Theatre - Beautiful Thing at the Royal Exchange

I walked into this performance having no idea what the show was about.  I hadn't made the link between the title and the film that had been adapted from it.  I enjoyed the film a couple of years ago, without realising it started life as a play.  I put 2 and 2 together when I read the programme before the play began.

The set was even better than the Royal Exchange's usual standard.  It evoked very well the London Housing Estate the play is set in.  Without being dour.  With the lighting it seemed chirpy and summery.  The lighting was a fabulous part of the scene setting.  From the lights in 'other flats' to the overall feel of the day.

The cast never put a foot wrong here.  They were all excellent but I have to say the two women were fantastic. Especially the younger one who was playing a gobby truant.  The conversations between characters was great. It zipped along wonderfully and never felt scripted.  I have never laughed so much in a theatre.  The one liners are hilarious.

The story deals with two serious topics.  Making you think about them without thrusting them repeatedly in your face.  The sad parts are brief but not too brief.  This is a play that you initially enjoy and then spend time thinking about afterwards.  It doesn't have an explained ending.  It seems that life will carry on.  Not necessarily easily but there's no portent of misery either.

Thanks to a fantastic script and a script full of great banter, this is the play I have most enjoyed at the Royal Exchange.  I'd be hard pressed to think of one I've enjoyed more anywhere.  I'm gutted I haven't chance to see it again.

One question I left with was - Why don't they make those duvet covers in a Double?

I hope any local readers can make it there if they haven't already.  It's well worth the trip.  More info can be found on the Royal Exchange website.

5 out of 5 pawprints

Satin and Steel @ Oldham Coliseum Theatre

I'll have to be honest.  I wasn't looking forward to this.  I'm not a fan of 'club entertainment'.  It's just not my thing.

However this was the perfect setting for this story.  It was anything but the story that I was expecting to unfold.  It was well told and very well acted.  Roxanne Pallett was great as Teena, the local girl with a voice.  She was a pleasure to watch.  Matt Healy was brilliant as Vince for the opposite reason.  He came across perfectly as the sleazyish lounge singer wannabe.  He really did give me the creeps.

I really felt for Teena.  You know how when your heart breaks for someone.  That doesn't happen to me too often in the theatre.

The script had been altered slightly to set it in Oldham.  I think this was a great touch, done very well.  You really could vision the characters.

One of the topics raised shocked me.  I didn't expect it to be seen at the Oldham Coliseum.  Credit to them that they were happy to broach the subject.

All in all I'd say this was an excellent play.  Go see it.  Book your tickets on 0161 624 2829  The Oldham Coliseum is http://www.coliseum.org.uk/

This was directed by  Joyce Branagh.  And yes, it is nice to have Kenneth's sister at our local theatre ;-)

4 out of 5 pawprints

Stepping Out at Oldham Coliseum

The first show this season is a tale of a tap dancing class.  It didn't stand out as one for me really.  I have no interest or knowledge of tap dancing at all.

I was very pleasantly surprised.  I had one of most enjoyable nights at the theatre.  This was one of the funniest plays I've seen.  Not the 'laugh here' type play where everyone else is guffawing and I'm not impressed with the predictable line.  But genuine laughs.  

The major coup here seems to be the cast.  Everyone inhabited their character perfectly.  I believed in each one, even though a lot was played for laughs.  There was a definite lack of 'theatricality' about them.  Each one was someone you knew.  Each character was kept even whilst the focus was on others.  All those personal movements stayed there all the time they were on stage.  

The second half had some moments of feeling in.  Though it never strayed into pulling at the heartstrings, you felt for these characters you hadn't had long to get to know.  This could on;y have worked with a cast this good.

The final act was just splendid.  I won't say any more though, go and see it for yourself.  Box Office info here - http://coliseum.org.uk/who-are-we/box-office/

The cocktail of the play was a 'Dancing Mojito' and a damn good mojito it was too :-)

My only complaint was that the 'rough' character had exactly the same gym bag as me!

5 out of 5 pawprints.  This is as good as The Road to Nab End was though very different.