The Champion l Wednesday 12 September 2018
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ENTERTAINMENT
Cast announced for Bouncers is an ‘exhilarating sequel to Twopence and exhausting’ production To Cross The Mersey Review by Ron Ellis
THE producers of the new stage play sequel of Helen Forrester’s much-loved Twopence To Cross The Mersey have announced the complete cast. By The Waters Of Liverpool will be given its premiere this autumn in Liverpool, where the famous books are set and staged at the city’s Liverpool Empire from Wednesday, October 3 to Saturday, October 13. The play follows the smash-hit success of Helen Forrester ’s Twopence To Cross The Mersey and is being brought to audiences by the team behind both the musical and stage play versions of the award-winning true story. The cast of 10 is filled with well-known names from stage and screen and includes three muchloved actors who return to their roles with the Forrester family. The previously announced Maria Lovelady, Emma Dears and Mark Moraghan. Maria Lovelady who received rave reviews for her portrayal in the lead role of Helen Forrester will resume the part having played the role three times. Emma Dears returns to play Helen’s Mother. Emma performed alongside Maria in the new stage plays of Twopence since 2015. Emma is best known for her West End performances in Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. Mark Moraghan will play Helen’s father. Mark previously played the role of father in 2007 and 2009 when Twopence To Cross The Mersey was a musical. Mark is best known for his roles in Coronation Street and Brookside. Two previous members of the Liverpool Everyman Company join the cast to complete the Forrester family, Emily Hughes will play Fiona and Nathan McMullen will play Alan. Both performed in Paint Your Wagon and The Big I Am. Joining them are Coronation Street and Doctor Who’s Eric Potts and actress and singer Stephanie Dooley, also signed up are Lynn Francis, Roy Carruthers and Liverpool stage actor Danny O’Brien.
John Godber’s Bouncers by Maurice Bessman Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
The cast of By The Waters Of Liverpool
All of which appeared in the previous Pulse Records production Lennon’s Banjo. More than 170,000 people have seen Twopence since it was premiered and now the long-awaited sequel visits the theatre where it all began for the original musical at the Liverpool Empire. By the age of 17, Helen had fought and won two bitter battles with her parents – the first to educate herself, the second for the right to go out to work. Her parents are as financially irresponsible as ever, wasting money while their children still lack adequate food and clothing. But for Helen, things are looking up as she begins to make new friends and develop some social life outside the home. By The Waters Of Liverpool takes us to the next chapter in Helen’s life. It’s now 1939, Britain is on the brink of war, Helen is now aged 20 and has never been kissed by a man. That is until she meets a tall, strong seaman. And falls in love. Rob Fennah has written both the stage play versions of Twopence To Cross The Mersey and By The Waters Of Liverpool. This next chapter in Helen Forrester ’s life story is once again produced by Pulse Records Ltd in association with Bill Elms. The play will be directed by Gareth Tudor Price. By The Waters Of Liverpool by Helen Forrester has sold more than a million books.
JOHN Godber has done two rewrites of Bouncers since his original 1977 script but this new version, by The Boisterous Theatre Company and adapted by Terriers author, Maurice Bessman, is a totally different animal from the original production and ten times wilder. Directed by Miriam Mussa, it puts the spotlight on what it involves being a nightclub bouncer (or ‘door supervisors’ as they are today!) and the challenges they face in an average night at the club. With a cast of just four men, and four large boxes on a bare stage, with a booming background of soul music played by D.J. Spykatcha, it perfectly captures the clubland atmosphere. Things can get out of hand quickly. Who to let in, who to keep out. Most of the punters are there basically to get drunk and ‘cop off’. The undercurrent of violence is ever present and this comes across in the show. Joe Speare (Lucky Eric) Michael Horsley (Les), Mutty
A scene from Bouncers
Burman (Judd) and Zain Salim (Ralph) make up the quartet who break-dance and fight at a frenetic, non-stop pace throughout the whole two hours, their moves carried out with a precision worthy of circus acrobats, thanks to Zain Sallim who doubles as movement director. As well as being bouncers, each of the actors also convincingly takes on the personas of over 20 different types of punters, male and female, who frequent the club. When they break into song, their harmony vocalising could match any American soul
band. It is no surprise that Joe Speare was once in the U.S. chart-topping group, chairman of the board. All the cameos depicting the relationships between the bouncers and the clientele are spot on while, in rare moments of quiet philosophising, Lucky Eric warns of the dangers for young girls, plied with drink, being submitted to unwelcome sexual advances and pontificates about the advance of the transgender generation. Nothing if not up to date. Star rating: 7 out of 10. Authentic, exhilarating and exhausting.
