The Vicar of Dibley - Altrincham Garrick


THE sense of affection for this classic sitcom was so strong in the Garrick auditorium I felt I could reach out and touch it during a production that was a joy from start to finish, offering us audience members a brief and much needed escape from these miserable times.

When the original TV version was shown for the first time it felt like a breath of fresh air as the central character, a female vicar, was a far cry from the clergy I’d come across previously in the genre.

But not once during Peter Brassington’s production was I tempted to compare this version with the one millions of us took to our hearts on the small screen. Brassington’s production more than stands on its own merits with a very fine cast each putting their own stamp on roles initially made famous by Dawn French and company.

It probably helps if you are familiar with the BBC original but that’s not essential. The script if it were a meal would be Michelin star with top quality gags coming thick and fast. While there is a smattering of naughty words there’s nothing to offend anybody here.

The relationship between the new vicar Geraldine Granger and the parish’s disarmingly dim and oh so lovable verger Alice is comedy gold thanks to exquisite timing from Meg Brassington and Helen Swain. Equally hilarious is the blossoming romance between Alice and the downtrodden Hugo Horton, a perfect role for Dan Ellis.

Watching Hugo and Alice cavorting around the stage is like watching two adult children who occasionally flirt with the grown up stuff while retaining a child like innocence.

Who could forget Letitia Cropley - Christine Perry - a woman with a unique approach to home cooking.

Other acting treats include Andrew Higson as the farmer Owen, a man with manners to make you wince and Hugh Everett as the buttoned up father of Hugo, David, a man for whom tact is a dirty word.

I feel I’ve just watched the best comedy to grace the Garrick stage for the past five years. Flawless and outstanding - in every respect.

Until March 2. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating - *****

Photo - Martin Ogden.

Shed: Exploded View at the Royal Exchange Theatre


Devoted - Hayley Carmichael and Wil Johnson as Lil and Tony - photo by Johan Persson.

DESPITE its seemingly innocuous title, Phoebe Eclair Powell’s play is one of the most intense and emotionally charged pieces of theatre I’ve sat through for a very long time.

It’s a painful and powerful watch due to the themes it covers, from dementia to domestic violence to the perennial conflict between the generations.

But Powell’s writing infuses familiar themes with a freshness and vigour that holds our attention throughout and it’s easy to see why this piece of writing, full of heart and free from cliches, won her the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting.

I found myself caring about the plight of the three couples we follow over 30 years, despite spending just over 90 minutes in their company.

As well as the writer, director Atri Banerjee must be credited for ensuring there’s no point in the evening you feel insulated against the emotional impact of what unfolds on stage.

But he has a terrific cast at his disposal and I was especially moved by Wil Johnson’s portrayal of dementia sufferer Tony and so touched by the love and dedication of his wife Lil, played so convincingly by Hayley Carmichael.

Having personal experience of the devastating impact of this wicked disease it really struck a chord with me.

Thankfully I can’t say the same about domestic violence. But I’m in no doubt just how devastating the impact can be after watching this.

The relationship between Naomi and her daughter Abi also felt effortless and natural thanks to Lizzie Watts and Norah Lopez Holden. Any parent, son or daughter will be able to identify with this clash of opinions.

Thoughtful, thought provoking, a must see.

Until March 2. For tickets, call 0161 833 9833 or visit www.royalexchange.co.uk.

Star rating - ****

Drop The Dead Donkey The Reawakening - The Lowry


THE writing of creators Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin, full of humour and topical bite and perfect casting, made Drop The Dead Donkey one of the greatest TV comedies ever made.

It’s 25 years since this multi-award winning show last graced the small screen so, as a member of the leave them wanting more club, I was somewhat surprised when I discovered a new stage version was planned for 2024.

But the good news is The Reawakening is just as hilarious, cutting and irreverent as the original even if the laugh out loud bits don’t come quite so rapidly in this new incarnation. However, if like me, you enjoy a dose of establishment baiting, you’re sure to enjoy this.

We meet former Globe Link colleagues George, hilariously upstaged by a self service coffee machine at the start, Gus, Helen, Dave, Damien, Sally and Joy as they begin work at the fledgling Truth News.

In this hi-tech world 24 hour news is king.

Damien - a great vehicle for Stephen Tompkinson - was Globe Link’s unashamedly amoral roving reporter who wouldn’t think twice about using any means at his disposal to increase the emotional impact of his reports.

The word ethics isn’t a dirty word for Damien Day. It just isn’t a part of his vocabulary.

So how ironic he’s ended up working for an organisation called Truth News.

Then we have Globe Link’s notorious womaniser and gambler Dave - Neil Pearson who claims to be a changed man and George who never changes. He still wears cardigans.

