Importance “overflows with charm and wonderful oneliners”

by Site Admin on Thursday, October 9, 2008
Make first comment on this post

Reviews, STAC productions

Lauren Rogers’s review of The Importance of Being Earnest for some reason appears twice on the Worcester News website, a slightly shorter version published yesterday and a slightly longer version in the Reviews section published today.

Although seemingly neither overly impressed nor phased by the traditional, “straight forward” production, Rogers reserves especial praise for the younger actresses who “impressed the most”: Kathryn Bellamy as Gwendolen and Sophie McLellan as Cecily.  Simon Atkins (Jack) and Chris Broadfield (Algernon) are “well suited” to their roles, John Horton and Pauline Lowe are “a divine pairing” as Rev Chasuble and Miss Prism, and — while Patricia Hobday’s crocodile-smile interpretation of Lady Bracknell does not quite seem to strike home for the reviewer — Hobday is nevertheless “certainly talented and spat many of wicked aristocrat’s lines out with pleasurable spite”.

The show closes Saturday night.

Birmingham Mail: actors “acquit themselves with distinction”

by Site Admin on Friday, May 2, 2008
Make first comment on this post

Newspapers, Reviews, STAC productions

A third review for The Blue Room comes from the Birmingham Mail. John Slim anticipated the play early last month in the Birmingham Post, calling it a “heroic” choice. His review in the Mail shows no sign of disappointment. “Emily Portsmouth - making her first appearance with the company - and Bob Churchill acquit themselves with distinction in each of their various roles.”

The full text of the article follows below.

(more…)

Reviews of The Blue Room

by Site Admin on Friday, May 2, 2008
Make first comment on this post

Newspapers, Reviews, STAC productions

Both the Worcester News and the Worcester Standard have reviewed The Blue Room this week.

John Philpott writing in the former, appears to understand the themes, has his ideas about “the essential truth” of the play, and is congratulatory over Chris Jaeger’s “masterly brushstrokes” as director. But it would all be for nothing “without the right materials, and his [Jaeger's] artist’s palette must surely overflow with the talents of Emily Portsmouth and Bob Churchill”.

Catherine Phillips writing in the latter, however, is less effusive. She appreciates the “convincing” changes between different roles, but her dislike of the play itself and her opinions of the morals displayed by the characters appear to be a hang-up. She also discusses the amount of sex at the Swan (is it really so much, or does it just appear that way if sex is particularly salient to someone as they flick through the programming brochure?)

The text of both reviews follows below.

(more…)

A good review for a play he didn’t like!

by Site Admin on Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Make first comment on this post

Reviews, STAC productions

John Slim’s Birmingham Post review of Closer by STAC made much of the reviewer’s dislike of the play itself, but still lauded STAC’s production and Math Jones’s directorial approach in particular.

The text of the review follows below. (Let us know if you can find a link to this elsewhere online!)

(more…)

Private Lives laid bare!

by Site Admin on Monday, February 25, 2008
Make first comment on this post

Newspapers, Reviews, STAC productions

The reviews are in for STAC’s two-week run of a Noel Coward classic, which closed on Saturday. Both the Worcester News and the Birmingham Mail seem glad to have peaked in through the proverbial keyhole onto our Private Lives.

Note: Only the opening of the Birmingham Mail review appears online at the moment — if anyone can update the STAC blog with more information or a link when it appears, please email via the Contact link.

The Worcester News says the set was “impressive”, that the production was “fresh”, “emotinally engaging” and “one of the most professional STAC performances I have seen”. The reviewer praises John Horton for a “superb” performance, Julie Nunn for a “suitably flamboyant” turn as Amanda, and notes Tim Watson’s “great comic timing” especially opposite the character Sybil Chase “played very well by STAC newcomer Kathryn Bellamy”.

The full text of the Worcester News review follows below, and the opening text of the Birmingham Mail review below that.

(more…)

The review that made it in the end

by Site Admin on Friday, October 19, 2007
Make first comment on this post

Newspapers, Online, Reviews, STAC productions

I’ve just been informed by the Worcester News that the previously mentioned review of Relatively Speaking has made it to their website in the end. (Archive copy.)

“Ann Moore’s production is a delight”, “impeccably cast”

by Site Admin on Monday, October 15, 2007
Make first comment on this post

Newspapers, Reviews, STAC productions

The Birmingham Mail review of Relatively Speaking is also either not online, or is buried away somewhere on the fantastically chaotic icBirmingham website.

However John Slim’s Saturday review of the show was excellent and his reference to the show flowing “without a hint of a hiccup” can only be a testament to the hidden but steady-handed and infallible stage management of Chris Harper and Steve Willis.

The text of the review is reproduced below.

(more…)

Relatively Speaking: A “cracking play” with “talented cast”

by Site Admin on Monday, October 15, 2007
Make first comment on this post

Newspapers, Reviews, STAC productions

No online version of the Worcester News’ review of Relatively Speaking has been forthcoming. However the paper did give a glowing report of the production on Friday. The reviewer praised a “talented cast”, including Bob Churchill’s “professional performance” (Greg), a “hugely enjoyable” Keith Thompson (Philip), a “delightful characterisation” from Sue Hawkins (Sheila) and an “impressive” Miriam Knight (Ginny).

The text of the article follows below.

(more…)

It’s all a “big male mid-life crisis” says Michelle

by Site Admin on Saturday, August 18, 2007
Make first comment on this post

Newspapers, Reviews, STAC productions

Yesterday’s Berrow’s Journal reviews One For The Road. STAC have “a good record when it comes to performing the works of Willy Russell”, and Michelle Whitfield (playing Jane Fuller) is singled out for especial praise.

Tonight (Saturday 18th August) is the last chance to see Willy Russell’s One For The Road as performed by STAC.

The text of the article follows below.

(more…)

Popcorn reviewed in Berrow’s Journal

by Site Admin on Friday, June 29, 2007
2 comments on this post

Newspapers, Reviews, STAC productions

This week’s Berrow’s Journal contains a short review of “thought-provoking” Popcorn. Chris Isaac, as Bruce Delamitri, is “excellent”. And psycho-killers, Wayne and Scout, are played by “the outstanding Bob Churchill and Rebecca Stait”.

Tonight (Friday 29th June) and tomorrow (Saturday 30th June) are the last opportunities to see STAC’s interpretation of this award-winning satire.

The text of the article follows below.

Satirical thriller hits target in the movies

The relationship between the Hollywood film industry and America’s gun culture is examined in Ben Elton’s thought-provoking satirical comedy thriller Popcorn.

Movie director Bruce Delamitri (played by the excellent Chris Isaac) returns home after receiving an Oscar for his latest ultra-violent film, only to find a pair of serial killers, Wayne Hudson and his sidekick Scout (the oustanding Bob Churchill and Rebecca Stait) in his Beverly Hills pad.

They have a plan to make Bruce accept responsibility for their murders and drag in his dysfunctional family into the proceedings.

The award-winning play explores the complex issues around why violence is popular entertainment and how far the media influences what people do. It runs as the Swan until Saturday.

DAVID HUDSON-WOOD