NODA Review of Little Shop Of Horrors

A very talented cast and production team… together with a magnificent Audrey 2 … was certainly the best I have seen to date.

So this NODA rep walks into a Little Shop and says … well, actually very nice things! Especially considering this was our opening night and if anything’s going to go wrong, this is usually when it’ll happen. However, I don’t think we could have asked for a better opening night, with a very nearly full house. Here’s the NODA review of the show:

“This was a great production with plenty of action and lots of fun. Martin (Holtom – Director) made full use of the set and the talented company conveying the atmosphere of the period. Dave (Dallard – Musical Director)  achieved a high musical standard from the pit and stage together with a nice interpretation, particularly in the quieter moments. There were excellent performances from Craig Arme and Emily Marshall-Sims as Seymour and Audrey both vocally and in character portrayal, particularly in “Suddenly Seymour”.

John Maddison provided a very good performance as Mr Mushnik, the character came over just right. Christopher Collington made quite an impact as Orin making the most of this over the top character with plenty of Elvis background. There was great singing from the “Ronnettes” with lovely harmonies. Using two groups of girls was different but it certainly paid off, adding to the quality of the music, well done girls. I liked the choreography and dance, just the right level and amount, linking well with the other stage movement. The set was very good but it was rather overshadowed in the second act by a magnificent Audrey 2, which, together with the (overheated!) operators was certainly the best I have seen to date. Lighting and costumes all added to the occasion and efficient stage management kept the show flowing at all times. This Society does introduce newcomers to the stage and did so in this production and I am sure they will have enjoyed the experience and gained a lot from working with a very talented cast and production team. It was a very enjoyable evening and a very entertained audience.”

Our Promotions Team in action

Photo 21-02-2015 10 35 07This weekend our promotions team were out and about in Long Eaton! In the gardening section of Long Eaton, Seymour Krelborn had a stall with a tray of Audrey II plantlets … thankfully we didn’t get any takers for the plants and no one inadvertently cut themselves (we were prepared for all eventualities! but there was a good deal of interest!

 

Meet The Audrey II Plants!

In our run up to the opening of Little Shop of Horrors in March, we thought we’d give you a little preview of the Audrey IIs that we are going to have. We’ll be posting some footage of our technical team getting to grips with them when they turn up at rehearsal, but in the meantime here’s a little peak behind the scenes from the studio who created them. These plants are really incredible creations and we really can’t wait to see them in the flesh! We may just chuck our own Audrey in for the fun of it …

Click the link to see Big Aud in action! Continue reading “Meet The Audrey II Plants!”

Review of Bad Girls – The Musical

Well, it seems we have a very popular show on our hands! This review just in … Once again thank you to everyone who has bought tickets – for those still to come, we promise you a great show!

“Audiences at the Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton who saw the show Bad Girls performed by The Cast recently would no doubt agree on what an excellent evening’s entertainment it was.

The show took us into the lives of a dozen or more of the officers and inmates of Larkhall women’s prison Continue reading “Review of Bad Girls – The Musical”

Review of Bad Girls

“I knew very little about this show until coming to see it tonight. I was not a fan of the TV series, although I did see one or two episodes. However, I certainly enjoyed what I saw tonight.”

Set in a wing of a women’s prison, Bad Girls – the Musical is tough, brutal but also at times very funny. It has songs staged with panache and excitement and there are great performances from this very talented group.

Previous experience of the popular TV show on which it is based is not necessary. This musical has its own bold style. Not exactly camp, not exactly bad taste, but gloriously audacious. Continue reading “Review of Bad Girls”