Tag: Palace Theatre Manchester

REVIEW: Mamma Mia@ The Palace Theatre, Manchester

image003You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life (and you probably will) at this fun-packed production bringing together greatest hits of the iconic pop sensation, Abba.

With more cheese than my pre-theatre quattro formaggio pizza, Mamma Mia is feel good festival of fun with those classic songs woven into an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island  paradise.

It tells the story of Sophie (Lucy May Barker), preparing for her wedding and trying to to discover the father she has never known and bringing mum Donna (Sara Poyzer) face to face with three men from a distant romantic past she would rather forget.

Sara Poyzer delivers a polished performance as the resilient single mum who is also reunited with her two band mates Tanya and Rosie who provide many of the hilarious moments courtesy of excellent portrayals by Emma Clifford and Jacqueline Braun.

And the three dads also know the name of the game when it comes to comic timing.

There are some real moments of poignancy in the show with some quite touching scenes, which temper the audience participation a little, but by far the winners which take it all in this production are those classic numbers from those Swedish song-smiths, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus.

And by the time we get to the colourful finale, the crowd are dancing, clapping and holding nothing back. This has reawakened by inner Abba fan.

Dave Toomer
Runs till Saturday June 4

REVIEW: Avenue Q@The Palace, Manchester

image009The Tony award winning Avenue Q brings some of the most outrageous puppets to grace a Palace Theatre audience.

If you’re easily offended or have had a sense of humour bypass it’s not for you, but if that’s not the case and you’re after a great night out with lots of laughs you’re in for a treat.

This is wonderful adult puppet show musical about growing up, dreaming big, and finding your purpose in life. Continue reading “REVIEW: Avenue Q@The Palace, Manchester”

REVIEW: American Idiot @ The Palace, Manchester

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Fans of the US post-punk band, Green Day will not be disappointed by this gloriously bleak and raucous rock opera based on their best selling concept album.

Prepare to embark on a doom-laden journey through the experiences of three men attempting to escape from their humdrum lives.

Brilliantly brought to the stage in production bursting with energy and youthful outrage, American Idiot tells the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9/11 world.  Continue reading “REVIEW: American Idiot @ The Palace, Manchester”

REVIEW: Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat @ The Palace, Manchester

Optimized-14)Joe McElderry in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (c)Mark YeomanI have to admit, I’ve never been a great fan of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

But it wasn’t until I saw this production at the Palace, that I realised why… I just hadn’t seen a good one.

And it would be something of an understatement to say this version, with X-Factor winner Joe McElderry in the title role, is a good one. It is superb and I’ve been converted.

I think the difference between this show and previous productions of the cheesy Lloyd-Webber and Rice classic is that it doesn’t take itself seriously. Continue reading “REVIEW: Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat @ The Palace, Manchester”

REVIEW: Impossible @ The Palace, Manchester

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Some of the world’s greatest illusionists are united in  fast-paced stage spectacular – which is fluid, extremely entertaining and very funny, featuring death-defying stunts, technological trickery, grand stage illusions and close-up magic

Fresh from its hit run in London’s West End, Impossible tells the history of magic told through a wide range of impressive magicians, including a daredevil and mind reader.

The show is interactive,  with comedy performer Lee Thompson, who has entertained on stage, screen and TV for over 25 years, starring in shows for Cirque du Soleil, Mugler Follies in Paris, Cannes and Hollywood, getting the whole audience performing a trick together.
One to watch is  Magical Bones, the hip hop magician whose card act was a brilliant illustration to the music set by DJ Yoda. Starting out in the music industry as a dancer for the likes of Madonna and the Black Eyed Peas, Bones has since turned his attention to wowing the public with expert sleight-of-hand. He doesn’t disappoint.
Audience participation features heavily in the show and every time we saw the house lights turned on to seek out their next audience participation victim we hid in fear, but secretly wanting to be welcomed on stage and experience the magic close up.
Chris Cox mind reading audience members was highly impressive and baffling  and escapologist Jonathan Goodwin whose performances gave a nod to Harry Houdini set the stage alight, quite literally.
The only negative is over sexualised illusion act performed by the only female illusionist, Josephine Lee which  was the weakest part of the show. It was a shame Josephine didn’t didn’t fly the flag for equality.
Ben Hart magician and magician designer was an absolute treat, when he joined the audience just a couple of rows in front of us and enlisted the help of two young boys to join in his magic act. He said to one of them: “You have a great grasp of imaginary, don’t lose that as you get older” and in this show we were all taken into a journey of imagination, illusion and magic.
It is a fantastic night out and comes highly recommended.

Runs till Saturday March 26.

Gemma Bowden