Musical Review: Flashdance The Musical - DeMontfort Hall, Leicester [Emz]

So at the end of March, I went to see this show at DeMontfort Hall in my hometown of Leicester.

The show stars Joanne Clifton (Strictly Come Dancing, Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Alex Owens and  Ben Adams (A1, Eugenius! The Musical) as Nick Hurley.

Obviously, I was more familiar with the 2 actors playing the lead roles but I didn't know any of the others.

I believe this version of the show was based more on the book than the 1983 film.

Here is a brief idea of the story from the website:

Dance like you’ve never danced before! FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of 18 year old Alex, a welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night, who dreams of going to the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy and becoming a professional dancer. When a romance complicates her ambitions, she harnesses it to drive her dream.
Based on the Paramount Pictures film (Screenplay by Tom Hedley and Joe Eszterhas, story by Tom Hedley) Flashdance is an inspiring musical about the power of holding onto your dreams and love against all the odds.
Prepare to be blown away with an astonishing musical spectacle and phenomenal choreography to this iconic score including the smash hit Maniac, Manhunt, Gloria, I Love Rock & Roll and the sensational title track Flashdance - What a Feeling.
Produced by the award winning team at Selladoor Productions - producers of Footloose, Avenue Q and Little Shop of Horrors, FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL is not to be missed!

Review:

I extremely enjoyed this show. At times it did feel like the story was moving a little too quickly but with the time they had for the show, it didn't really cause any problems. 

The singing was excellent and so was the dancing. IT was clear that so much was put into the routines. Along wit Jonanne riding a bike across the stage, I would be terrified I was going to fall off stage (knowing me I would)

Joanne Clifton as Alex Owens was fantastic and her American accent for the Character was really good, I wouldn't have noticed she was English if I didn't know. All the dancing she has to do is really good, it's quite different from what I am used to seeing her do on Strictly as this is a bit more Pop, but it flowed so well,, she is a brilliant singer as well. I look forward to seeing her in more productions in the future (fingers crossed)

Ben Adams was also brilliant as Nick Hurley, I have always been a fan of A1. I found out a lot later after I bought the tickets that he was playing the other lead role of Nick. the last time I saw Ben live was when he opened for Steps at DeMontfort Hall in 1997/8? with A1 (I was about 7 years old! blimey!)

Ben was really good at acting, I knew he could sing but the chemistry with Joanne was very strong. I hope to see his show Eugenius! at the West end eventually.

The rest of the cast were also just as good, the actress playing Hannah, was really good as was kind of a mother figure to Alex's character along with the character Louise who was Hannah's carer.

It was great to hear the familiar songs Maniac and What a Feeling.

If I had the chance I would happily see it again. If it comes to a town near you I would recommend it.

Till next time

Emz x

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The Greatest Showman (Zee Tay)

Title; The greatest showman
Released date: 26 December 2017
Directed By: Michael Gracey
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendya and Michelle Williams

Plot

P.T Burnham and his father was tailor, and due this he never had much, but he dreams to have a better life. He fall in love with a girl called Charit and he promised her a life like her father.

When he father died he started working and got enough money to marry his childhood love. The got a simple place and now got two girls.

When he was made redundant he got a loan to build a museum, but despite it not getting any people, so he started a circus. But with any Circus there going to be people there to tear it down.

Review:
Three words It is beautiful. The greatest showman shows what the power of words have on people, and dispet what people say the scars make me, me and that you should be happy with how you look like. As the most important thing to remember is what in the inside.

The music will put a smile a smile on your face, or make you cry you eyes out. For example 'This is me" for me is about not just telling the world that this is me. It more about how this is me and that I should be who I am, and that people will shot bullets toward you, and just as long as we happy in our skin. Then the bullets will not hurt us.

The cast was brilliant and I can not say anything bad about the cast. Hugh Jackman as Burnham was breathtaking. Every time he started singing, I was in awe, heart racing, just memorised by his Voice.

Also Zendya, is there anything that girl can't do? I knew she can dance, and sing, but come on she was singing and basically dancing in the air. Like it not hard enough on the floor.



Rating: 5/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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Musical Review: Sunset Boulevard The Musical - Curve Theatre, Leicester [Emz]

I recently went to see this production at the Curve Theatre, Leicester. I am from Leicester so luckily over the last few year we have had quite number of brilliant shows that are touring from the West End like for example Sister Act, Miss Saigon and Bodyguard The Musical (De Monfort Hall, Leicester.) 

I wasn't very familiar with the majority of the cast or the storyline but I knew that Danny Mac was playing one of the lead roles.

The music for the show was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Here is a brief idea of the storyline from the website:

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award®-winning masterpiece Sunset Boulevard, stars Ria Jones, who received standing ovations every night when performing the role at the London Coliseum, as Norma Desmond and Strictly Come Dancing's Danny Mac as Joe Gillis. Sunset Boulevard is a compelling story of romance and obsession, based on Billy Wilder’s legendary film, with Don Black and Christopher Hampton's wonderful book and lyrics.
In her mansion on Sunset Boulevard, faded, silent-screen goddess, Norma Desmond, lives in a fantasy world. Impoverished screen writer, Joe Gillis, on the run from debt collectors, stumbles into her reclusive world. Persuaded to work on a script that she believes will put her back in front of the cameras, he is seduced by her life-style. Joe becomes entrapped in a claustrophobic world until his love for another woman leads him to break free with dramatic consequences.

Review:

I really enjoyed the show. as I previously stated I didn't know what to expect from the story as I had never really heard of it before, but I was interested in seeing it when I first saw it advertised. 

So the show is set in the 1940's/50's and Danny Mac's character of Joe Gillis a script writer at Paramount Pictures, who is down on his luck and in a lot of debt. In a bit to escape the people who want to take away his car, he dives off and ends up in someone's garage. This someone is Norma Desmond portrayed by Ria Jones.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ria Jones' performance as Norma. The various different emotions she has to portray at once and also they way she believes she is still a huge Hollywood star and that if she goes back into acting she will bring back the Silent Movie era. 

Joe starts working on her script that she has and ends up becoming much more to Norma. We see in the second half a shift in his emotion that lead him away from Norma and finally resulting in his death.

The show never stopped (apart from the interval) and Danny Mac hardly left the stage. This was a brilliant production and it is now off touring around the UK. I would recommend catching if you can.

Thats all for now. This was my first review of a musical so I hope you liked it.

If you have seen any other production of this show in the past or are planning on seeing this show feel free to leave me a comment on your thoughts below.

Till next time

Emz x

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