The Perfect Year

I have seen some awesome theatre in 2018. I am so lucky. Both professional and amateur, plays and musicals.

My highlights were Hamilton, Kinky Boots and Six. And any show my kids were in of course...

Words can't really describe how happy the theatre makes me. The atmosphere before the show starts, finding your seat, looking through the programme...the moment the band starts...the whole shebang!

And I am thrilled that I already have some great shows lined up to see in 2019.

Again my children are appearing in some local amateur shows...we have Joseph, Animal Farm and Winnie The Pooh for starters!

I'm supporting local amateur groups in Warrington and Runcorn by seeing as many of their shows as possible.

And as for professional shows I am already booked for Les Miserables and Book of Mormon and sure there will be many more to follow....(if I have my way!).

If any local groups would like me to come along and review their show then I would be more than happy to!

But in the meantime can I just say happy new year to all my theatre friends! The ones who are so ridiculously talented who appear in shows and plays, the theatre mums and dads ferrying their little divas from here to there and supporting them wildly at every performance, the hard working directors and company leaders who do so much to keep theatre thriving, and anyone and everyone in between.

Have a happy new theatre year!

REVIEW: IN THE HEIGHTS - LIVERPOOL EMPIRE

I was lucky enough to see this production by Liverpool Youth Theatre.

In The Heights was written by the incredible Lin-Manuel Miranda and premiered on Broadway in 2008.  It tells the story, set over three days, of Usnavi de la Vega who is the "narrator" of the show and who owns a small bodega in Washington Heights.  The musical focuses on Usnavi and the people with whom he grew up and is really about friends, family and a sense of belonging.

From the moment the first titular song "In The Heights" began I knew I was in for a treat

Usnavi was played by Jamil Abbasi - and he managed the fast rap written by and for Lin Manuel magnificently - his Usnavi was funny and charming and he led the show fantastically.   Triple threat Ellie Norton played Nina, Usnavi's childhood friend recently returned from Stamford University with a bombshell to drop to her parents.  Ellie played this part wonderfully and her version of "Breathe" was a highlight and just spine tingling.  A faultless performance.

There are too many cast members to go through everybody but I want to make a special mention also to Esme Bowdler who played Daniela - she was very funny throughout and "Carnaval Del Barrio" (my favourite song) was stunning.   Emily-Louise Lockhart who played Camila performed "Enough" with such passion! I  also want to mention Scarlett New who played Abuela Claudia.  I have seen In The Heights twice before but this was the first time that the song "Paciencia y Fe" really struck me and gave a sense of Abuela's moving back story.

This production had everything - from set design to costumes to stunning colours and use of lighting.  Great choreography and ensemble work.  There was a lot of humour and also some tragedy - I will admit that tears were shed when one of the characters passed away (no spoilers!) at the end of the song "Alabanza".

If I have one tiny criticism it was that sometimes the levels seemed a little out - it was a struggle to hear the lead vocals over the backing at certain points - but other than that I can't fault it.

There was a real sense of teamwork and camaraderie amongst the cast and that paid off.

The future of the north west's musical theatre life is secured if Liverpool Youth Theatre are anything to go by.  A well deserved standing ovation.

REVIEW - HAIRSPRAY JR AT THE PYRAMID, WARRINGTON

My youngest two children are part of a children's theatre group in Warrington called Showkids UK.  Showkids is a group for 5 to 11 year olds ran by four talented and enthusiastic tutors (and it is the "junior" version of Warrington's well known youth theatre group Codys).  Last weekend it was time for them to perform the most recent show they have been rehearsing, Hairspray Jr.  There were two shows in the one day, quite a tiring challenge for this young cast?..but you know what kids are like...full of energy...and their enthusiasm was clear to see. 

If you don't know the story of Hairspray it's based in 1962 in Baltimore. It centres around Tracy Turnblad a dance-obsessed teen who watches "The Corny Collins Show" and is infatuated with Link, the star of the show. If you've seen the movie (which famously featured John Travolta as Tracy's mother Edna) you will know that the subject matter is actually very serious as it tackles racial segregation. Showkids' version was understandably toned down for the youngsters and focused instead on segregation of rich and poor kids. And it worked very well too.

The main roles were played wonderfully. The children had worked hard on their American accents and their characterisation. I am not going to go through every role but will just single out a couple... Tracy was played fantastically by Erin who has a beautiful voice and definitely has a bright future ahead. Max played Edna Turnblad and he did so brilliantly...he mastered walking (and dancing!) in heels and I could definitely see a nod to John Travolta in his performance! Jamie as Link did a great job in his first main role and Charlotte as Penny was a wonderful character, beautifully acted. Dan who played Corny Collins lit up every scene he was in. As did the two Wilburs (played by two Joes!). Special mention to Amy as Motormouth whose solo "I Know Where I've Been" was very moving and extremely well performed. (I may have had something in my eye....)...

All of the principals and ensemble did such a good job.  All in all I found Hairspray Jr to be an excellent show which featured some very talented up and coming performers!

