Reviews

Eastleigh Operatic & Musical Society [EOMS]  The Point, Eastleigh Mark Ponsford 6 November 2024 One can’t help feeling that Ebenezer Scrooge would have approved wholeheartedly of Noel Coward’s annual maxim “Christmas is at our throats again!” Scrooge, the centrepiece of my favourite Christmas story, has happily taken up residence at The Point from now until Saturday, in an enchanting stage show with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and anyone who has thrilled to Menken’s beloved scores for (among others) The Little Mermaid and Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, should need no further recommendation. EOMS are giving

New Forest Players  Ballard School, New Milton Philip & Julie McStraw 31 October 2024   Last year’s New Forest Players’ production of the bittersweet play One Day I’ll Fly Away by admirable Yorkshire playwright Janet Shaw, directed by Len Reid, was a great success. We really enjoyed it, and were eagerly looking forward to seeing this production of Charade, also by Janet Shaw and once again directed by Len Reid. Film Buffs may be familiar with the 1963 film bearing the same title, but this play has no connection with the film, indeed it couldn’t be more different. Set in

SUSU Theatre Group The Annex, University of Southampton, Southampton Darren Funnell 30 October 2024 Even though this is a contemporary ‘adaptation’ of Accidental Death Of An Anarchist by Tom Basden, it retains Dario Fo’s intent in being a sharp and funny take on what happens when those in power bend the truth for their own gain. It exposes and satirizes the corruption and abuse of power within police and the judiciary, particularly in relation to political oppression. The story follows a chaotic, quick-thinking character called The Maniac as ‘he’ unravels a web of lies surrounding the mysterious “accidental” death of a man

Poole & Parkstone Productions [P&P Productions] The Spire, Poole Becki Dawson 25 October 2024 The Poole & Parkstone Players was established in 2005 as one arm of the multi-faceted P&P society and always has something great to show us. This evening’s performance provides great value in two plays for £10 at their performance venue of The Spire in Poole High Street. Seating is ‘cabaret style’, around tables, and the two plays are shown from opposite sides of the performance hall. Eight Seconds by Stephen Scheurer-Smith and directed by Claire l’Anson is a comedy play around a locum doctor and his poor manners

Wimborne Drama Productions Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne Anne Waggott 24 October 2024   Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a rich widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high. Will Leonard survive the shocking witness testimony? Will he be able to convince the jury – and you – of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose? Who is telling the truth and who can be trusted? Will the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth ever be revealed? So many questions, which aren’t fully revealed until the final moments of the play… and which I won’t be revealing in

Lyndhurst Drama & Musical Society Vernon Theatre, Lyndhurst Darren Funnell 24 October 2024 Three Musketeers, currently being performed by Lyndhurst Drama & Musical society, is a lot of fun. A sort of Horrible Histories adventure mashed together with slapstick routines, absurd laugh-out-loud moments and fast-paced silliness that is deceptively off-the-cuff and free-wheeling. Tonally, it feels like a panto without the panto tropes, but as an experience, James Barry’s play is much smarter, deceptively close to the source material and provides a succession of hilarious set pieces, word play, and good clean family fun. The plot involves the Three Musketeers trying