Audio Review

300 word review

‘Under Milkwood’ is one of those plays that you’ll either love or hate; and unfortunately I was under the latter of the two.
The piece is based on Dylan Thomas’s 1954 radio play, which is immersed with a variety of different characters whom all live in the welsh village of Llareggub – a fictional town which cleverly spells ‘bugger all’ backwards.  Director Kath Rogers brings a new ‘twist’ ,so to speak , on the piece by bringing the radio station to the theatre. He also introduces a new character into the scene in the form of the rather distraught sound affects woman, who disrupts and sabotages the radio play.
It is far to say that without the use of the sound affects woman the entire of piece wouldn’t  have been worth watching – after all watching two people stand and read a play for nearly two hours is hardly entertainment. But eventually the attempts of her being ‘humours’ – in the form of her getting drunk and causing all forms of mischief – grows tiresome and repetitive in itself.
 The acting, however, was brilliant – leaving the flaws of the piece on the directors’ shoulders.  The two radio presenters created flawless different voices, and the relationship between the three characters was touching at times.
There is a part of me that believes that perhaps I am too young to fully appreciate the piece – especially seeing that the majority of the audience was over the age of 50 and seemed to find the entire piece hilarious. Therefore, taking this into account I would not recommend the piece to any one of my age, as that it just lacks the energy that the youth of the today looks for within theatre.

Here is a discussion between me and Jess on Ion

Ion

The storyline was complimented by the untraditional use of space. Although the storyline was lost sometimes, the way in which the diector chose an unconventional route made up for it, making it a enjoyable short piece.

Lydee

Although the actors skills were incredible -  a two man show with each actor playing numerous roles flawlessly. The story itself was not to my taste, and I felt it dragged on a bit. However, luckily the characterisation kept me gripped through out.

Avenue Q

A simple, yet highly humourous piece. Using puppets that resembled those from a children's TV's show; it used this to contrast with the crude, and at times, offensive context to create a piece that was nothing more than a lot of fun. Filled with cheeky characters, and catchy songs, it certainly brightened up my evening.

Metamorphoses

The Ustinov never ceases to amazing, or entertain me, and I was certainly not let down with this gem of a show. With so much happening in one piece - songs, heavy amounts of physical movement, all well telling a collection of short stories that cleverly intertwined - all of this within a hour and half piece could have ended up in a messy disaster; but the whole thing worked so smoothly together, creating a beautifully crafted piece of theatre

Frankenstein

If there was one play I would reccomend for everyone to see this year, it would be this amazing adaptation of Frankenstien. Danny Boyle directed this masterpiece, and it had you gripped from the very beginning; from the spectacular stage design, to the the amazing skills the actors showed. An inspirational show.

Under Milkwood

The entire piece was mundane, and dragged on for far too long - it should have ended within the first half. The small amount of real entertainment it had soon became repetive and lost all humour. Most certainly more appealing to the older welsh community, and in my eyes it should of stayed there.

King Lear

This was everything Hippolytus should have been; taking a well known classic and putting a creative and thoughtful twist on it. It kept the the essence of the Shakespear classic, and the language, and yet managed to make a new, throughly enjoyable piece.

Hippolytus

The most unimaginative, bland piece I have been too seen. It was not, however, due to the acting, but down the terrible directing choices; tried too hard to be 'different', which caused it to feel boring and flat.

Audio testing

A teaser for Lily through the dark (my favourite play we've seen)

Snow white and the seven dwarfs

Normally am not a pantomime fan, however this was brilliant but only because of Craig Revel Horwood, who played the evil queen. The rest of the piece lacked the life and substance he brought, especially the audience interaction which I thought pantomime was meant to have! The costume's were outrageous and loud, as expected, but other than Craig's amazing performance it didn't have anything 'special'

Merry Wives of Windsor

I am personally not a shakespeare fan, so for me this true to text and period verision of the merry wives dragged out completly. I was lost by the language barrier (therefore the humour was lost on me), and the set was uninspirational, with it merely just 'spinning'. The piece bored me

Hamlet

Turns shakespeare on it's head, and allows the audience to not only witness the true power of shakespeares story telling ability, but also brings a culture we rarely see alive. With only two actors, they manage to make the story of hamlet clear, and brings each character alive.

Urashima Taro

Unlike anything else I have seen, truely captivating and beautiful. With only one cast memeber, she manages to create a whole world with her skilled puppetry. Manages to brings two completly different worlds and cultures together.

Enron

Style over substance, with the plot dragging out, however there has not been a more relevant piece for todays economic situation. Although the story may not grip everyone the performances were strong and shined out.

The factory

Challenges the modern views of theatre, with its lack of a straight narrative, yet the frantic dancing (although the word 'dancing' is debatable within this piece) speaks every word that the piece needed. Beautiful.

Lily Through The Dark

An enchanting, eerie fairytale, that, despite dealing with dark sentive subjects, manages to capitavate and move ever audience memeber with the beautiful set and pupperty.