Reviews

I could have stayed at home tonight and watched the England – Belgium game. Happily, I went to see KCA’s production of Eric Chappell’s play Something’s Burning; a tale of marital desertion, sporting activities and mid-life crises all around. It is a very gentle play filled with very gentle humour and thoroughly enjoyable it was too. It’s a lovely facility Kinson Community Centre with its little hall where KCA perform, so it was a bit odd that the players should be mic’d with the sound always on the edge of feedback. I loved the choice of music that announced the

Social revolutions usually proceed in steps, and it is only by looking back that one can see what the major landmarks were. In women’s fight for the equal rights and respect to which they are entitled, the recent emergence of the #MeToo movement will surely be seen to have loomed large; in a very different way and on a very different level, the 1980 film 9 to 5 will have played its part too, especially in its 2009 re-incarnation as a musical composed by Dolly Parton. It tells the story of three women working in a soulless office dominated by

The depiction of the War 1914-1918 was very well done with frequent use of overhead screen projections mapping out the scenes. As it went through, this was a great way of keeping the audience well informed of the action taking place. First night nerves were apparent (as expected!), however I was impressed with the use of the props out of the boxes and was well thought out and cleverly executed.  Taking on the different characters is never an easy task, yet tonight I must mention the following individuals. French General, Mike Pavitt had a superb accent and immaculate mannerisms. Katy Lewis gave

To start, this was certainly an enchanting performance presented to us by Wimborne Community Centre. ‘Sounds in a Common wood’ is A well-planned devised piece- with wonderful woven stories, entwined with facts and myth. The walk begins with a soundscape that lures you in as you begin to imagine how the space was used in the past. The children playing and skipping is very nostalgic. We are then led down a path where the Green Man bars our entrance until we are able to answer some riddles- he wards us off of leaving litter and stealing from the forest. We

Five characters arrive at a manor house in the English countryside, joining the imperious owner of the house, her downtrodden niece and her incompetent butler. All of them have secrets and no-one is quite what they seem. Murder is inevitable in such an atmosphere, and so it turns out. To the rescue gallops Acting Inspector Pratt, who unfortunately is the most useless policeman this side of Inspector Clouseau. It all adds up to a splendid spoof of an Agatha Christie-type thriller, and Swanage Drama Company make the most of it. Don’t expect deep or subtle humour or ingenious plotting, but

Anything Goes is set aboard luxury ocean liner SS American, where nightclub singer/evangelist Reno Sweeney is en route from New York to England. Her pal Billy Crocker has stowed away to be near his love, Hope Harcourt; unfortunately, Hope is engaged to wealthy English Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Joining this love triangle on board are Public Enemy #13, Moonface Martin, and his sidekick-in-crime, Erma. With the help of some elaborate disguises, tap-dancing sailors and good old-fashioned blackmail, Reno and Martin join forces to help Billy in his quest to win Hope’s heart. I’ve not seen a show by BMT Productions or