REVIEW: Buyer and Cellar at Above the Stag

Originally performed by Michael Urie, Buyer and Cellar premiered in the US in 2013. Written by Jonathan Tolins, the show is told by Alex More, a struggling actor, in a one-man play. More tells us about the story of when he got a job working in Barbra Streisand’s basement that she has transformed into an idyllic shopping mall to house the spare possessions she has collected over the years. His story splits between his interactions with Babs herself, her husband James Brolin, Streisand’s housekeeper and his own boyfriend. 

 

Buyer and Cellar was meant to play its run in March at Above the Stag, but due to the global pandemic it just missed its press night. So it is the natural choice for the theatre to make its come back with! In terms of the measures the theatre have adapted to ensure its patrons safety, its been pretty well looked after. Social distancing was very thorough and with drinks being delivered to your seats they really have gone the extra mile to not only ensure everyone's safety is top of the list but also your comfort. In this fairly new building, its a very comfortable and spacious venue which is perfect for adapting to the measures for everyone's well keeping. 

Starring Aaron Sidwell who people may know best from Eastenders but is no stranger to the stage with numerous musical, play and Shakespeare credits, he brings to life Alex and all his counterparts with such an effortless flare. His character switches were by no means impressions or caricatures but his physical changes and slight vocal shifts define each and every person well enough for us to become familiar with them all. As a one-man play, the whole thing rides on him and he really does pull it off, making the hour and a half performance fly by. 

WICKED announces full cast for UK & Ireland Tour

WICKED, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is delighted to announce that Amy Ross (Elphaba), Helen Woolf(Glinda), Steven Pinder (The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond), Kim Ismay (Madame Morrible), Emily Shaw (Nessarose), Iddon Jones (Boq) and Nikki Bentley (Standby for Elphaba) will join the previously announced Aaron Sidwell (Fiyero) to lead the cast of the forthcoming return engagement of the spectacular, critically acclaimed and multi record-breaking UK & Ireland Tour in 2018.

Amy Ross (Elphaba) has most recently been starring as ‘Nicola’ in the hit musical Kinky Bootsin the West End. She previously appeared in Sunny Afternoon, playing ‘Joyce’, at both the Hampstead Theatre and in the West End; Helen Woolf (Glinda) has most recently been appearing in the London production of WICKED and was also part of the original 2013 UK & Ireland Tour company. She has played the role of ‘Glinda’ on many occasions; Aaron Sidwell(Fiyero) has just finished playing ‘Steven Beale’ in the BBC’s EastEnders, a role he originally played in 2007/08. His many acclaimed musical theatre appearances include Grey Gardens(Southwark Playhouse), American Idiot (Arts Theatre, London) and the leading role of ‘Michael Dork’ in Loserville The Musical (West Yorkshire Playhouse and in the West End); still best remembered as ‘Max Farnham’ in Brookside, Steven Pinder (The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond) starred in the UK & Ireland Tour (joining in 2014) and on the International Tour of WICKED. He also played Doctor Dillamond in the West End. Kim Ismay (Madame Morrible), Emily Shaw (Nessarose) and Iddon Jones (Boq) all recently starred in the International Tour of WICKED; Nikki Bentley (Standby for Elphaba) has recently appeared in the Asian Tour ofGhost The Musical, the UK & Ireland Tour of Shrek the Musical and in Monty Python’s Spamalot in the West End. 

ALBUM REVIEW: Original Studio cast recording of Cool Rider

Cool Rider, the lesser known sequel to the ever popular Grease, follows the relationship of unconventional lovers Stephanie Zinone, a Pink Lady, and Michael, an English transfer student. After the musical played a successful one night only concert in January 2014, it transferred to The Duchess Theatre where it played for one week. Unsurprisingly, it's not the most well known musical ever to grace the West End, but its surprisingly large and extremely supportive following  helped to ensure that Cool Rider was immortalised in musical theatre history by backing a kickstarter to help fund a studio recording. 

Aaron Sidwell and Louise English star in the world premiere of BLOCKBUSTER The Musical

Aaron Sidwell and Louise English are joining Suzanne Shaw and Paul Nicholas to star in the world premiere of BLOCKBUSTER The Musical, which features the chart- busting hits of the legendary song-writing team Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, who dominated the pop world in the 1970s and 1980s.

Aaron Sidwell will play the lead character of Mickey Block, a young busker, singing in present day Soho, who is sent back in time to 1972 to perform two good deeds. Aaron - best known as Steven Beale in EastEnders - has just finished a tour of the UK as Tybalt in Romeo And Juliet. His musical theatre credits include: the starring role in Cool Rider: Live (Lyric and Duchess theatres), Michael Dork in Loserville – The Musical(Garrick Theatre); Ham in Children of Eden (Prince of Wales), Jack in Carnaby Street (UK Tour), Kyle Gibson in The Prodigals (Edinburgh Festival). 

Louise English (Alice) has played many leading roles in musical theatre. She created the role of ‘Rosa’ opposite David Essex in All the Fun of the Fair in two national tours, a West End season at the Garrick Theatre and a specially recorded DVD version. She spent two years in the West End as ‘Sally Smith’ in Me and My Girl (Adelphi Theatre), was ‘Nancy’ in Oliver! (Kuala Lumpur), ‘Grace Farrell’ in Annie (National Tour), ‘Irene Molloy’ in Hello Dollie! (National Tour), ‘Louise’ in Gypsy (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield), ‘Bella Moriarty’ inSherlock Holmes the Musical (Bristol Old Vic & National Tour).

Loserville the Musical: Theatre Review

Loserville is a new musical written by James Bourne and Elliot Davis, the show previously played at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds and ran from the 18^thJune to 14^thJuly 2012. The musical then announced that it would transfer to the Garrick Theatre in London's West End, opening on the 1^stOctober. The show tells the story of 17 Year Old Michael Dork who is obsessed with computers. He and his friends are the losers of the school which is run by the 'popular kids', Eddie and his girlfriend Leia. Then a new girl comes to the school, Holly, who is also a geek. She starts working with Michael on his computer project and she gives Michael the credit he deserves whilst also falling in love with him. It's the classic 'High School Musical' and 'Glee' storyline, very cheesy. I honestly thought I'd hate this show, I added up everything I had heard, all the things I'd seen and the way it had been marketed in my head and that made me have my doubts about the show. However it impressed me!