The Jowheretogo Theatre Year 2014

The Jowheretogo Theatre Year

So what were the productions that made the Jowheretogo team smile, laugh and/or cry the most this year? Stephen Oliver looks back at an exciting 2014.

Funny play of the year: The Play That Goes Wrong which we saw at the Darlington Civic Theatre. This play had us laughing from start to finish – memories of watching Airplane! the movie at the cinema when we were very young. The show is still on in the London West End and a sequel Peter Pan Goes Wrong reaches Darlington Civic and Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2015. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/review-play-that-goes-wrong-at.html

Musical of the year: Urinetown which we saw at the St James Theatre in London and became the play we love to quote thereafter. Great memorable songs, coupled with a cracking storyline – a feature that was missing on a number of musicals this year. We would love to see it tour to the North East. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/review-urinetown-musical-at-st-james.html

Moving Play of the Year: the revival of Wet House at Live Theatre was superb. Joe Caffrey was in great form as one of the trouble souls in Paddy Campbell’s debut play. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/review-wet-house-at-newcastle-live.html

Small scale show of the year: Thirsty from The Paper Birds which we saw at The Arts Centre Washington was a rollercoaster of emotions as Jemma McDonnell and Kylie Walsh consumed large amounts of liquid whilst exploring friendship and the demon alcohol.

http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/review-thirsty-by-paper-birds-at.html

Whodunnit of the year was Jason Durr’s portrayal of Agatha Christie’s Poirot in Black Coffee which had us guessing to the end at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal. We saw a number of murders of stage this year but this show was a cut above the rest. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/review-black-coffee-at-newcastle.html

Amateurs showing the professionals how it is done play of the year has to be the moving Duet For One at the People’s Theatre in Newcastle. A fabulous look into some really difficult questions.  http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/review-duet-for-one-newcastle-peoples.html

Kids show of the year is one we hand over to the wee-man of the team.  Robert loved Get Santa! at Newcastle’s Northern Stage. A funny show that wasn’t afraid to connect with the young audience. It was funny and heart warming without any unnecessary innuendo.  http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/review-get-santa-at-newcastle-northern.html

Dance show of the year was the incredible The Five & The Prophecy of Prana from Boy Blue Entertainment. The mix of manga style characters and strong storyline had the Northern Stage audience captivated. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/review-five-prophecy-of-prana-at.html

Wedding of the year? Well we see a lot of coupling on stage and the great farce that was Perfect Wedding at South Shields Customs House was very funny and showed that the North East produces entertaining theatre. http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/review-perfect-wedding-at-south-shields.html

A massive thank you goes to the actors, producers, directors and theatres that have invited us along to the shows this year. Theatre remains a great night out and is not just about the Panto at Christmas. We have never seen a broadcast of a West End Show at a cinema because we now there is plenty of live entertainment out there in our wonderful theatres.

Looking ahead – 2015 is going to be another cracking year too!

Review: Urinetown The Musical at St James Theatre London

Don’t Be the Bunny!

Urinetown The Musical

St James Theatre London

Until 3^rdMay

Music & lyrics: Mark Hollman

Book & Lyrics: Greg Kotis

Director: Jamie Lloyd

There are those who say advertising on Facebook doesn’t work however that is indeed how news about this musical arrived at the Jowheretogo Studio. The writer of the book, Greg Kotis, found himself in Europe with limited funds and having to time food and visits to the loo so that they coincided and hence reduced his expenditure. From that this clever and politically savvy production was created. It picked up Tony Awards for its Broadway run in 2001 and it seems to have taken a very long time to get its much deserved UK premiere.

Bobby Strong (Richard Fleeshman) confronts Penelope Pennywise (Jenna Russell)

The location for scene one begins at the Public Amenity number 9, a urinal for the poorest people. It is managed by Penelope Pennywise, performed by the accomplished Jenna Russell. She has assistance from Bobby Strong, a role which has Richard Fleeshman exhibiting his star quality. A problem with some recent shows is that the audience cannot always identify with the characters but that is not an issue here. Fleeshman and Russell convey their roles in a way that immediately wins the audience over without getting two preachy.

Officer Lockstock (Jonathan Slinger)

Urinetown is also a comedy and that tongue in cheek element is carefully orchestrated through a narrating Officer Lockstock (Jonathan Slinger) and Little Sally (Karis Jack) who between them discuss the dynamics of musicals with a degree of clever metacognition. No, it is not always a happy musical and the title is awful, but don’t let that put you off as the music is happy and memorable and it is a highly entertaining show.

Production design by Soultra Gilmour is impressive. In the small space offered at the St James Theatre we have a 2-tier set based upon a sewer pipe with rotating sets and a innovative moving track. The set looks fabulous but be warned that a front row seat might make a struggle to see what’s happening upstairs.

Sustainability and corporate greed may not be an obvious combination for a great evenings entertainment but the bad guy Caldwell B Cladwell was delightfully portrayed by the understudy Adam Pearce, and his daughter Hope (Roseanna Hyland) had a powerfully moderating influence. 

A problem with recent new musicals that the Jowheretogo gang have seen has been the quality of the songs themselves. Totally forgettable tunes that leave no lasting impression seem to be an inherent problem in many shows. This is not a problem with Urinetown, and a cast recording, for once, is worth buying. The Cop Song, Don’t be the Bunny and Run Freedom Run are all earworms that compete with the title song for merit. The strong cast delivers each one impeccably backed by a strong orchestra under the musical direction of Alan Williams. The harmonies are a delight and the knowledgeable audience applauded each one with gusto rather than out of duty or etiquette.

The rest of the creative team should be mentioned for the spectacle that is Urinetown. Enticing choreography by Ann Yee, engaging lighting design by Adam Silverman, and highly effective sound design by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster.

It is a real shame that it is on a limited run. The show deserves a full west end run and a full UK tour. People are returning to see it again because, quite simply, it is one of the best shows to see. We don’t say that very often.

Urinetown.

Runs until 3^rd May 2014.

Website: http://www.urinetown.co.uk/

Twitter: @unrinetownuk

St James Theatre – Box office 0844 264 2140

http://www.stjamestheatre.co.uk/book-tickets/?event=12712