Reviews

A – Z Of Musicals & Comedy Sketches

A – Z Of Musicals & Comedy Sketches

Ferndown Phoenix Musical Theatre    The Barrington Centre, Ferndown Renée Claude  16 March 2024   I had never heard of Ferndown Phoenix Musical Society before so was unsure of what to expect from this show, however I was pleasantly surprised to leave the Barrington Centre feeling thoroughly entertained and inspired by the talented and diverse range of performers. Packed full of fan favourite musical numbers and sketches, this production has something for all to enjoy. From the energetic renditions of ‘Song of the King’ from Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (sung by David Cooper) and ‘Land Of Lola’ from
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The Ballad Of Maria Marten

The Ballad Of Maria Marten

Arts University Bournemouth [AUB]    Palace Court Theatre, Bournemouth  JJ  14 March 2024   I was very much looking forward to this evening for a variety of reasons. I was intrigued to see The Palace Court Theatre. It is fantastic that AUB have taken on this renovation project and resurrected the theatre when so many performance spaces are closing. Clearly still a work in progress, it is a lovely space (with comfortable seats!). The Palace Court Theatre was the original home of Bournemouth Little Theatre and it was lovely to see this acknowledged with past performance memorabilia. Finally, I had seen
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Art

Art

New Forest Players  Forest Arts Centre, New Milton  John Sivewright 28 February 2024   If you have a free evening this week, I strongly suggest you make a trip to the Forest Arts Centre to catch New Forest Players’ production of ‘Art’; it is one of the best local amateur productions I have seen in quite some time. The play centres around the wildly extravagant purchase of a completely white (or is it?) modern painting by Serge (Mike Deacon), the over-exasperated reaction of his friend, Marc (Martyn French), and the attempts of their anxious pal, Yvan (John Tickner), to play
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And Then There Were None

And Then There Were None

Lymington Players  The Malt Theatre, Lymington Community Centre, Lymington  Philip & Julie McStraw 26 February 2024   Agatha Christie’s perennial favourite  And Then There Were None is the first production of 2024 by the Lymington Players at their home in the always welcoming and friendly The Malt Theatre in Lymington. Many people will have an inkling that they know something about this celebrated play, even if, like ourselves, they haven’t actually seen it or read the book upon which it is based. The book itself was first published in 1939 and went on to become one of the all-time best-selling books
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Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em

Wimborne Drama Productions  Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne Carole Gadsby 21 February 2024   What a hilarious comedy this is. The play is set in 1970’s, and the Golden Age of the British Sitcom on television may have come and gone but with the theatre revival of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, it’s fair to say that the Golden Age is making a comeback on our local stages. Directed by Rob Cording-Cook this production lacks nothing, attention to detail, no gag left unturned with superb timing by the cast. The plot is relatable, even in 2024. We see Frank played by James Bourner
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Losing Louis

Losing Louis

Broadstone Players Theatre Company   Broadstone War Memorial Hall, Broadstone Jill Richmond 20 February 2024 Losing Louis, written by British playwright Simon Mendes Da Costa, premiered back in 2005 and is, with its echoes of an Alan Ayckbourn, a bedroom black comedy and a very good one at that. The play, set in the marital bedroom of the play’s namesake Louis and his wife Bobbie Ellis, alternates between a year in the 1960s and the day of Louis’ funeral in 2019. The play boldly deals with many of life’s harder topics, perhaps too many creating too much of a winding rollercoaster
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