upstaged plays and musicals
The Shawshank Redemption
Michael Bruce © Steven Emberton.
MICHAEL BRUCE: Good Enough? Michael Bruce is a young British composer on a roll. He’s currently preparing for an all star concert showcase of his work in the West End in November. Michael Bruce is one of those people who can pretty much turn their hands to anything. With huge amounts of drive and determination he can already claim success as Scottish Highland Dancing Champion, Table Tennis and being a self taught piano player. Diverse, we know but it gives you a measure of this young man. Having seen a documentary on American songwriter Diane Warren he realised where his future lay. His persistence got him a place at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) where he set to work writing shows that got him noticed. Once he had graduated he went to work for Producer Chris Moreno looking after tours of Hello Dolly, Annie and several cruise ship productions. “It was just a case of getting thrown in at the deep end and I loved it!”
Michael said. Not being one for living in his comfort zone, Michael’s determination to go for it won him a song writing competition which in turn led to the upcoming showcase of his other work. He’s also recently finished working on a cd of the popular Christmas In New York concert series which includes two of his own songs. When asked about his style Michael commented “At the moment I’m really into writing comedy. In the concert I’m lucky enough to have the lovely Julie Atherton singing a new song I’ve written about a jilted Disney princess”. We’re looking forward to hearing more about Michael as he develops further shows. His is currently continuing to develop his musical ED which took Edinburgh by storm this year. Michael Bruce – A Little Less Ordinary is being presented at the Apollo Theatre on November 1st. For further information on the concert and the Christmas in New York CD visit www. notesfromnewyork.com.
Playing now at Wyndham’s Theatre, London • Review: Mark Ludmon The 1994 movie of Stephen King’s novella, The Shawshank Redemption, has attracted so much love and acclaim over the years that it was only a matter of time before it made it to the stage. After premiering in Dublin earlier this year, Owen Neill and Dave Johns’ stage version is a solid rendition of the story of Andy Dufresne, a prisoner wrongly convicted of murdering his wife, and his friendships and conflicts inside the Shawshank jail in Maine. Unlike the film, the play takes place entirely within the walls of the prison, represented by bars the full height of the stage, forming a cage around the actors. Some of the metaphorical power is lost in this version, which comes across as a straightforward prison drama, but it still has powerful moments thanks to the ensemble cast. What is missing is a sense of passing time – you are told at one point that something like 20 years have passed but the characters never change or age. Kevin Anderson (the original Joe Gillis opposite Patti LuPone in Sunset Boulevard) is strong as the aloof self-contained Dufresne, while Reg E Cathey – best know for The Wire – is captivating as his wise, dignified friend, Red. Geoffrey Hutchings gives a moving performance as the bookish Brooksie while Mitchell Mullen is memorable as the dangerously smooth prison governor. Inevitably, the play will be compared to the film and found lacking but, while it may not have some of the Hollywood punch, it is a well paced, unpretentious show redeemed by some excellent performances. www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/Theatres/wyndhams_ theatre.php
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