Realism At Its Best

If you have a short attention span and quite like "The Street" then this the show for you and I mean that in the best possible way. This is an example of Churchill's writing at its best it is funny, moving and so real it feels like watching CCTV in better quality.

I am officially Paul Ready's biggest fan, his acting style is understated, endearing and a delight to watch, he is on usual top form as Pete. Hattie Morahan's goldfish, open mouthed gawping is growing old, there was a time when I found her endearing and unique and now she has quickly become dull. Her character of Dawn had a maximum of about 10 lines and a suicide cry for help however I felt little concern for her well-being. Ian Hart and Lindsey Coulson opened the show beautifully and had the wonderful talent for talking over each other without losing a single joke.

Overall there was little wrong with this production, it was a shame that I could see the Phrede set looming behind the smaller set designed by Naomi Dawson, it occasionaly reminded me of my previous boredom but the hard working cast quickly won my attention back again.

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=50111&dspl=castcreds

Should you dance?

There was a time when I would hold my breath during the end of "Billy Elliot" waiting for the beautifully arched final leap of the elder Billy, played by Adam Cooper. Cooper (pictured) seems to have lost the intensity and passion that he could once have portrayed in a single leap.

Director, Choreographer and Star Adam Cooper's new show "Shall We Dance" fails to deliver any type of plot or concept. The show is a 2 hour rag-taggle collection of dances loosely based on the idea that Cooper's character travels around the world falling in love with various girls always missing the right one.

Cooper's talent as a choreographer is hit and miss. Act 1 is heavy-handed, awkward and quite dull, Lorraine Stewart shines amongst the painfully clumsy dance routines, bring grace and beauty to the Viennese Waltz scene.

Act 2 certainly picks up the pace and an element of fun is added to the show. The bright, colourful and fun dance scenes set in Asia and Texas are simple, elegant and enjoyable. The final "slaughterhouse scene" is a bit odd but Sarah Wildor's performance lifts the bizzare scene.

Overall I was left feeling a bit non-plussed, the show didn't seem to effect me at all which in retrospect is really quite sad, I would have preferred hating it than feeling nothing.

http://www.sadlerswells.com/show/Adam-Coopers-Shall-We-Dance