Hamilton

The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals

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Now a much-welcome fixture to lift the January spirits, the National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals returned to the AO Arena in Manchester on Monday evening – bringing once again some spectacular musical theatre performances expertly compared by seasoned pro Jason Manford.

Featuring a mix of absolute classics to more modern hits, the evening was a big-budget affair that saw some of the biggest and best shows in London and on the road performing alongside a full size orchestra and host of talented singers.

Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for The National Lottery

Tanisha Spring and Dom Simpson gave an absolutely gorgeous performance of ‘Your Song‘ from the current West End hit Moulin Rouge. With thousands of mobile phones lighting up the arena, it was a really beautiful moment.

The Broadway hit Hadestown is due to open this side of the pond soon, so it was a really exciting moment getting to watch the first UK TV performance of the West End cast as they performed ‘Wait For Me’.

Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for The National Lottery

The cast of the critically-acclaimed immersive revivial of Guys & Dolls, lead by Cedric Neal as Nicely Nicely Johnson raised the roof and audiences to their feet with the brilliant number ‘Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat’.

Daniel Boys popped down the road from the Palace Theatre to give a crowd-pleasing turn as King George III with ‘You’ll Be Back’ from Hamilton, showing again what a gift of a number for a performer that song is.

Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for The National Lottery

Another clear winner was the quartet of Jean Valjean’s from Les Miserables (Milan van Waardenburg, Alfie Boe, Killian Donnelly, Pete Jöback) singing a specially-arranged version of the beautiful ‘Bring Him Home’. 

Another iconic show performing to big cheers was The Phantom of the Opera – John Robyns and Lily Kerhoas clearly enjoying belting out the famous title number to a 12,000 audience.

Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for The National Lottery

And plenty of shows heading towards Manchester in the next few months also got a chance to show what audiences can look forward to.

Curve’s production of A Chorus Line heads to The Lowry in July, ahead of a London run, and the dazzling full company performance of the show-stopping ‘One’ was a highlight of the evening.

Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for The National Lottery

The tour of Disney’s Aladdin heads to the Palace Theatre in May and Genie Yeukayi Ushe gave a brilliantly high energy rendition of ‘Friend Like Me’.

There was also a glimpse of new musicals to look forward to this year – including 42 Balloons which comes to The Lowry in April.

Other shows performing included clear audience favourite Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, new musical Mrs Doubfire, as well as classics Grease and Wizard of Oz, both of which come to Manchester this year.

(Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for The National Lottery)

And the show also shone a welcome spotlight on the important work done by the National Lottery in funding theatres and theatre programmes around the country. Also highlighted time and time again was the important of supporting your local regional theatre.

 You can catch the show on BBC One and Iplayer this Saturday – it genuinely is a must-watch for musicals fans.

Hamilton

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Reviewed by Nikki Cotter

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Both revolutionary in subject matter and in its impact on the theatre world, Hamilton has fast become one of the most beloved musicals of all time. Certified Hamilfan’s know the cast recording off by heart before even setting foot inside a theatre while favourite quotes have entered popular culture as its strength of message and sheer brilliance are praised the world over.

Embarking on its first ever (and much-anticipated) UK and Ireland tour, Hamilton has arrived at Manchester’s Palace Theatre for an incredible 15 week run, ensuring theatre fans from across the region get their opportunity to be in the room where it happens.

Hamilton tells the fascinating story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, with a book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. This is a history lesson like no other as hip-hop, jazz, R&B and traditional musical theatre blend together to create a stunning score, reframing the traditional and driving it forward for a new generation. Throw in direction from Thomas Kail, orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire and incredible choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and you’ve got the recipe for the perfect piece of theatre. Add to this a cast of insane talent and the result is a complete work of art.

Taking on the titular role is Shaq Taylor: Taylor’s Hamilton is a strong, commanding visionary who proves undoubtedly that the pen is far mightier than the sword. He takes us on an incredible journey starting off, “young, scrappy and hungry” and ending the show leaving us questioning our own lives and legacies, “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?”. He delivers Lin-Manuel Miranda’s complex lyrics with a relaxed ease and an immense precision.

Sam Oladeinde as Aaron Burr is tremendous, arrogant and scoffing one moment, defeated and broken the next, his delivery of Wait For It perfectly highlights the brilliance of this piece, as his focus shifts from contemplative silence to roaring energy within the blink of an eye. His character development and nuanced delivery as Hamilton’s foe is second to none.

Billy Nevers is a remarkable Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, all bounding energy and slick beats he truly shines on stage. Perfectly cast, he brings real depth and well-judged humour to both roles giving an unforgettable performance.

KM Drew Boateng shows incredible versatility as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, two polar opposites whom Boateng more than masters while DeAngelo Jones as John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton is a joy, full of fun, bravado and brilliance.

Maya Britto gives a world class performance as Eliza Hamilton, her solo Burn is heartbreakingly beautiful while her soaring vocals during the finale will make your heart swell. Aisha Jawando compliments Britto entirely as loving older sister Angelica, punchy and powerful delivering riffs to die for. Making up the trio of sisters is Gabriela Benedetti as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds who gets her well-deserved moment in the spotlight during Say No to This with vocals as smooth as silk.

