As You Like It -Review- The Castle Players

As You Like It
The Castle Players
Bowes Museum.
11 July 2012

With recent nasty horrible weather that we in the North East have been dealt with, my invite to review The Castle Players interpretation of Shakespeare's As You Like It, seemed like a good idea at the time.
I love outdoorsy theatre, but sitting in the wind/rain/snow isn't necessarily my idea of fun. So armed with my best waterproofs and Kiss Me Quick hat I trundled off to deepest darkest Barnard Castle, home to a rather splendid Bowes Museum.
I must have been to Bowes as a kid, but can't remember the grounds (maybe we looked at the prices, and did a flit.. haha) so when I picked up my tickets and were accompanied to my seats, by a costumed up actor, I was greeted to such a wonderful stage setting. Cottage with smoke billowing, a wonderful massive tree (not a prop, a proper one) lute players and wonderful fauna - I knew I was in for something special.
I am still getting to grips with Mr Shakespeare and his wonderful words, so I didn't know this play from Adam, so saw it as a challenge.
The first challenge tho was the weather, that hurdle was swiftly jumped over as it was a beautiful night (very muddy under-foot, but only a few spits of rain (it is refreshing to see other parts of the country getting the nasty conditions for a change)).
So to As You Like It....this is a fairly complicated comedy to roll out in a few words, but Orlando is mistreated badly by his brother Oliver, who in turn arranges a bout with the Dukes wrestler. Oliver wants his brother badly injured. Watching the sport is the Dukes daughter Celia, who of course falls in love with Orlando. But of course the levelled path to love is always bumpy when Shakey gets his hands on that quill. Rosalind, Celia's friend is also smitten, gives Orlando a necklace and he promptly falls in love with her.
In the Forest of Arden (our tree) the court jester, Touchstone is fooling around with Ganymede, and his sister, Aliena, (this of course is the grand tradition of cross dressing in plays, cos these people are actually Celia and Rosalind).. Are you lost yet? I think I am starting to get that way, but that is the Shakespearean way of course. They encounter a young shepherd, Silvius, and watch him being rejected by a shepherdess, Phoebe, as he declares his love for her.
Orlando meanwhile hangs love poems on the tree, which the group find and help him overcome his heart.
In short true courses don't run smoothly with jealously and in fighting taking over. Touchstone finds love out there too. The forest is a special place.
I admit my synopsis of the play is erratic, not wanting to give too much away, getting into The Bards way of thinking and expressions is tough going for a novice like me...but it doesn't matter how I convey this, just make sure you see it. Fantastic acting, fantastic setting, friendly people to chat to from the Company. This a WOW production. All glittery with the bells on.
If you love like I do the outdoors coupled with AMAZING theatre productions you will love this..!!
Simon Pell and Mary Stastny  have done a pretty super job of directing their team of (it seemed like hundreds) actors, to perform this well, no not this well.... this magnificently.
GO.AND.SEE.IT

Runs until 14th.


Michael Hunter

P.s. I will attach actors names to characters soon.

Dad's Army - Review - The People's Theatre

Dad’s Army is one of those TV classics that bring back childhood memories of evenings spent with the family in front of the TV. The characters are like old friends and there is always a concern that an attempt to reproduce them will be a disappointment, creating pale shadows or, worse still, missing the mark so far that the memories are ruined. Such fears were unfounded at the People’s Theatre. Their production of Dad’s Army (directed by Eileen Davidson) recreates those characters with uncanny accuracy!


The play begins with the company marching through the auditorium to the stage set with the Church Hall at Walmington on Sea, complete with Capt Mainwaring’s Office. As they reach the stage the characters are instantly recognisable. Even before a line had been spoken I could spot, Capt Mainwaring (Steve Robertson), Sergeant Wilson (Roger Liddle), Corporal Jones (Andrew De’Ath), Fraser (Mike Smith), Godfrey (Tony Childs), Pike (Sean Burnside) and the spiv Walker (Pete McAndrew).

The play covers three of the TV episodes beginning with the classic U-Boat prisoners of war, the poignant Mum’s Army in which Capt Mainwaring finds romance, and finally the hysterical Godiva Affair, complete with Morris Dancing). Each sketch captured the essence of the show, all the catch phrases, the blustering officiousness of Mainwaring, the suaveness of Sergeant Wilson, the stupid boyishness of Pike.

This was a big cast of characters and it would difficult, and unfair to single out particular performers: each one did a brilliant job of bringing their character to life on the stage. Favourite moments however have to be Fraser uttering those immortal words “he’s doomed!” and Sergeant Wilson galloping across the stage in his Morris dancing horse costume!

Live music was provided between the scenes by Rae Beckson and the Spitfires – singing golden oldies such as Run Rabbit, Whistle while you work, White cliffs of Dover, while the cast moved the props ready for the next scene. The music and lighting were expertly used to create atmosphere, to highlight the action, and separate the scenes.

This was a warm hearted and affectionate production of an old classic, and if the guffaws from the guy behind us were anything to go by, the audience fully appreciated it! A fine piece of nostalgic fun - well done to cast and crew.

Dad’s Army runs until the 14th July – if you enjoyed the TV show you will love this.

(Pictures by Paula Smart)

Denise Sparrowhawk

Guitars Not Guns -The Cultural Thing-

Over two years ago I came about blogging as a result of being the Tyne and Wear round up spokesperson on  The Cultural Thing.

Gari Sullivan the head honcho on that site always told me I would go far, well I have been as far as Alnwick.. haha so thank you Gari.

Gari is passionate about the Middle East, the fighting, the people and the culture, he has written blogs and lots of emails with enough passion to put that Shakespeare bloke out of business.

