emotions – it is funny, poignant, sad, maddening, heart warming and heart stopping all in the same bag.

Outstanding above all is the superb, near-balletic dancing, choreographed by director Joey McKneely.

To cast a show which relies on young men and women who can dance effortlessly, sing with near operatic voices and act their socks off is a tricky job, but not only has this production managed it but also boasts an amazing line-up of back-ups, standbys and understudies to ensure perfection despite illness. 

If I hadn’t been told that Charlotte Baptie would be playing Maria and Sinead Kenny would be standing in for Anita, I for one wouldn’t have known, such was the dynamism and professionalism that they brought to both roles.

Louis Maskell as young hero Tony, Javier Cid as Shark leader Bernardo and Jack Wilcox as Riff, complete the principle set with brilliant performances but this is very much a supreme example of great teamwork.

Paul Gallis’s Upper West Side street set was superbly lit by designer Peter Halbsgut – indeed for me the lighting plays a huge role in scene-setting and creating the mix of moods – the use of colour and backlighting is particularly stunning. 

Add a skillfully balanced orchestra and energetic musical director in Ben van Tienen and this street-tough show is complete. 

If he was here to see it, creator, producer, director and choreographer Jerome Robbins from the original Broadway show would be highly satisfied that his dream show lives on and is as relevant today as it was all those years ago.

West Side Story runs at the Mayflower until 3rd May when it moves to Nottingham before taking in nine more venues and final curtain in September.www.mayflower.org.uk

Feel The Love! | Winchester Today

All the team at Winchester Today are very excited about the biggest project we have ever undertaken. 35 musicians - 4 venues - 1CD - it's all part of the Feel The Love Tour! 

It is in fact so huge that we are wondering what we have let ourselves in for. But we are absolutely sure that you will love it!

The Drammen International Gospel Choir

This Autumn we will be bringing the Drammen International Gospel Choir to Winchester, Salisbury and Eastleigh with a cast of 30 singers and musicians.

The project is up and running on Kickstarter - take a look here and make a pledge!

While they are here, the choir will be recording a live CD and offering a master class to some music students here in Winchester. 

We have put it to the choir about producing a CD which will be on sale to generate funds for our nominated charity. The twist is though that the CD will have been recorded in the city just 24 hours earlier. 

Watch the video by clicking here!

Listen to the full interview with Kevin Gover and Sven Jøran Michelsen from the Drammen International Gospel Choir by clicking here:

David Williams (l) from Christ Church Winchester with the music director
of the Drammen International Gospel Choir, Sven Jøran Michelsen.

Winchester MP Chairs Vital Post-Flood Meetings

Following the worst winter on record, Winchester's MP Steve Brine has held post-flood meetings with local constituents and experts to see how flooding could be prevented here in the future.

Steve told Winchester Today that residents have not only asked for help in fighting what was happening in February - and need reassurance: "They've also been looking to the future and asking what can be done to prevent it happening again. 

I will take what they've said back to the councils and to government and see if we need any investment, where it needs to go and how much I need to fight for that money for our constituency."

Listen to Steve here

On their second set of visits to the rural parishes of the Winchester District to view the impact of the floods, the Mayor and Mayoress of Winchester paid tribute to the contribution of the armed forces.

Cllr and Mrs Ernie Jeffs were escorted on a five-hour trip to Twyford and Hambledon by the Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Rob Humby.  Together, they viewed houses damaged by water and sewage and businesses which had seen regular trade fall by up to 50%.

Cllr Jeffs says he's deeply impressed by the rallying-round: “At a time when local people were beginning to feel really exhausted by the continued physical and emotional effort of fighting the floodwater, the armed forces have played a vital role in sustaining morale and confidence.

“The Winchester District has been extremely fortunate in having help from a number of regiments, working on innovative major projects like the Easton river barrier and also essential local activities such as manning the pumps overnight in Hambledon.  

They have been well co-ordinated, genuinely keen to help and delightful additions to the local community.  I would like to thank all those who have been involved.”

Winchester Today

Steve Brine

#winchesterfloods

#stevebrine

REVIEW: War Horse On Tour - Mayflower | Winchester Today

David Cradduck of Winchester Today says War Horse On Tour is "Simply Stunning"

Given that five million people have seen War Horse on stage around the world since its launch some six years ago, every possible word, every adjective, every passage of praise that could be spoken or written about it has already been said.

Lucky for me then, that apart from its awesome reputation I didn’t have any preconceived expectations about what I would witness on stage at The Mayflower this week. I haven’t even seen Spielberg’s 2011 film. 

I knew it would be good, I had heard the puppetry was clever and I was warned to take a fresh handkerchief. 

So I really was stunned by this amazing piece of theatre; two and a quarter hours flew by in a whirlwind of light and sound, projected imagery, breathtaking simplicity and a gut-wrenching storyline.

Take a bare stage – so black it is ink-black. Add a huge piece of torn paper on which to project animated sketches, lighting and sound that bombards the senses and contrast it with a single pure male folk singing voice and you have the backdrop for this story and the most stunning puppetry on a grand scale that I have ever seen.

Designer Rae Smith along with the lighting, sound, video designers have created a visual masterpiece and the music and sound by Adrian Sutton and Christopher Shutt complete the picture.

Michael Morpurgo’s now famous book, on which the play is based, is a simple enough story – the First World War seen through the eyes of a horse, Joey, as he is raised on a Devon farm before being drafted into the front line, along with Albert Narracott, his young owner and thousands of others. 