Pirates on Dock event will be Cirque du Soleil’s Ovo was returning with a bang to city
a ‘fascinating’ night out Review by Danielle Thompson Cirque du Soleil: Ovo Liverpool Echo Arena Rating: 8/10 THE global circus troupe’s 25th current touring masterpiece Ovo is themed around insect life and started with a huge backlit egg, which ‘pops’ to start the show. The performances kicked off with a six-strong team of Chinese performers as red ants, who performed with a number of props including Kiwi slices which they used for fascinating footjuggling- before moving on to juggling each other! The highlights for me included the betweenperformance clowns, including a fly who tried his absolute best to woo a sassy ladybird – and each time he was rejected, and was hit with a handbag (complete with overplayed sound effects), my partner’s son was in stitches, as were all of the children around us. The show got off to a slow start, but really intensified in the second half, which included a glitter cannon, and some fantastic tightropewalking (and cycling!) There was a romantic ending for the hapless fly and a fascinating display from the black-and-white spider, who managed to bend herself into positions that were definitely not to be tried at home by anyone around the world! Also in the second half a pair of butterflies
The between-performance comedy at Ovo
flew through the air on aerial straps, in a beautifully choreographed routine, while gold Scarabs who performed the Russian Cradle actually flung their lighter female co-stars through the air before they were caught by partners across from them. For an eye-catching finale, crickets bounced onto a trampoline floor and up a wall, which was covered with hand-holds for wall climbing, while additional performers climbed up it and held on at crazy (even upside-down!) angles, before the crickets, perched atop, threw themselves off to perform somersaults.
PIRATES on the Dock, returns with a bang to Royal Albert Dock Liverpool on September 15 and 16 - and it's all hands on deck for the most explosive one yet! This year’s event will see the return of the stunning two mast brig Phoenix - made famous for her appearance in hit BBC TV shows Poldark and Doctor Who. She will form the centrepiece of a dramatic live cannon battle under sail in the Dock, pitting the baddies against the Phoenix crew and their precious cargo, Megan - The Queen of the Mersey Mermaid. Will she be made to walk the plank and meet her fate in Davy Jones's locker? The Mermaid Parade is also back, and visitors are encouraged to dress up in their best pirate and mermaid costumes to impress the beautiful Megan as she makes her regal procession around Royal Albert Dock Liverpool. Throughout both days Pirates on the Dock will also feature the pounding beats of Mersey Batala, the jawdropping manoeuvres of the Acro Jugglers, and the hilarious Aargh Pirate on Segway - which needs to be seen to be believed! Little ones will also witness the clash of metal during the Pirate Combat Show, Mr Smee's Children Show straight out of J.M Barrie's classic play, Peter Pan, pirate boat tours, storytime, live pirate and pop music, pirate treasure hunt and more. Merseyside Maritime Museum will be celebrating with a weekend of free pirate-themed fun including stories, face painting, pirate crafts and live music (1-4pm). Sponsor for this year’s Pirates on the Dock, John West, the UK's leading canned fish brand with over 160 years of history, will also be on hand to make sure families can enjoy a special John West treasure hunt around the Dock. Also new for 2018 - Dock restaurant, Gusto, will be inviting families to join them on the Sunday to enjoy breakfast with a pirate. From 9am-11.45am the venue will be taken over by a troop of unruly swashbucklers who will be roaming around the restaurant and treating paying brunch guests to a memorable dining experience. Pre-booking is essential for this event.
Clare Rawlinson, marketing manager, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, said: “Pirates on the Dock is one of our most popular events here at the Dock and a firm favourite among our family audience, both landlubbers and old salts alike!” The programme at a glance (all activity takes place on both days of the event): Acro Jugglers Show - Anchor Courtyard (2-3pm) and Martin Luther King Jnr Building (4-5pm); Aargh Pirate on Segway - Salthouse Quay and Martin Luther King Jnr Building (11.30am), and Hartley Quay and Stage (1pm); Batala Mersey drummers - Martin Luther King Jnr Building (11.45am), inner Royal Albert Dock Liverpool quay (2.15pm) and Car Park A (4pm); Pirate Combat Show - Martin Luther King Jnr Building (1.30am); Storytelling - Hartley Quay and Stage (12 noon and 3.45pm); Mermaid Parade Hartley Quay and Stage (12.30pm); Mr Smee's Children's Show - Hartley Quay and Stage (4pm); Pop and pirate music - France Hayhurst tugboat (4.30pm), and Car Park A (11am, 3.30pm and 5.15pm); Pirate Battle inner Royal Albert Dock Liverpool quay (2.30pm)
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