The Addams Family- review

A fantastic production, the Morgan-Wixson Theatre brings back the extraordinary Addams family in a marvelous and fun musical.

The Addams family lives a rather alternative lifestyle, they love despair, darkness and death. Wednesday loves torturing her brother and he enjoys it. The family lives in their estate in Central Park, New York. Usually, excluded from others, until one day Wednesday, now a young woman, falls in love with a guy, a very normal one for that matter. The two want to get married and therefore arrange a dinner at the Addams’ house in order for their families to meet for the first time and hopefully get a long, when the young couple breaks the news to them. Wednesday being scared, she confides to her father and swears him to secrecy. That night everything changes for the family.

Gomez played by Aric Martin was absolutely fabulous, he portrayed his character incredibly well and humorously. The company, playing the ancestors, exceptionally fulfil their purpose of enhancing the overall performance in a very subtle way.  Wednesday played by Annie Claire Hudson is the star of the production in terms of singing, her voice is beautiful and she has great control over it.  Amy Coles playing Morticia is the Queen of facial expressions in the show. She doesn’t need to say any words and yet the audience is able to see  and understand how Morticia feels and what she has on her mind.  Overall, a very talented cast, however, there is some overacting but this could be perceived as purposely making it funny.

The music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa were not only catchy and funny but also very fitting in each scene, making this show a great musical filled with the audience’s laughter and nodding heads.

Direction by Anne Gesling is fluent and very clear from the beginning with quick changes of scenes and good use of props. However, sometimes it is a bit slow and it seems like some scenes are unnecessary, making the first half very long. The second half on the other hand, picks up fast and is strong from start to finish.

The staging and use of props is excellent, setting the scenes perfectly and making it easier to get lost in the musical.

Overall, an enjoyable musical, perfect for the whole family.

 

The Addams Family plays at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until July 31^st.

 

Orange is the New Musical- Review

A hilarious musical that keeps no eye dry and promises an memorable evening.

The original music and lyrics by Veronica Vasquez and Jared Goode are creative and catchy, leaving you humming their songs and thinking of the comical lyrics, even the day after seeing the show.

The parody retells the story of Piper Chapman, going to prison for smuggling drugs while dating her ex-girlfriend Alex Vause. The musical adds its own little jokes and anecdotes, as well as their own little twist. The audience follows their quest to find the Great Jenji (the original creator of Orange is the New Black). Many of the inmates have made it their mission as it is said she will fulfil three wishes when found. However, finding her consists of completing free tasks, such as getting the tears of a crazy women and the blood of a Latina.

Going into a parody of a well-known drama series, you usually expect bad acting and corny jokes. However, many of the actors in the show are excellent, using gestures and expressions well to emphasise jokes and dialogues. Marisha Legan-Johnson in particular, playing Crazy Eyes/Suzanne, one of the most iconic characters of the show, was outstanding. Her command of the character was comparable to a performance on Broadway/West End. She knows her character well and portrays it with great precision, Uzo Aduba almost couldn’t have done it better. Even though she has crazy eyes’ characteristics to a tee, she still brings something to it that makes it her own interpretation.

Tastee, played by Tiffany Commons is another exceptional performance and musical talent. The role reversal by Philip Rodriguez, playing Alex should not be missed. He portrays her with such elegance and comical attention to detail.

Director Vsev Krawczeniuk uses a basic set design, with pictures of different locations in Litchfield indicating the whereabouts of the people. Not only does this encourage people’s imagination, it also helps the show by putting the songs and absolutely hilarious performances into the spotlight.

As a Orange is the New Black lover, this is a must see show.

 

The show is running at the Whitefire Theatre, every Friday until August 19^th.

http://www.orangeisthenewmusical.com

The Woman in Black (Fortune Theatre)

A spine prickling tale of terror and loss. Brilliantly directed, the play brings Susan Hill’s novel to life and promises a frightening evening that will haunt you home.

In the early 1950s Arthur Kipps seeks assistance in an actor, trying to overcome a traumatic experience he had 30 years ago, he thinks that sharing his story on stage will finally give him the relief of letting go of his tormented past.

It is set in an empty theatre which gives the audience an illusion of not only watching a play but being part of it.