Having spent nearly 25 years working in a newsroom I had the pleasure of working with people who reminded me of several of these colourful characters however this is much more than one long in joke for journalists.

This is sharply observed comedy from the pens of two of the genre’s undisputed heavyweights.

Great fun.

Until February 17. Tickets are available from 0343 208 6000 or www.thelowry.com.

Star rating - 3.5 out of 5.

Let The Right One In - Altrincham Garrick


FOR Oskar, relentlessly bullied by his peers, his life is a living hell.

His tormentor in chief is the dreadful Jonny, who subjects him to the cruellest of humiliations, including forcing this socially inept teen to eat sand, after he and his sidekick take exception to him harmlessly playing in a sandpit.

But has Oskar found an ally, a soul mate in Eli, who he first encounters living a semi feral existence? She too holds a dark secret which I’m not going to divulge in case there’s anyone reading this who, like me, is new to a story that is as sensitive as it is spine tingling.

While Sam Evans is a study in obnoxiousness as Jonny, you can’t help feeling for Oskar, played so brilliantly by Charlie Gallagher in what is for me his best performance to date at the Garrick theatre.

The chemistry between him and Chloe Arrowsmith is so strong I felt I could reach out and touch it.

Mark Goggins has created a captivating, at times haunting original score which provides the perfect musical backdrop to a highly unusual and off the wall story that will live long in the memory of those who see it.

Let The Right One In is performed by the Garrick Ensemble, a group of 18-30 year olds from Greater Manchester under the direction of the Garrick’s artistic director, Joseph Meighan.

Meighan is a man on a mission to deliver theatre that will appeal to everybody and it’s mission accomplished for me.

I urge people not to be put off by the bloody bits or the smattering of naughty words and judging by the overall standard of acting, the future of this theatre looks very bright indeed.

You simply must see this.

Until February 10. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating - *****

Photo - Martin Ogden.

Let The Right One In Preview - Altrincham Garrick


Tale of the unexpected - Let The Right One In.

WHEN live theatre tears up your expectations it’s impossible to beat it.

So it is with Let The Right One In, a horror story with dashes of tenderness according to Joseph Meighan, who is directing the piece for the Garrick Ensemble.

It opens at the Barrington Road Playhouse next week and Joseph said the story really captured his imagination after he saw it on London’s West End.

The central characters are two teenage misfits Eli and Oskar and the production will feature an original score by Mark Goggins, a man who needs no introduction to theatregoers in Trafford and beyond.

Joseph said: “It is unlike any other play I have come across. Those who know the novel and the film may understand what I mean, but for those that haven’t, be prepared for some violent and disturbing moments; it is a horror story live on stage.

“However, it also tells a very intimate and engaging story. It follows Eli and Oskar, two teenagers who find each other in a time of need. Life has been unkind to them, and they are society’s misfits, and they find in one another a place of belonging and a place where they can be safe and loved.”

Joseph, driven by his theatre is for everybody ethos, compared watching Let The Right One In to watching a Netflix TV series on stage.

”We’re also achieving some really exciting stage moments with this production that will make the audience feel various emotions that they may not usually feel watching live theatre. It is a unique experience.”

The Garrick Ensemble produce one production a year and features 18-30 year olds from Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

  • The Garrick Ensemble presents Let The Right One In at Altrincham Garrick from February 5-10 at 7.30pm. Anyone interested in booking tickets should call 0161 928 1677 or online at www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

  • Photo by Martin Ogden.

Pennyroyal - Lauriston Studio


Pennyroyal - photo by Martin Ogden.

I ONLY spent 80 minutes in the company of sisters Daphne and Chris and found myself aching for a happy ending. The writing, acting and direction are just so good, so flawless here.

In fact director Carole Carr must have thought all her birthdays had come at once when she started working with Crystal Williams and Melanie Beswick, who play the respective roles.

From the closeness to the falling out I felt like I was watching two real sisters as Daphne struggles to come to terms with the fact she can’t have conceive naturally and embarks on an emotional journey involving IVF, a journey fraught with risk.

Williams and Beswick deliver the best performances of the Garrick season to date for me with the two actresses and director making the most of a script that is as humorous as it is heart rending.

One of the things I bleat on about when writing about the theatre is how it brings you into contact with issues you know nothing about. This is one of those occasions thanks to a very natural and intelligent and insightful script by Lucy Roslyn.

Daphne and Chris are also bright and engaging characters. It transpires later in the play however that Daphne isn’t the only one of the two sisters with a struggle on her hannds.

Exceptional, a must see.

Until January 28. The box office is on 01661 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating - *****

The Girl On The Train - Altrincham Garrick


The Girl On The Train - photo by Martin Ogden

AFTER the Garrick pantomime comes an evening of theatre exclusively for the grown ups, courtesy of Paula Hawkins’ The Girl On The Train.

