Theatre

THEATRE REVIEWS

By Tim Baros

The cast of Disney’s NEWSIES, credit Johan Persson

Newsies

Strike strike strike!! The drivers are on strike - and now the newspaper boys are also about to go on strike.

No, this is not ripped from todays’ headlines, though it could be (train drivers, nurses and postmen are today’s reality), it’s the plot of the fantastic show ‘Newsies’.

‘Newsies’ (a 1992 movie musical turned into a 2012 Broadway show) makes a triumphant London debut in a theatre that’s perfect - a large dark, auditorium space with high ceilings and catwalks, and in a structure that resembles a printing press. The theatre is the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. Don’t let the location put you off, it’s well worth the journey for a show that has everything going for it.

‘Newsies’ is set in the late 1890’s and is about the boys (young men) who sell newspapers on the streets of New York City, all trying to eke out a living. But, when the powerful New York World publisher Joseph Pulitzer (Cameron Blakely) raises the price of the issues he sells to the newsies, they retaliate and go on strike and refuse to sell the newspapers, and then decide to form a union, with juvenile detention escapee Jack (Michaelahomka - Lindsey) elected as their leader.

But trouble lies ahead. The newspaper owners aren’t happy about a union being formed, and bullies are sent to rough up the newsies, with threats and physical violence, but all they want is to be treated fairly, and honestly. Further complications arise when Jack falls in love with Pulitzer’s daughter Katherine Plumber (Bronte Barbe), who is an aspiring journalist and who writes about the strikes for another newspaper under a different name, with a bias towards the newsies.

‘Newsies’ is a wildly big and fantastic show, and it’s a testament to director and choreographer Matt Cole, that almost every dance number received a standing ovation on opening night. The boys (actors) all work very hard and are in tune and rhythm with each other for every dance number (there are about 20 newsies on stage at various times). And the cutest Newsie award goes to the character of Les, a character at the age of 10, and played by various actors (Nesim Adnan on opening night). And female newsies join in too! And while not one member of the acting troupe really stands out, it’s all of them in unison that make this show a true winner. Kudos to Disney who own the rights to the show, and for taking a chance on the Troubadour to showcase it. ‘Newsies’ is a must, and there is plenty of time to catch it, as it plays until April 2023. Catch it before the rest of the world goes on strike!

www.newsiesthemusical.co.uk

Death Drop: Back in the Habit

Death Drop is back, and yes, so are the girls.

Earlier this year some of the drag queens from Rupaul’s Drag Race had audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter in the hilarious ‘Death Drop’, and now they have reincarnated themselves into a new show called ‘Death Drop Back in the Habit’ now touring the UK.

‘Death Drop’ had audiences transported to 1991 where guests were killed off one by one at a dinner party. In this new show, the nuns at St. Babs, who are confined to their convent, are also being killed off one by one - there is a serial killer in their midst. However, an unexpected visitor from the Vatican arrives who is there to ‘help them’ but the nuns really don’t know who he is. What is he there for, and who has sent him? It’s a mystery not only to Mother Superior (Victoria Scone), but also to sisters Mary Berry (Cheryl Hole) Maria Julie Andrews (River Medway) and Sis Titus (William). And it is a mystery how the first sister (we’re not saying which one) gets killed first. But luckily, with a lot of humour (some of it toilet), schtick, crassness and sarcasm (along with some fabulous nun outfits), we get to enjoy, and laugh, as the mystery unfolds itself, in the hopes that the nuns lives will get back to normal and they will get back in the habit.

Bravo to the production team for bringing us another Death Drop in the same year ( yes we’re fortunate to have two in one year)! And thanks to Rupaul for keep on providing us with a non-stop array of talented drag queens from the show. Bring on Death Drop 3!

UK 2023 Dates Are:

3-7 January, Blackpool, Grand Theatre 10-14 January, Sheffield, Lyceum 17-21 January, Curve, Leicester 23-28 January, Aberdeen, His Majesty’s 31st January - 4th February, Gaiety Theatre, Dublin 7-11 February, Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool 14-19 February, Theatre Royal, Nottingham 23-25 February, Glasgow, King’s Theatre 9-12 March, Manchester, Opera House 13-18 March, Birmingham, The Alexandra

www.deathdropplay.com

River Medway, Victoria Scone, LoUis CYfer, Cheryl Hole and Willam - Death Drop Back in the Habit - Photographer Matt Crockett