"The Razzle Dazzle will never fade."

"The Razzle Dazzle will never fade." - The words of 'Chicago' Producer,  Barry Weissler, as the word breaks of the shows departure from the West End after a 15-year run, a record held by only 5 other shows:  Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Blood Brothers, Cats and Starlight Express. 

Chicago originally opened in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre on November 18, 1997, it was then transferred to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006, where it ran for five years. The show then opened at the Garrick Theatre on November 7 2011, where it will be performed for the last time on September 1, 2012. With music and lyrics by Fred Ebb and John Kander, the musical tells of Roxie Hart, an aspiring performer sent to prison for murdering her lover. 

The production has seen many a famous face perform the lead roles of Velma Kelly, Roxie Hart and Billy Flynn during it's 15 year run. Including America Ferrera, of Ugly Betty fame and West End legend, Ruthie Henshall and, I'm sure, will return to the West End in all it's glamour and 'All That Jazz' with many famous names ready to tread the boards.


The news is released as the show prepares for a tour, reaching every stretch of the UK. Tour details are avaliable here, and tickets are currently on sale. 


From the website of  'Chicago': "From its stunning Fosse-style choreography, to its central concept of the ‘celebrity criminal’ and its themes of corruption and justice, audiences have been thrilled by the story of vaudeville star Velma Kelly, chorus girl Roxie Hart and top Chicago lawyer Billy Flynn." 

Though the show is closing, I am hoping that the show might come back to the West End pretty soon. It's one of the few classic musicals that can be revived and still remain timeless, even though it is set in 1920s America. It's very rare to see a musical from the 1970s to be so popular in today's theatre, so it is refreshing that, though it is closing in the West End, the tour is selling so well, as it is proving difficult to get tickets. I have hope that a revival is in the future for the production, maybe in 5 or 10 years, giving local groups the opportunity to perform it and give it a new edge. The show is a perfect blend of Fosse-style choreography and Ebb and Kander music and lyrics giving a perfect blend for the musical which will remain timeless. 


The show is on now so get your tickets before they sell out! 

Looking forward to the future...

These days, it's tougher than ever to try and get into the Performing Arts business, and even harder to become an actual performer. In the dog-eat-dog world of theatre, you often need to work from an early age to be worthy of performing on the stage.

However, in light of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new ITV show, in which he searches for a Jesus for his national tour of 'Jesus Christ Superstar', is all the hard work that other performers put in becoming pointless?
Some performers go through years of vigourous training just to become a member of the 'ensemble', when people who enter competitions like these are suddenly thrown into the limelight.

It seems these days you either need exceptional talent or exceptional money to be able to 'make it'. You either have to be able to afford the exceptional fees of the drama schools or be talented enough to gain a lucky break. 

So, for ordinary people who can't afford drama schools and aren't lucky enough to be exceptionally talented, what can they expect from the Performing Arts industry? The answer is: Disappointment. It's a tough reality, and it's unfortunate.


When asked if they feel there are pressures for young actors, a student said "There is a pressure to look your best and be really different or to have a typical look and that [casting directors] are looking for both of these, instead of someone in the middle." They also feel that attending drama school  is better as "the schools have a reputation" and give you a boost into the industry as there "can be a bias towards those who attended a drama school as opposed to a University student."

There is so much unknown talent that never gets unsurfaced because they haven't been given the same opportunities that some privileged people have, so have to sacrifice their dream and enter a mediocre job.
With all this lingering over young hopeful's heads, is this possibility of disappointment pushing people away from the industry? 

As a drama student, I find that the low chances of getting into the industry are making me much more determined to get on stage. The competitive edge of the industry pushes me to better myself and be better than the competition.

It has never been the easiest industry to enter in to. Even in the early days of Theatre, it has proved difficult. Yes, in Greek theatre, it was Townsmen who would perform in the Ancient Greek Amphitheatre, but from then onward, women weren't even allowed inside, let alone allowed to perform. The struggle for performers is one that has been around since the origins and will remain for years to come. 


Though, with so many different shows and opportunities out there for people to perform, why is it so hard to get into the industry? Could it be the constant funding cuts to the arts? Or could it be that reputation is everything in this business? In order to get anywhere, you need to know the right people and tread the right path. 