It is, inevitably, a reflection of the futility of that war which saw ten million fighting men – 800,000 of them British - killed in appalling circumstances. It is as importantly an eye opener into the plight of the million horses that were also sent to fight for their country in France. Only 62,000 of them returned.

To relay such intense emotions as such a sad chapter in the world’s history evokes, requires gravitas and feeling, sympathy for those who suffered so horribly and for those they left behind. 

And yet War Horse has some extremely touching, funny, laugh-out-loud moments that reinforce the comradeship and bravery behind the horror.

The cast, led by Lee Armstrong as Albert, is faultless in delivery and characterisation. The innocent pre-war Devonians, French victims trapped in a battle zone, the Tommies with their idiosyncratic Britishness whatever the circumstances (“Je suis un sod” says the Sergeant), the Germans who, underneath it all were human and vulnerable too. And the real stars, the horses.

As to the puppetry, it is mind-numbingly clever. The three puppeteers operating each of the two lead equine roles become invisible. 

After the first minute or so you don’t see them any more, just the horses they are playing. This is acting at its finest - and without a word uttered. Every twitch of the ears, snort and hoof scrape is so convincing you forget these are puppets, not real animals. So much so that Joey and Topthorn, as the equine characters they have become, take their own curtain call. How real is that?

First premiered at the Olivier Theatre in October 2007 before transferring to the West End and then to Broadway, Toronto, North America on tour, Australia on tour, and now the UK and Ireland on tour, it is no wonder that so many people have been privileged, like me, to witness this incredibly powerful piece of theatre. 

But even then, all those people in all that time still only represent half the number of men – and horses – that perished in the ‘war to end all wars’.

 War Horse runs at the Mayflower until 15th March when it transfers to Dublin.

REVIEW: Happy Days, Mayflower | Winchester Today

David Cradduck says "Heyyyyyyyy!" - and probably "Yay!" - and gives five big stars to the performance of 'Happy Days' at the Mayflower, Southampton - 11th February 2014.

Anyone who watched the Channel 4 documentary series The Sound of Musicals a few weeks ago cannot fail to have got caught up in the real life drama that saw Amy Anzel, young American actress/producer climbing a seemingly impossible mountain by attempting to stage a major musical in the UK.

Four years of ‘blood, sweat and tears’, the sinking of her life savings and ‘worrying times’ later, gutsy Amy has seen the fulfilment of a personal dream and is now bringing a huge dollop of happiness to audiences up and down the country with a UK tour of Happy Days – the NEW musical.

Happy Days does what it says on the tin – it is a foot tapping (or stomping if you’re not a reserved Brit), catchy, young, colourful, brash, energetic and very American two hours of musical fun that makes you leave the theatre with an aching jaw from smiling. 

The eight piece band effortlessly provides a solid mix of ballads and rock and roll from composer Paul Williams, the singing is spot on and annoyingly catchy, the dancing energetic enough to make you exhausted and the standard of Andrew Wright’s direction and choreography is superbly entertaining.

Many will remember the 70s TV series starring Henry Winkler as the cool but flawed and vulnerable show-off Arthur ‘The Fonz’ Fonzarelli. 

Like the TVshow, the musical is pretty thin on plot: in a similar mould to Grease, cool guy Fonz (Ben Freeman of Emmerdale fame) eventually unites with cool girl PinkyTuscadero (Sugababe Heidi Range), whilst saving their favourite café from the developers. 

He sees off a couple of unlikely troublemakers in the process and is generally very cool throughout, with trademark motorbike and leather jacket and jeans. 

He models himself on a cross between James Dean and Elvis (both of whom make cameo appearances); the wholesome, smalltown American story of innocent Jefferson High School folk is set in the simpler, innocent era of 1959 when teenagers went to café bars to listen to music, hang out with their friends and the most dangerous drug around was coffee.

Strong performances shine throughout. The headliners – Freeman, Range and Cheryl Baker of Bucks Fizz/Eurovision (circa 1981) all turn in excellent, polished performances, of course. 

But it is the dance and chorus ensemble that really has the wow factor for me, especially the men who seem to effortlessly dominate the stage in their musical numbers. 

Award for huge personality married to great acting/dancing/singing goes to relatively unknown Andrew Waldron as Ralph. Not physically built for speed, he is incredibly light on his feet and accurate in every way.

Other strong points: the lighting is adventurously colourful and complex for a travelling show although I’m not sure the strobe effect works during the wrestling competition; costumes that are equally colourful and authentic of the era; and an intriguing set that opens up like a neon pop-up book for all the different scenes.

There are very few weak points: a minor hitch with a curtain at the end of Act 1 and a wobbly follow-spot (neither of which will be repeated I’m sure); the wrestling scene is unconvincing despite strobe and slo-mo effects; and the encore following an impressive finale and curtain call is too long, especially as the audience is encouraged to stand for it.

All in all, Happy Days lives up to its name, deserves a five star performance and is great fun.

The tour continues at Sheffield next week with a further 19 venues before its conclusion in July. By which time those dancers will be exhausted, along with many an audience.

For more information and tour dates go to http://happydaysthemusical.com

Cheriton's Floods In Pictures | Winchester Today

Cheriton's Floods In Pictures | Winchester Today - It's not just Winchester that's taking the brunt of the water from the Itchen, as these pictures from David Cradduck show...

The source is only half a mile or so away on the Kilmeston road. The river splits in two through the village. One half runs through the green, the other half in front of David's house. The latter is the part that has burst its banks in places...

David says that just as important is the fact the the ground water level is so high that it's coming up through the ground. The field behind the church is nowhere near the river but all the water off the fields near the pub has settled at the lowest point, creating a lake across the field...