REVIEW: Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol at the Southbank Centre

It’s a Holly Dolly Christmas this year as the Queen of Country’s version of the classic festive tale comes to London. Singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, novelist, theme park owner and global icon…there is nothing that Dolly Parton can’t turn her hand to. Her latest venture is a musical version of the Charles Dickens classic novella “A Christmas Carol” but instead of London in Dickensian times the action takes place in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee in 1937. This is an area of the world that Dolly is all too familiar with as she famously grew up in the Smoky Mountains along with her parents and 11 siblings in a small cabin. 

This isn’t Dolly’s first forte in musical theatre as she had huge success with the stage adaptation of her classic 1980 film “9 to 5”, recently playing in London’s Savoy Theatre. In a similar fashion, Dolly has intertwined her songs to complement the book by David H. Bell and adapted by Curt Wollan and executive producer Paul T. Couch.

REVIEW: Circus 1903 at the Southbank Centre

This Christmas all-around the country families are being entertained by traditional pantomimes but if you are looking for something different but equally entertaining the Circus 1903 at the Southbank Centre is a real winner. You soon run out of superlatives to describe the line-up of amazing acts weaved into a wonderfully well-presented show. It makes the hard-working circuses you see in your local park each year seem very ordinary as they have assembled some of the most spectacular breath-taking acts from around the world that will astound you with their skill, agility, and bravery. 

The whole show is narrated and linked by the comedy magician David Williamson as the Ringmaster Willie. He is a consummate professional, with a bewitching charm and good line in banter. When he introduces Rocky the raccoon for his routine with four young children from the audience, I realised that I had first seen him thirty years ago when he appeared on the Thames TV show (just before it lost its broadcast franchise) The Magic Comedy Strip and I had been selected from the audience to appear in some close-up magic with him. He retains the boyish charm today as he engages with the young assistants from the audience. At a time when the pantomimes have nervously dropped kids on stage for the song sheet, this show carries on involving them with hand sanitiser and masks and it feels refreshingly normal and wonderful to see them on stage. Williamson tells one young boy to “Dare to Dream” and it feels an inspiring moment although I am not sure I’d feel content if my children dreamed of doing some of the daring acts we saw in the show! Each delivered at least one jaw-dropping moment of spectacle.

REVIEW: Black Beauty at the Southbank Centre's Purcell Room

Deep in the middle of the concrete jungle that is the South Bank centre is a little family show that deserves to get noticed this Christmas. Black Beauty is an absolutely charming, fun and inventive reimagining of Anna Sewell's 1877 novel for today's young children. It has a strong nostalgic feel with its use of the seventies TV series theme tune, a 1950's looking hard back edition of the novel and an absence of mobile phones which parents and grandparents will enjoy. It evokes memories of animated Jackanory story tellers and playtime retelling and acting out of well known tales as children. But is aimed at a young audience of five to ten year olds and judging by the response from the audience it lands very well with both the young and old alike.

The storytelling is done by a pair of out of work Pantomime horse performers, Big Andy and Wee Andy (the back end of Hamish the horse) stranded in an M25 layby with their horsebox awaiting a call on the emergency phone with offers of work. Their car boot sale prompts memories of their mum and her possessions trigger the retelling of some of the dramatic Black Beauty scenes and the characters the horse meets in his life. It is all very creatively reimagined using the horse box and a few props with a delightful gentle humour that leaves you grinning with pleasure.

REVIEW: The Light in the Piazza at the Southbank Centre

The original Broadway production of The Light in the Piazza thrust Kelli O’Hara into stardom, but it is difficult to imagine that anyone would have the same fortune in this rather limp production, currently playing at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Margaret Johnson (Opera star and Tony-nominee Renée Fleming) brings her daughter Clara (Dove Cameron) to Italy for a summer holiday, showing her the sights and teaching her the history. Clara however is more interested in Fabrizio Naccarelli (Rob Houchen). The rub? Clara was kicked in the head by a pony as a child, and is therefore emotionally and mentally undeveloped.

Daniel Evans has assembled a stellar cast, but unfortunately the piece itself never allows them the opportunity to really show us what they can do. The ensemble are severely underused, with just a few bars of the opening to sing, before spending the rest of the evening milling about like scene fillers in an opera.

REVIEW: Rumpelstiltskin at the Southbank Centre

Following runs in Australia, this brave and bold retelling of the famous fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin is now at the Southbank Centre in London. Collaborating on this new production are Australian based theatre companies – Windmill Theatre Company and State Theatre Company SA, who reunite the creative team behind their acclaimed retelling of ‘Pinocchio’. Directed and co-written by Rosemary Myers along with co-writer Julianne O’Brien. 

This eccentric reimagining sees Rumpelstiltskin – born of human parents, but not one himself – develop magic powers and become a renowned fashion designer. Full of latin flair and camp humour, Rat (Alirio Zavarce) along with sharp-tongued, sharp-eyebrowed Crow (Elena Carapetis) accompany our villain along his way. Except, to the outside world, Rumpelstiltskin doesn’t exist. Instead Malcolm, played with guileless humour by Mitchell Butel, is paraded around as the “hoooot” face of ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ fashion house. Finally, throw Harriet – our female protagonist – into the mix; bullied at school and now determined to make something of herself and prove her bullies wrong – at whatever cost. Here, Sheridan Harbridge offers a perfect blend of earnestness, compassion and a dollop of humour to complete our cast.