With that in mind, let me leave you with something to think about. If in order to get somewhere in 'show business' you need to know the right people, should people who don't know anyone give up? 

Viva Forever? Or just a short run then back to the drawing board?

So news broke this week of the new Spice Girls musical 'Viva forever' making it's way to the West End. 


As a musical lover, and a Spice Girls 90s kid, I would normally be all over this like a moth to a flame, but I just can't get hyped about it. It just seems, to me that Jukebox musicals have been and gone. Maybe if it was released at the same time as 'Jersey Boys' or 'Mamma Mia', it might have got me more excited. 

I might be wrong. There may be some fabulous songs and dance numbers and some witty one-liners, as Jennifer Saunders is helping to write the book. It might be a hit. According to theatrepeople.com, 'Viva Forever! is a feel-good fable about the ups and downs faced by a mum and her daughter Viva, when the latter enters a TV reality singing contest.'.  To me, and this is my personal opinion, it seems a little bit cliché. Although musicals are good when they're cheesy, there is often a line that you shouldn't cross. I can see that they're aiming for a 'Glee' and 'Smash'-type audience with the plot, but I'm not sure if I can see it being a rock solid plot.

I'll leave an open mind about the show. I may be wrong, it may be the new 'Mamma Mia' and I'm just here saying bad things about it for no reason. I really hope it is a good show simply so that the Jukebox musical isn't given a bad name. 

The shows 'Jersey Boys', 'American Idiot' and 'Mamma Mia' have all set a high bar for The Jukebox Musical. Will 'Viva Forever' reach their high standards?

Frankenstein: The Creator, not the creature.

Recently, I saw the National Theatre production that was shown in cinemas, as I didn't have the chance to see it last year. As with most National Theatre productions, you expect a certain standard of both production and performance.  I set high expectations for the show and it did not disappoint.


The decision to have the two Actors playing Frankenstein and The Creature alternate was a decision rightly made by Director Danny Boyle. This critical choice gave the actors, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, a new edge of characterisation. They both had part of the Creature in their characterisation of Frankenstein and part of Frankenstein in their Creature. This provided an excellent character that was created by both actors. Each performance had it's similarities, but provided their own personal spin on the character that made their performances so dynamic. 

Photo taken from National Theatre website.

The technical aspects were quite outstanding. The circular stage, surrounded by a simple backdrop of white cloth set not particular scene for the beginning of the play. All that was set on stage was what appeared to be a highly detailed 'homemade womb'. Across the centre of the circular stage was a train track which eventually bore a marvellously structured  industrial train. The scene in itself was very well devised, but the construction of the train added to the scene and opened up the play, giving us a time span and a possible location for where the play is set, if the audience wasn't already aware from knowing Mary Shelly's original novel. 

Photo taken from National Theatre website.

The script was marvellously written; adapted by Nick Dear, it was beautifully poetic and haunting and was different to most typical adaptations of the original novel as it followed the early days and weeks of the Creature's life, as opposed to Victor's life giving us reason to emphasize with him. We see the vulnerable Creature, rejected by his creator and outcasted by society taken in by an old blind man, who teaches him how to read and write. 

Photo taken from the National Theatre website.

The play was beautifully written, directed and performed. Theatre wouldn't be as interesting if every adaptation of a book or novel was the same. This different, poetic version of a classic gothic novel is a perfect example of this. Dear's thinking outside of the box, with Boyle's creative direction, created a innovative piece of theatre that is keeping the Theatre Industry rolling forwards to a stronger future. 

Welcome!

Hello! 


I'm Georgie, and this is my Theatre blog. 


I study drama as a degree and I see a lot of Theatre but I'm worried that Theatre as an industry is drifting away from young people, and could eventually die out. 


I decided to create a blog that would give young people a chance to see that Theatre and Drama isn't boring. It can often be an enlightening experience and, in some cases, a wonderful night out. 


So, on my blog, I'll try and promote new works, give honest reviews of plays I have seen, and give a personal insight into the Theatre Industry as a whole. 


This post is really just a welcome. 


I hope you enjoy reading my blog and you'll subscribe to it. 


Thanks for reading
Georgie.