This cast bring out the humour in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s script like I’ve never seen before, they are a tight knit team and the trust they clearly have in each other takes their collective performance to the next level.

Daniel Boys further ramps up the laughs as the stomping, spoilt King George, while special mention must also go to Charles Simmons as George Washington, a calming presence amongst the compelling force that is Alexander Hamilton.

Hamilton truly is an ensemble production with the company taking on multiple roles and pushing the story forward through Blankenbuehler’s immaculate & intricate choreography. Their level of skill is mind-blowing. The diversity of this cast enriches this production wholeheartedly and will leave you wishing you could retake your seat and watch it immediately all over again. Manchester waited for it and Hamilton has well and truly delivered. Rise up and get yourselves to Manchester where Hamilton will turn your world upside down, epic in scale, breathtaking in brilliance.

Hamilton is on at Manchester’s Palace theatre until Saturday 24th February tickets are available here.

Lea Salonga

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Reviewed by Nikki Cotter

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Theatrical royalty and original Miss Saigon Lea Salonga brought her sensational one-woman show to Manchester’s Opera House over the weekend as part of her current UK tour. Rescheduled from February due to an unfortunate skiing accident Salonga quickly proved to an excited Manchester audience that she was more than worth the wait.

Opening with the Nina Simone classic Feeling Good Salonga sets the tone for the evening, slick, sharp and effortlessly brilliant. Accompanied by a six-piece band which includes Musical Director Larry Yurman whom worked with Salonga back in her Les Misérables Broadway days the talented musicians accompany her beautifully. Each piece is perfectly paced while the incredible acoustics within the Opera House make it feel as though she is singing directly to each and every person there. The impressive lighting design adds to the visual appeal of the show while Salonga’s vocals really do speak for themselves.

Incredibly warm and charismatic her frequent exchanges with the audience between numbers further add to the charm of her incredible performance, already enraptured with her judging from the enthusiastic applause even before the first note was sung Salonga further seals the deal when she announces “Manchester, you are giving me life right now”.

The varied set list caters wonderfully for all tastes; there’s lashings of musical theatre numbers including Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Company and Hamilton as well as a brilliant selection of contemporary songs ranging from Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car to perhaps rather surprisingly One Direction’s Story Of My Life which is delivered with warm emotion.

Of course no performance would be complete without Salonga treating audiences to pieces from the Disney productions she famously voiced. Her performance of Reflection from Disney’s Mulan allows for a significant introductory speech about the importance of representation and visibility and how honoured she feels to represent not just Asian women on stage but an ‘badass Asian warrior’.

From Reflection Salonga moves poignantly into Train’s Drops of Jupiter which she dedicates to all those who have been affected by cancer after revealing that the Grammy award-winning song was written by lead singer Pat Monahan after the loss of his mother.

Act 1 comes to a close with an absolute fan favourite which Salonga describes as ‘the gift that keeps on giving’; a song she has sung many hundreds of times but one which walloped her emotionally the first time she sang it after the birth of her now 13 year old daughter. I’d Give My Life For You sounds as fresh and as devastating today as it did 30 years on from those first days of Miss Saigon rehearsals.

Act 2 opens with a lively delivery of Another Hundred People from Stephen Sondheim’s Company swiftly followed by a spectacular rendition of Let It Go from Disney’s Frozen which Salonga wittily describes as a song ‘you simply can’t escape from’ while inviting the eager audience to join in with the chorus to which they happily oblige.

The addition of a stripped back acoustic version of A-ha’s Take On Me is a real highlight of the show, showcasing not only Salonga’s incredible range and control but also the sheer talent of guitarist Chris Allard. Next comes a haunting rendition of Burn from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash-hit Hamilton a work she describes as ‘absolute genius’ and a show she has seen three times.

Salonga’s first stint as a Disney Princess was voicing Aladdin’s Princess Jasmine which resulted in one of the most successful duets in cinematic history, A Whole New World. Salonga takes this opportunity to ask for a volunteer to join her on stage in delivering the iconic song. Audience member Mark Cunningham, a dedicated fan since he first saw Salonga in Miss Saigon back in 1989 when he was just 14 is the lucky person chosen and delivers an impressive rendition of the much loved piece, complementing Salonga wonderfully. The pair thrill the audience with the duet receiving one of the warmest responses of the evening; an unforgettable opportunity for Mark as well as a heart-warming moment for the watching audience.

Salonga brings the show to a close with a medley of Les Misérables numbers I Dreamed A Dream and On My Own. The first Asian actress to play the roles of Eponine and Fantine on Broadway Salonga leaves the audience speechless with her goose bump inducing, note perfect delivery.

Salonga thankfully sticks with the tradition of delivering an encore and reappears to thunderous applause as she bursts into a celebratory performance of This Is Me from The Greatest Showman followed by her final song for the night, Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All.

Salonga thrills effortlessly from start to finish, her voice smooth as honey is as powerful as it is perfect. Thirty years of entertaining audiences have cemented her as without doubt one of the most extraordinary talents in the world today. Her warmth and talent combined with a varied and accessible set list ensures her appeal endures while she no doubt gains new fans along the way.

With limited dates left on this current tour we suggest you summon your inner badass and get booking tickets ASAP!

Further information and tour dates for Lea Salonga can be found here.