The actor, played by Matt Connor, represents the young Mr Kipps, while the old Mr Kipps, played by Malcom James, narrates and plays the people that he encountered during his time and travel to Eel Marsh House. The pair reanimate what he the lawyer went through when he went to the late Mrs Drablow estate to sort through her papers. During his time at the house he encounters the woman in Black and finds out about the terrible circumstances of her death. After spending a night full of ghastly incidents, he leaves to return to London, thinking that he can forget what he had seen. However, many years later he is still haunted by what he had experienced and finds the actor to help him.

The dynamic between the two characters changes throughout. The audience is able to see the development of the relationship between the two man. They get to know each other better and by the end they evolve into virtually the same person (The Actor becomes Arthur Kipps through portraying the younger version of him.)

Malcom James portrayal of seven different characters is magnificent. He can switch between each of them instantly, showing his versatility and excellent command of his roles.

James’s predominant character Arthur Kipps goes through a grand development from being shy and intimidated to be on stage and not being able to act, to have an incredible stage presence and impersonation. He has the ability to convey Kipps’ journey perfectly, which facilitates the relationship between the audience and characters of the show.

Gareth Owen’s sound design perfectly promotes the eerie atmosphere in the theatre and raises goose bumps throughout the performance. The show uses silence, spreading an aura of apprehension that sweeps through each row, as the audience is anticipating something horrible to happen.

The direction (Robin Herford) uses the possibilities of imagination and depends on the audience’s fantasy during the play. This makes the show more chilling, as the crowd can imagine the woman in black, even in scenes where she is not present on stage. This creates intimacy as it seems like she is in your head. Robin Herford’s direction heavily relies on timing which the actors execute flawlessly.

The stage is basic and slightly outdated, yet brilliantly used to convey each changing scene. A basket becomes the main prop, serving as a bed, table and horse and trap.

Originally having a low budget, Stephen Mallatratt, the playwright turned Susan Hill’s novel ‘The woman in black’ into a masterpiece of terror, only using a superb two-man cast. The play, almost 30 years after its opening night, still makes its audience scream and tremble with fear.

 

The Maids (Trafalgar Studios)

This revival of Genet’s drama is innovative, intriguing and a tour the force.

The play is said to be based on true events from 1933, the Papin sisters, two maids brutally killed their employers, in France. The playwright Jean Genet took inspiration in their story and wrote the play in 1947. He explores the relationship between masters and servants, love and hate and how far the human psyche can be strained before the maids’ murderous tendencies come to light.

The sisters Solange and Claire act out their fantasies in impersonating their Mistress, taking it in turn to play their horrible employer and the housemaid that eventually murders her. Before they could finish their fantasy, their employer shows up. Condescending and ordering her maids around. They finally decide to kill her, by brewing her a poisonous tea.

Andrew Upton and Benedict Andrews translated the play, which concentrates on the racial and economical difference between the Mistress and her maids.

The direction by Jamie Lloyd is fresh and young. He uses the power of speech and a basic but effective set, giving the show the opportunity to shine through simplicity.

The techno music is odd at the beginning, as this is something unexpected to a play that seems traditional at first glance. However, it is used well to underline the tone of innovation and complements the contemporary version of the play. Staging is absolutely brilliant, the audience surrounds the relatively small four poster stage, with seats behind and in a half circle around it. Rose pedals cover the floor that has hidden trap doors that include props. This sets an intimidate illusion which makes you feel that you’re secretly looking inside a window.

Zawe Ashton prances around the stage, delivering an energetic first half of her performance.  Her character, Claire’s love and hate relationship with the mistress shows Ashton (Fresh Meat) taking the stage with strong force. Her hopelessness is heart-breaking and her final monologue.

Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), is the star of the play. As Solange she captures the emotions and anger of a mistreated housemaid perfectly. She unleashes all the anger that Solange had bottled up for so long, with a forceful and triumphant crowning speech.

Laura Carmichael (Downton Abbey) plays the Mistress with such elegance and false sweetness that it is tragic that she barely has any stage presence.

The Maids brings a fresh approach to theatre, the star studded show with three powerful and flamboyant women is an excellent addition to the West End.

 

Critical report (Advanced Online Media)

Summary of assessments, research and overcoming problems

 Individual Project

 Theatre: An everlasting medium?

