Jacob Fowler

The Addams Family

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Reviewed by Nikki Cotter

Opening Night verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐

With hints of Halloween creeping into every supermarket home section despite the 30-degree temperatures outside it feels somewhat fitting that the spooky, ooky Addams family should also make an appearance, arriving at Salford’s Lowry theatre for one gloriously ghoulish week.

Written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice with original music and songs from Andrew Lippa, this musical comedy is packed with humour, heart and kooky theatrical flair.

The story is centred around the unconventional teenage love story of sadistic, gothic, Wednesday Adams (played by a brilliant Maria Garrett on as cover for tonight’s performance) and All-American Lucas Beineke (played by a charismatic Jacob Fowler). As the two families come together over dinner at the Addams family mansion, it’s here that the fun and games really begin.

Garrett takes the role of Wednesday and runs with it, passionate and intense with an loveable warmth, her punchy performance is perfection. Her delivery of ‘Pulled’ is every bit as spine tingling as Diego Pitarch’s captivating set design. Her pairing with Jacob Fowler as love-interest Lucas works wonderfully, the two combined give us heavenly harmonies and wicked chemistry.

The rest of the kooky clan are equally as impressive with Alexandra Burke as a sensuous, sophisticated Morticia while Ricardo Afonso hits every mark as a scene stealing Gomez, his vocals are without doubt are some of the best you’ll ever hear while his comedic timing is second to none.

Clive Rowe is a delightfully loveable Fester, while fan-favourite Lesley Joseph as Grandma Addams and Nicholas McLean as Pugsley, pack in the humour delivering their witty one-liners to perfection. Special mention must also go to Kara Lane as Lucas’ mother Alice Beineke who shifts deliciously from ‘normal to ‘unhinged’ right before our eyes at the close of Act One. While Dickon Gough returning to the role of Lurch is spooktacular.

The ensemble of seven skilled performers who make up the Ancestors fill the stage with enthusiasm and energy, helping to cleverly move the story on and bring the undead to glorious life, adding wonderfully to this already strong cast and cementing the true meaning of family by the end of Act Two.

While the Addams Family may have been around for almost 90 years there’s nothing ancient about this quirky, uplifting show. Matthew White’s direction combines nostalgia with fresh energy resulting in an enormously entertaining production. Add to this a cast at the top of their game and you’ve got a captivating, contemporary adventure for young and old alike, creepy, kooky and most fabulously spooky!

The Addams Family is on at The Lowry until Saturday 16th August tickets available here.

Heathers The Musical

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Reviewed by Nikki Cotter

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Based on the 1980’s cinematic cult classic starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers The Musical – written and composed by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe, makes for a deliciously dark and daring piece.

Set in the brutal and unforgiving Westerberg High School, Heathers introduces us to Veronica, a sarcastic outcast who after years of falling foul to the food hall bullies unexpectedly finds favour with the popular girls; leader of the pack Heather Chandler, Heather McNamara and Heather Duke, who fulfil Chandlers every command. Suddenly sucked into this chaotic clique this dark comedy quickly lures you in and once the brooding J.D. enters the mix, the unexpected events come thick and fast.

Leading the cast as wannabe social climber Veronica, Jenna Innes is superb, she bursts with both talent and charisma resulting in a truly unforgettable performance. Her pairing with Jacob Fowler, (most recently seen in Manchester as Hope Mill Theatre’s Prince Topher), is inspired, his dark, brooding J.D. is tremendous, nuanced and unpredictable. Their on-stage chemistry ramping up the believability of a love story turned obsession as we see J.D. push Veronica to reach for her dreams no matter what the cost. Both deliver stunning vocals while their acting skills are second to none.

Verity Thompson makes for a perfect Heather Chandler, calculating and cruel she’s a queen bee with a sassy sting in her tail and a voice as perfect as her permanent pout. Her intro entrance with sidekicks Heather McNamara and Heather Duke has gained iconic status amongst Heathers fans who burst into spontaneous applause the second they appear, gliding across the stage, their bright blazers begging for attention amidst a swirling cloud of dry ice. Elise Zavou plays spoilt, spiteful Heather Duke superbly while Billie Bowman’s delivery of Lifeboat is one of the most touching, emotionally charged moments in the show.

