Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games
Milton Keynes Theatre 20th - 25th April 2015

Michael Flatley, the creator of the hit dance production Riverdance now brings his amazing new show Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games to Milton Keynes Theatre.

This show possesses all of the precision and thrills of the original, but also features fantastic new staging, costumes and absolutely mesmerising choreography.

The uber talented Flatley who not only is the creator but is the producer, director and choreographer!  He brings forty of the world's most outstanding young dancers and musicians to the stage - all of the cast deliver phenomenal performances.

Based on Irish folklore, Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games is a classic tale of Good v Evil.  The story is of a little spirit who travels through time to help the Lord of the Dance protect his people from the evil threat of Don Dorcha, the Dark Lord.  As this dark power challenges our hero, the mystical adventure draws you into a world of danger, desire and love...will he be triumphant?

Expect brilliant staging, pyrotechnics in abundance and the thunderous sound of synchronised metal heels.

Morgan Comer as the Lord of the Dance was brilliant - an amazingly talented dancer and showman.  He really set the place on fire!

For one young cast member, Racheal O'Conner, (Erin the Goddess) this show has been her debut into the heady heights of theatre - you may remember her from the BBC One hit television show "The Voice" and guess what...she definitely has a voice, a very beautiful one. O'Conner demonstrates an impressive vocal range, even if the songs themselves feel a bit superfluous to the story.

The dancing is truly fantastic, the music makes you want to tap along too and the energy levels are through the roof!

This is a high octane show and one not to be missed...if you thought Irish dancing was boring - Flatley has made it a show stopping spectacle.  There is nothing boring about this!

Enjoy!

Lily B X

Dance 'Til Dawn  Milton Keynes Theatre 13^th – 18^th April 2015

Director and co-choreographer of Dance 'Til Dawn, Karen Bruce has worked with Vincent and Flavia since the Strictly Come Dancing Tour in 2010 and said that working with them again was "Magical…they have a ridiculously brilliant Argentine tango, which nobody does to the quality and standard they do.”

Dance 'Til Dawn follows the totally amazing Midnight Tango - I raved about that show and wondered if that could be topped.  Dance 'Til Dawn exceeded all my expectations.

This production has everything - sensational dancers, wonderful vocals and comedic moments too...but it's when Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace walk on to the stage, the magic starts.  

There was such a buzz of anticipation - it was almost audible.  They are, quite simply, stunning together.  Every move is effortless and so precise, you have to sit back and appreciate the amount of difficulty in their steps as they rise and fall across the stage in total synergy.

Dance 'Til Dawn showcases every dancing style the pair possess from the Charleston to the Waltz (and of course the Tango!)

However, don't think that this show is just a string of dances - it's played out as a 1940's gangster style movie that has a love story bubbling in the background that blossoms between Tony (Vincent) and silver screen starlet Sadie (Flavia).

If you have been lucky enough to see Midnight Tango, you will have recognised one half of the silent slapstick comedy husband and wife bar owners. Teddy Kempner returns as the private detective Tommy Dubrowski, a lovable rogue who gets mixed up in a murder cover up.  Dance 'Til Dawn allows the very funny Kempner a voice and therefore the ability to showcase his comedic talent and timing, he was brilliant.

The femme fatal Lana Clamenza (Abbie Osmon) is girlfriend to a big time gangster, who wants to cover up her infidelity by retrieving some pictures she'd rather her boyfriend didn't see.  Osmon shone in this role, her signature saying "I'm not happy" made the audience chuckle due to her great timing and totally stunned us all with her amazing vocal talent. One word…fantastic!

Someone who needs to be mentioned is simply billed as "The Voice", Oliver Darley - former NME vocalist of the year and who has sung with best selling artists including Ray Charles, BB King and Sir Tom Jones.  Darleys' voice was faultless.

Dance 'Til Dawn will wow you in every way - from the talented cast and the fantastic live band to the wonderful costumes and clever staging. 

If you only book tickets just to see Vincent and Flavia dance it will be worth every penny.  

They are at their very best - slick, smooth and their performance throughout will blow you away.  Vincent was his cheeky, charismatic talented self and Flavia was totally captivating, her body shape and movement on stage was mesmerising.

As the final dance finished, the audience rose to their feet in appreciation...I, like them wanted to watch it all over again!

Lily B X

JEEVES & WOOSTER 

Milton Keynes Theatre 7th – 11th April 2015

Join Robert Webb (Peep Show, That Mitchell & Webb Look) as the effervescent, aristocratic fool Bertie Wooster in this hilarious new production.

Layering joy on joy, joke on joke, Perfect Nonsense is a delightful evening of theatrical absurdity featuring P. G. Wodehouse’s iconic double act.

When a country house weekend takes a turn for the worse, Bertie Wooster is unwittingly called on to play matchmaker, but also to steal a silver cow creamer from Totleigh Towers. Naturally, the ever dependable Jeeves is there to prevent Bertie from making a fool of himself in front of a cast of Wodehouse’s finest characters.

To book tickets go to www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes or contact the box office on 0844 871 7652

The Producers - A Mel Brooks Musical
Milton Keynes Theatre 30th March - 4th April 2015

If you are looking for a fun night out at the theatre, then look no further! This musical is fun...with a capital F!

This is a production directed by Matthew White, includes such  well known names as Jason Mansford (Leo Bloom), Phil Jupitus (Franz Liebkind), Louis Spence (Carmen Ghia), Cory English (Max Bialystock) and David Bedella (Roger De Bris)

To ensure the stage is constantly filled with class - add an uber talented ensemble, brilliant choreography and a fantastic band! It all adds up to a super strong all round package that is sure to please.

The story...one time big theatre producer Max Bialytock has hit rock bottom, flop after flop, his opening nights are sure to be closing on the same night.  He employs rookie accountant Leo Bloom to "cook the books" after his last big flop, Max needs a way out.

But the rookie comes up trumps with a wild idea that a flop (in the right circumstances) can actually MAKE money.  So all that is needed is a sure fire disaster of a script, the worst director they can find and the most untalented cast EVER!

The plan...when it fails take the money and run away to Rio!  The play to be chosen is Springtime For Hitler, a neo-Nazi musical about a misunderstood dictator...Of course, things don't always go to plan!

There are wonderful performances from Cory English, who takes on the role of Bialystock with real gusto.  If you have seen the film, he has this part off to a tee, he was brilliant. Add the fantastic performance of stand up comedian Jason Mansford as the dithering blanket stroking Bloom - the mix is pure genius.

Phil Jupitus was a little lack lustre as the Hitler obsessed, pigeon loving play write Hanz - it was still funny but I was waiting for so much more from him. 

David Badella and Louie Spence were FAB-U-LOUS! What a scream...Bedella as the worst director on the planet (who loves to cross dress) and Spence as his whirling, twirling over acting assistant Carmen Ghia.  The audience loved it! 

There were so many laugh out loud moments in this show! If you want to see something funny, this delivers that by the bucket load.

As the audience stood to appreciate the show and after the clapping died down, a fellow theatre goer said "that's the best show I've seen in a long time" and I totally agree.

Book your tickets now!

Enjoy!

Lily B X