For the individual project I originally wanted to create an audio piece on the future of the theatre. For the project I wanted to have short vox pops with theatre goers and an interview with a professional in the theatre industry, i.e. a director or producer. However, it was impossible to find somebody who was willing to be interviewed and therefore I switched to creating an infographic. I came up with the idea, because I’m very passionate about the theatre, regularly go to shows and am very involved in the theatre blogging community on Twitter and Instagram. At the time I was also reading a book about the future of the theatre that was outdated, but made think about what could the future hold for an art that is that old? I did some research and found data proving that it was still doing well in London. So for the project I wanted to explore why it is still doing well in the 21^st century, even with a lot of innovation and completion.  I had a lot of questions that I wanted to answer and used Survey Monkey to create a survey which I shared on social media. First, I was a bit hesitant because I always thought that it seemed very complicated and that I’m not very good with numbers. During my research for the individual project I found a lot of data on the revenue and, number of performances and visitors to the theatre in 2015. That was another reason why I chose to do an infographic, as I think it helped visualising the data and making it more comprehendible for the reader, with the article putting it in perspective. The data showed that the theatre in London is doing quite well. I decided to base my infographic on the figures and create my own survey on the Survey Monkey to get a better insight on why people still visit the theatre. How they decide which shows to see and how much they spend. What worked I think, was combining the data that I found online with the data that I gathered through survey monkey. It gave the overall topic an insight that wouldn’t have been possible without.

I think what I could’ve done better was to try and get more data, such as finding out the age of the theatre goers. It would’ve shown what generation is the reason why the theatre revenue in London is healthy.

 

Pitch

Improving TodayTix

For the pitch I just tried to think of something I’m passionate about and that I use on a regular basis.  I’m quite familiar with the last minute theatre tickets app TodayTix, it was already a great app that I love to use but I thought there were still things that could be improved. My main reason for the improvements was that I wanted to promote theatre to younger people and therefore create a new generation of theatre goers, as well as have the app engage more with a social side and media. I think what worked well was my idea to add a social side to the app, where people could connect with other people who go to the same performance. The need for people who talk about the theatre and their thoughts on a show is already there as people are trying to that with Twitter. However, Twitter is so vast that it is quite hard to sort through all of the information. My addition to the app would connect social media and theatre further and make finding other theatre goers easier.  I looked at other theatre apps, but none of them was nowhere near innovative as TodayTix. I think I could’ve tried to find more data to back up my idea.

 

What I’ve learned and what is needed to work in the online media

Online media is ever changing due to innovation being introduced on almost a regular basis. The world is reliant on technology and the media has noticed that with newspapers and magazines creating an app version. As well as apps such as Storify and Tweedly, that allow you to curate stories on a certain topic and get tweets based on your interests.

The lectures also taught me that infographics is a big part of journalism. There is so much data out there that needs to be simplified and put into a graph for people to find it easier to understand. Even though it seemed very complicated at the beginning, after trying it out and using Excel to convert a vast amount of data into comprehensive information, it wasn’t as difficult as I first thought. I’ve discovered that audio and video outlets can be very powerful if used correctly. An audio feature works just by using sound, quietness and a certain tone of voice. It can make its point without needing a picture or footage, as it is creating an image in the mind of the listener. Video on the other hand can say more with just a short clip of great footage than words can explain. Therefore, both mediums have their advantage, they just need to be utilised right in order to make an impact.

One thing that is important to work in the world of online journalism is the ability to predict certain things. Trying to understand trends and where they are going is not easy but with a lot of research a journalist in the online media could have a faint idea of where the media is heading. Due to aggregation and curation, transparency is quite important. Many articles have links to different sources and credit other peoples’ work, which is very important in a world where information is unlimited.

Video and audio journalism (Advanced Online Media)

The media uses many  platforms as outlets, two of them, radio and video are two different but very powerful outlets in their own way.

A video can be used as aid to visualise a news story and therefore make it more comprehendible to the viewer. But as the phrase “A picture can say more than a 1000 words” says, a video can be even stronger and better with great footage that could explain and set the scene with only a few second of footage.

This video of a wildfire spreading in a home in Canada has not narration but can still show the devastation that a house fire brings to a family home.

Audio can be just as powerful by utilising sound, noise and  even quietness. The radio is known to be the ‘theatre of the mind’, as it solely relies on the listener’s imagination.

Audio has the ability to make you feel like you’re there, you can easily imagine that you’re in the middle of the events that are either described to you or that are recorded. Because audio is not using any visual aids, the sound and tone of voice is an important aspect. It can determine the feelings of the speaker and create an image of the person speaking. A very great example is the BBC’s comparison of airstrikes against Islamic State with conflicts of the past. It is a video but would easily work just as well, if not even better without the graphics and pictures. Try closing your eyes and just listening to it.