But!  The show wasn't over! There was a final section where the Showkids sang a selection of songs from High School Musical, Moana, Jersey Boys, Madagascar the Musical and The Greatest Showman. (And there was even an onstage cameo by the tutors at the end - yay!).

You could tell that all the children absolutely loved doing the show and that was reflected in the fantastic audience reaction. Well done Showkids.

Come So Far

So... another week in the life of a theatre mum...

This week was another fairly busy one...we started with the eldest's usual Monday night singing lesson ...he has the BEST singing teacher...he started lessons with Claire a couple of years ago now. He was around 13 and his voice was just breaking...J he went to her at just the right time.  He loves his singing lessons, he has gone from strength to strength and we have seen his singing confidence grow and his range and technique come on amazingly...the progress he has made is incredible. I can't recommend Claire more highly.

Every six months she puts on "showcases" for her students where they have a chance to perform  what they have been working on in lessons in a relaxed atmosphere, where everyone is supportive. 

For some people it's the first time they have ever stood up and sang solo in front of people and to be honest I think they are all incredible just to do that! The best I have ever managed is dodgy karaoke after a few too many cocktails...

On Thursday night it was J's showcase and he sang Someone To Fall Back On by Jason Robert Brown and This World Will Remember Me from the musical "Bonnie & Clyde" (which I LOVE!).

We had a lovely evening watching the other talented students - they were all so TALENTED!! J was the last to perform and it's safe to say he nailed it. What a fabulous evening.

Then this weekend it was my two smaller kids' turn. They go to a theatre group in Warrington called Showkids UK, which is for children age 5 to 11.  For the last 7 months they have been working on a production of Hairspray Jr.  I will write a separate review of the show, so no spoilers, except to say that Warrington is a lucky town to have so many up and coming young musical theatre performers, waiting in the wings!  My two are (I think) the youngest boy and girl who go along and I was worried about them doing two shows in one day on Saturday from a tiredness point of view - especially after extra rehearsals on Thursday and Friday in the ridiculous heat of the recent heatwave.  However, kids being kids, they seemed to find the energy from somewhere and just nailed their performances. Super proud showbiz mum.

Showkids has given my shy 7 year old and drama queen 5 year old somewhere to go each week to have fun, make friends, act, sing and dance with a great group of super talented tutors (CJ's favourite people in the world!).  If your child loves singing and dancing then Showkids is a great way for them to spend their time each Sunday.

So....the next few weeks are relatively quiet in comparison!! It's holiday season after all...time to relax, calm down and brace ourselves for a busy September.

Be back soon!

www.clairecannonvoice.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/SHOWkidsUK/

Non Stop

It's been a busy week at Greatest Showblog HQ.....

Yes, we've had a SHOW WEEK!!!

You know, that week where you live on toast and get no sleep.....

My eldest son was appearing in a play, which meant rehearsals, dress rehearsals, sorting costumes, lifts to places, tickets, marketing the show (like a good showbiz mum), and finally watching both shows in two successive nights and being emotionally wrung out by the end of it...and just about the proudest parent EVER!!!!

On top of this, it was the end of the school term, so there was arranging presents for teachers, attending assemblies, desperately trying to make the school uniform stay in one piece for just a day or two more....(it didn't, really)....

As well as this, my 5yo daughter had a casting for a TV ad - HOW EXCITING! I signed her up with an agency a couple of years ago (mostly because everybody told me her hair was so amazing that I just HAD TO!) and she finally got a casting! We got to go to Leeds (near the Emmerdale set, no less) (not that I actually have time to watch Emmerdale) and she did a little audition.  I am not expecting her to get it, as it was her first time but still it was fun for her and an afternoon out for me!

Then on Saturday night just the little matter of attending a WORLD PREMIERE for a new musical.  You know, as you do.....

And as well as all of the above we had the normal lessons and...oh yes, I went to my day job.....!

It's been NON STOP!

I will write reviews for the aforementioned shows a little later on this week - so no spoilers...you'll have to come back later!

Anyway, a busy one and next week we've got....oh yes...ANOTHER SHOW WEEK!!!

Watch this space!

Something's Coming

Right here goes....I have decided to launch another blog! This one is going to be all things theatre!

My eldest son is big on performing arts and I rabbit on about it on my family/parenting/lifestyle blog https://taleof5littleducks.blogspot.com/ quite a lot. 

(And you may have noticed that a lot of my blog posts have titles pertaining to show tunes yes?)

My two youngest children have also now caught the bug and so I find I am spending an increasing amount of time at rehearsals, talking about rehearsals, planning shows, helping at shows, sorting costumes, and well, watching shows!

I thought that as I am now firmly entrenched in this world and I like writing little blog posts from time to time that I would launch another blog focussing on this world!

The aim is to cover life as a theatre mum, but also to include reviews of shows I have been to see  - and I see quite a lot.....and I am not at all using this as an excuse to see even more!!

Well, maybe just a bit...

I have some great shows lined up over the next few weeks and I am very excited to see them and review them and share them with you.

As well as keep you updated with what my kids are up to!

Watch this space!