Never having seen the film starring Emily Blunt, I was able to approach the stage version free from the temptation to compare the two.

It’s the intriguing tale of Rachel, a recovering alcoholic who becomes obsessed with the lives of two couples, believing them to both live in a world of suburban bliss.

The plot builds beautifully as a story unfolds and Hawkins writing is of a quality that makes you care and secretly crave a happy ending.

Sadly though, happy endings belong in pantomimes and other forms of escapist entertainment.

It’s the female leads who shine under the direction of John Cunningham, with Ruth Moore engaging and empathetic Rachel and Scarlet Newton excelling as Megan. This is a character with a genuinely sad story and Newton tells it with a quiet intensity that genuinely moved this hardened old critic.

That said though, Anthony Morris is in terrific form as Tom. But could Tom have committed murder?

I have no intention of being a party pooper and giving away a plot with no shortage of twists and turns. This is a high quality piece of writing and a cast who immerse themselves in their roles more than do it justice.

This production captured my attention to the extent it’s made me want to read the book upon which the stage version is based.

While the subject matter may well be nothing new, Hawkins’ refusal to tell her tale free from tired old clichés gives The Girl On The Train a refreshing quality that even misery guts couldn’t resist.

Isn’t it great to see younger people at the Garrick? I believe theatre should be enjoyed by everybody. And I believe it passionately.

Until January 20. The box office is on 0161 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating – 3.5 out of 5.

Sleeping Beauty - Altrincham Garrick


MOST pantomimes are built on a good humoured battle between the goodies and the baddies so I probably shouldn’t say this.

But Conor Collins steals the show as the wicked fairy Carabosse, ensuring his character’s evil antics bring plenty of boos from the audience without seeming to try. He’s a natural.

At the other end of the spectrum we have Chester the Jester, played with just the right amount of daftness by an instantly likeable Daniel Ellis. Will this warm hearted clot win the heart of Princess Beauty, despite the fact he’s not from the opposite end of the social spectrum?

You’re sure to enjoy the scene in which Queen Doreen makes the mistake of thinking she can teach the clueless Chester how to bake, with Ellis, who also directs the panto, and Matthew Spilsbury’s having an inordinate amount of fun as Chester causes a culinary catastrophe.

Tom Whalley’s script is, in terms of the jokes, something of a mixed bag, containing several gags that will definitely go over the children’s heads.

Joseph Meighan, the Garrick’s dynamic, young artistic director, makes for a highly watchable Prince Frederick The First as does Sasha Carillo as Sleeping Beauty.

Again it was pleasing to see so many youngsters in the theatre, enthralled and captivated by what was unfolding on stage and proving yet again, there’s a source of entertainment there to be enjoyed that exists beyond a screen.

The kids in the panto also seemed very much at home on the stage, pointing to a very bright future for Altrincham’s Garrick Theatre.

Until January 2. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Check with the box office for ticket availability. At the time of writing many performances were sold out.

Star rating - 3.5 out of 5.

Photo - Martin Ogden.

Brief Encounter - Royal Exchange Theatre


Brief Encounter - photo by Johan Persson.

WHEN I think of romance, a train station is the last place that comes to mind.

But love is most definitely in the air at Milford Junction, setting for Noel Coward’s classic and quintessentially English play.

While this touching and heart warming piece was inspired by a one act play from the 30s, there was no point in the production I felt I was watching the resurrection of some sort of theatrical dinosaur.

It’s remarkable who fresh and modern Sarah Frankcom’s production feels, even if the setting and the way the characters interact is firmly Noel Coward. For instance, I can’t remember the last time I saw anyone tucking into afternoon tea at a train station.

The story follows Laura and Alec whose lives are transformed by a chance meeting after he steps in to become her knight in shining armour to remove a piece of dust from her eye. The chance meeting sparks an intense and passionate affair, providing Laura with a real antidote to a marriage that’s lost its spark.

There’s a palpable, powerful chemistry between Hannah Azuonye and Baker Mukasa as Laura and Alec, with Ida Regan and Georgia Frost providing memorable comic relief as the wonderful Beryl and her suitor in waiting, Stanley. Frost sounds and moves like a man for this piece of gender swapping and both have a sense of comic timing that can only be described as exemplary.

A dynamic, multi-talented cast serve up a treat here and the timeless songs of Noel Coward provide the perfect musical backdrop to an evening of theatre that’s sure to set even the hopelessly unromantic swooning.

Superb entertainment.

Until January 13. The box office is on 0161 833 9833 or www.royalexchange.co.uk.

Star rating - *****