Both platforms have their own advantages towards the other. Depending on the story, one might be a better outlet as some things work better with audio than video and vice versa.

Tips and tricks for a theatre fix

Shining lights, the atmosphere comparable to Broadway and the buzz of a metropolitan city. The West End is famous for its many theatres, showing plays, and world prominent musicals. Seeing a show is a must when living in London, but a night in the West End can quickly become a strain on your wallet. Especially for students, trying to get your weekly or even monthly theatre fix is not easy with ticket prices up to £120.  Unless,  you know where to look for cheaper tickets or great deals. I have tried out many things, here are some of the things that work quite well.

Cheap websites

There are several websites that offer amazing deals with discounts up to 70%. Some of the websites offer great packages like a pre-theatre dinner for two. However, you have to be patient to find the best and cheapest tickets. My favourite is Lovetheatre.com, they offer huge discounts for tickets from Monday to Thursday.

Box office

The TKTS box is in the heart of Leicester Square and close by several theatres. However, be prepared to wait in line for quite a while. This is one of the most popular options to get cheaper tickets, especially with tourists.

Today Tix app

If you suddenly feel like going to a show, this app is amazing and great if you have a busy lifestyle. It can be used on the go, it doesn’t matter where you are, whether you are on the bus or walking to work. Just use the app to buy tickets to all the performances in and off the West End. They also offer discounts for many shows. Only downfall is,  you can’t book tickets more than about a week in the future.

Depending on the show, you can also play the ticket lottery for several shows to win £15-£20 tickets for front row seats. Just enter the draw and the app will inform you if you have won. Don’t worry if you don’t win the first time, you can enter again the following day until you get chosen.

Day seats

This is probably the best option but also the harshest. If you don’t mind getting up in the middle of the night and travelling down to central London, just to wait for another five hours, then this is the way to do it. You can get two tickets per person and the tickets are usually for front row seats. Most theatres offer day tickets but check online before spending hours waiting in the cold.

Lottery

If you’re not set on seeing a show or you just want to try your luck, then the ticket lottery is the way to go. The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales theatre is known for its daily Lottery. The winners are able to win the best seats in the house for £20 each.  Just swing by the enthusiastic staff before 5.30 to enter your details.

Advanced Online Media- App development (Pitch)

Improving Today Tix

One of my favourite apps that I use on a weekly basis is Today Tix. Being a massive theatre fan this app is like a gift sent from heaven. It makes getting affordable tickets quite easy if you’re happy to get last minute tickets. Living in the 21st century using your smart phone is almost a must. It’s easy, quick and you can do it on the go. Despite being fabulously useful for a theatre lover, there are a few things that could be improved.

(*= suggested areas of improvement)

Suggested improvements

• After purchasing your ticket(s) there could be another icon that connects you with other people that attend the same performance.
• There should be a ‘last minute’ option, with performances hugely discounted 1 1/2 hours before show begin
• The app should make you rate every shows that you’ve seen, based on this, it personalises suggestions of what you might like to see
• In the menu there could be an option for fringe theatres (such as the Tricycle Theatre)

These are just a few things that I thought of, that would make the app even better. Personally, I often go to the theatre alone, as my friends are either not interested or can’t afford it. I don’t usually mind the visit by myself, ( it gives me time to soak in the atmosphere in peace) but sometimes it would be nice to have someone to talk theatre with and to share opinions of the shows. Therefore, I would suggest an icon appearing, after you’ve bought your tickets(s), that will help you connect with other people who are going to the same performance. You could either meet before the play for a quick drink in the pub around the corner or just talk about the theatre after the play.

Being a student and living in theatre paradise one thing is always an issue. Money. I have a solution for that. Many shows that are usually sold out on the weekend have empty seats during mid-week performances. Rather than the seat being empty the theatre could work together with the app, making it possible to get really cheap tickets (max £45) an hour and a half before the show. This way, the theatre won’t have empty seats and people are more tempted to spontaneously go and see a show.

Another thing Today Tix should start is customising the app. Every time you see a show, it should make you rate it and from that suggest other shows to you. That will personalise the experience and helps indecisive users.