Kinglsey Morton gives us a dose of reality with her excellent portrayal of Martha Dunnstock while Alex Woodward and Morgan Jackson as Jocks, Kurt Kelly and Ram Sweeney are hilarious.

There are several dark themes entwined within the script, references to date rape, bulimia, suicide, and homophobia amongst them, illustrating the messy reality of teenage life at Westerberg High but all are covered with sardonic wit.

The show bursts with brilliant numbers each with their own infectious hooks making you soon realise just why this show like the film it’s based on now has its own cult following. Seeing the theatre packed out with young theatregoers some of which cosplaying as the cast was a joy, the vibe felt fun, inclusive, and so welcoming.

This dark comedy delivers entirely, with its superb cast, slick choreography, and sublime vocals, you’ll be rushing to enrol yourself at Westerberg High. Fun, fierce and totally fabulous.

Heathers The Musical is on at Manchester’s Palace Theatre until Saturday 12th August tickets available here.

Images Pamela Raith

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

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Reviewed by Nikki Cotter

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Almost impossibly this is the first time Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella has been performed in Europe as a fully staged show and my goodness was it worth the wait!

Hope Mill Theatre is transformed into an enchanting fairy tale Kingdom as Prince Topher (Jacob Fowler) is instructed to find a wife and thankfully after multiple, magical twists and turns Ella (Grace Mouat) fits the bill….the shoe I mean!

Following a melodic scene setting prologue the show opens with “Me, Who Am I?” and immediately you know you’re in for a fun-filled time as Prince Topher and his companions offer the first laugh out loud moments of many in this creatively crafted piece.

With an updated book from Douglas Carter Beane this Cinderella pitches both Ella (Grace Mouat) and Topher (Jacob Fowler) as wholesome dreamers, who don’t want much from life other than kindness and fairness for all (more of this please any listening Monarchs/Governments).

Their path to true love it littered with heart-warming encounters and hilarious happenings as the Prince pulls out all the stops to find his mysterious one true love amidst a backdrop of political unrest and the small challenge of Ella disappearing at midnight.

Grace Mouat is sublime as Ella, her warmth and likeability hook you in from the start while her voice is sheer perfection. She truly shines in this leading role. Jacob Fowler is equally superb as Prince Topher; he pitches the comedy of the character just right ensuring every single laugh hits, while his vocals are incredible.

Annie Aitken makes for a marvellously menacing Madame with a glorious hint of the Moira Rose about her; her daughters Charlotte and Gabrielle played by Katie Ramshaw and Olivia-Faith Kamau are fantastic with Stepsister’s Lament being a hilariously memorable moment. The sub-plot of Gabrielle’s secret yearning for revolutionary Jean-Michel (Adam Filipe) is a joy while Charlotte’s horror at her step-sister Ella’s success with the Prince is hysterical.

Special mention must also go to Julie Yammanee who is magnificent as Marie/Fairy Godmother, Lee Ormsby who revels in his role as the beastly Sebastian and Matthew McDonald who as Lord Pinkleton stuns with his powerful voice.

The whole show is bursting with captivating moments from William Whelton’s stunning choreography to George Reeve’s incredible projections, every element is top class. The talent on stage rivals any West End show with some of the finest voices in theatre. Each and every lead is outstanding while the incredible ensemble take this production to the next level. Their dance sequence during The Prince Is Giving a Ball is jaw-dropping and left me beaming from ear to ear; just one of the many scenes you’d love to watch over again and again.

This uplifting production takes a story we all know inside out and dusts it with more than a sprinkling of magic, a blast of camp and a covering of creativity. Director Joseph Houston, Co-Director/Choreographer William Whelton and the whole team have created something truly special here. An enchanting piece of family-friendly theatre that will be adored by young and old alike.

Cinderella with its soaring score, witty script and wonderful message of kindness will warm the coldest of Wicked Stepmother’s hearts, perfection!

Cinderella is on at Hope Mill Theatre until Sunday 11th December tickets available here.