Besides the obvious West End, London has other theatre destinations to offer. The fringe theatre! While Today Tix is already offering an ‘Off West End’ option with a very small selection of the Royal Court, Hampstead and St James’ Theatre and the Southbank Centre, there are many more theatres just as good. The Almeida, Bush and Tricycle Theatre are only a few option with great productions that often get overlooked when choosing a play for the evening. If the app would offer a fringe theatre that would not only promote the theatre community more but it would also strengthen the industry with a rise of revenue.

These are just my initial ideas for the app. Whereas Today Tix has helped bring the theatre to the 21st century, the changes would help take it even further.  My main goal with these improvements would be to promote the arts as they are often neglected, especially by younger generations. It would also make theatre more available to everyone. Students and people who can’t spend the prices that tourists willingly pay for popular shows like the Lion King etc. would have more chances to see musicals and plays.

 

 

 

 

Theatre: an everlasting entertainment medium?

Advanced Online Media: Individual Project

Despite being almost as old as mankind itself, with theatre performances going back to Ancient Greece and before, the performing arts are still around in today’s world. In the 21st century this medium has to compete with many other ways people can choose for entertainment. What keeps the theatre in the loop?  The film industry is generating over 500 billion US Dollars and 3D movies in the cinema and now even the possibility to enjoy the 3D experience at home, in the cosy walls of your own living room. The theatre has a lot to go up against.  Figures of the Society of London Theatre show that the theatre industry in London is still doing fine. The revenue in recent years is consistently growing to as much as £633,778,537 in 2015. New theatres are opening and more shows are performed than the year before. Clearly the theatre industry is doing something right. What makes it such a popular medium?

Infographic: Sarah Louhichi

In a survey conducted to  18 people, 44% of the theatre goers choose their show based on finding cheap deals and offers. As the theatre is generally rather expensive this doesn’t seem surprising. 59% of the people that answered the  questions by survey monkey have said they enjoy the theatre because the story is unfolding right in front of them. This is the theatre’s main advantage to any other medium. People are sitting in the audience, almost like a fly on the wall, watching the story happen in front of their eyes. Being able to not only see the actor’s emotion but also feel the theatre’s atmosphere fill with them is an excitement only the theatre can offer. However, most people asked are still only staying in their comfort zone with 71% staying in the west end, watching commercial musicals and 32% watching popular shows, such as Lion King.

Social media might be a factor in the popularity of theatre in the 21st century. It gives the audience and the theatre community the chance to connect with each other. Actors and theatre production can get instant feedback on Twitter by their audience, which they reciprocate by replying to their fans. In addition, Twitter has a whole community for theatre lovers. By using the hashtag #ldntheatrebloggers they share their thoughts of plays and musicals they have seen, as well as their passion for the performing arts.

The theatre definitely has to offer unique factors that other entertainment such as  TV or cinema cannot. Whether it’s seeing it live, being able to connect to the production and actors or just the possibility to see famous personas on stage. The theatre is a medium that can evolve with time, so one thing is clear,  it will live on.

Individual Project Pitch update (Infographics)

Originally, my project idea was to create an audio feature on Theatre: The everlasting entertainment medium?

As I’m passionate  about the theatre and like to build my knowledge of it, I read a lot of books about the history and future of the theatre. That gave me my original idea. However,  the main aspect of my audio feature would have been an interview with an  industry professional. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get one and as I’ve found quite a lot of data during my research I have decided to use data journalism as an outlet for my idea.

The initial idea of my feature will stay the same. I would still like to answer all these questions: What makes it so interesting for people? What does the theatre offer that movies don’t?- Is it the possibility so see celebrities live on stage? (Last weeks announcement of Ian McKellen  and Patrick Stewart returning to the stage together has already stirred up the internet. Even, non-theatre goes have participated in the excitement)I will use either already existing data, such as the statistics of the  Society of London Theatre (SOLT), and primary data that I have gathered through survey monkey. The data from SOLT has given me an angle for the article. It shows that the theatre revenue is healthy. Therefore, I want to find out why? I’m using survey monkey to answer the questions of my original idea. I will put some focus on Twitter and how the theatre community plays in the healthy revenue of theatre in London. Using Piktochart to identify the main data to the readers.

What part do younger generations play? The possibilities of social media? Especially Twitter has a big theatre community who connect with the stage actors and the theatres productions. Does this make the theatre more appealing because it gives the illusion of a more intimate setting/medium?