I have cut copied and pasted below (sue me) a post on the the recent page of TCT of Gari's latest project.

If you feel as passionate about the Middle East as Gari does, then chuck him a few coins, notes would be good, maybe drop him an email, with your support.

Or if you fancy the challenge of a lifetime and you are a  musician and you fancy adding to the project then I am sure Gari would love to have you on board.

 

Please give Gari my regards

 

Guitars Not Guns

By

Gari

The Cultural Thing, in co-operation with its parent organisation – NoozDesk -  is organising a tour of Syria with an unsigned music band from Australia and one from the UK, to take place in the summer 2013.
The aim of the tour is to promote a better understanding of events in Syria and to unite young people from the West and Syria. We are calling the tour ‘Guitars Not Guns’.  There have been too many young people from the West going to Middle East countries with guns – we want to change that!

Gari Sullivan, who founded The Cultural Thing, lived in Syria in 2007 and has returned there on a regular basis. If you are interested, you can read a detailed account of his trips to the country from his Insight Into Syria page. There is also a Facebook page where you can connect and chat directly with Syrians
Young Syrians love ‘Western’ music. They are aware of all the bands familiar to people in the West. This tour is a wonderful opportunity to bring music lovers from two opposing sides of the world to make friends and gain better understanding of each others culture and political situations. People coming together without the interferences of governments.
More Than Just The Gigs
As well as performing at least three gigs in major Syrian cities during the 10-day tour, the bands will:

• Have the opportunity to be interviewed on Syrian TV and Radio.
• Be part of a video documentary of the tour.
• Make a promo video
• Network with Syrian musicians and event organisers
• Have their website translated into Arabic – subject to type of website.

The tour will have a Syrian technical and translation crew supporting the bands every step on the way. They will also have the support of youth and other organsations in Syria.
Who benefits?
Young Syrians – They get to widen their knowledge of world music, make contacts with young people in the West, promote peace and understanding.
Young British and Australians – They get to widen their understanding of events in Syria and the rest of the Middle East, make contacts with young people in Syria, promote peace and understanding.
The Bands – They get to promote their musical talents to a much wider audience, make important international contacts and develop their world music understanding
We need to raise only £9,000 that just $13,650AUD  for the ten-day tour. You can help by donating even a small amount to the ‘Guitar Not Guns’ tour fund. Simply click on the ‘Guitar Not Guns’ paypal donate button on the right hand side of this page.

Please note: Due to Western government sanctions, Syrians are not allowed to use PayPal

In a band and interested?
Any UK or Australian band seriously interested in doing the tour should discuss it as a group and then contact The Cultural Thing to be included in future discussions and project updates. You will be expected to fund-raise for the tour.
Please note: There is not as much violence in Syria as the Western media would have people believe. There are just no-go parts of the cities.  All involved in the tour will have the protection and support of Syrians who have local knowledge and speak fluent English and Arabic.


Gari


Michael Hunter

Best In The World -Review- Washington Arts Centre

Best In The World

Washington Arts Centre 

 

Writer: Carina Rodney, Unfolding Theatre

Director: Annie Rigby

Reviewer: Michael Hunter

Rating 4 Stars

Do you think you are the best in the world?
What would it take you to go from middle rankings to the top of the form?
'Best in the World' explores all of this and more with a dartboard, flying paper air-planes and the odd banana.

When Director and darts fan Annie Rigby watched Phil 'The Power' Taylor clinch his 15th World Darts Championship, she began to wonder, what indeed is it like to be the best in the world?
Greeted by a table of bananas (with a moniker, such as 'Have you done your best' and 'Have you achieved your goals today' written on every one of them) and a great stage set up of a huge wire mesh frame that holds together a dart board, together with audio visual aids that will help to propel this play/documentary to winning over the audience.
Performer Alex Elliot puts into play his own take on his best days work, with a warm up in the dressing room (we see this through the monitor that is on stage) that motivates his work for the evening...to do his Best in the World, for us the audience.
The tale of Taylor being an apprentice of Eric 'The Crafty Cockney' Bristow, going through tournament after tournament losing and being ridiculed by his friends, is told by Elliot, as though he is giving a motivational speech. To some I thought this might be a little off-putting, but to me it was a great journey that needed to be told in that way.
We also heard from Elliot of Triple Jumper Jonathan Edwards, who rose to fame with his world record jump of 18.29 mts, almost jumping double the length since his first competitive event. This was a good setting-in-place bullet point for the audience to show that patience and hard work will pay off. It mightn't pay off with a gold medal, as in the case of Edwards, but persistence and graft will see you through.
We the audience took a massive part in tonight's proceedings by sharing our thoughts on how we were at our best at a particular time, using the provided paper and pens we were instructed (only if we wanted to) to create a paper dart (otherwise known as a paper plane) and write on it our thoughts. We then flew the darts onto the stage, these were then picked up and placed onto the wire mesh frame. Elliot then used a video camera to show us some of the entries. Some were funny, some were heartfelt, but all aspiring to us all.
Elliot also asked for three volunteers to throw three darts on stage, with the scores being averaged out and tallied against other shows. Elliot did his best Sid Waddell impression, to introduce the three throwers. Some talent in the room I can tell you.
At one point in the proceedings Elliot told with utmost passion about the dealings of his first role on stage in Barcelona, having to cope with the death of his father, he decided to do his best for the production. Staying out in Spain whilst his father was being buried must have been a torturous time for him, but he gave it his all. I am sure his father would have wanted it no other way.

This wasn't just about darts, triple jumping or sport in general, this was about us trying to strive to better ourselves. With a great narrative Elliot lead us on a comic and powerful journey. From start to finish he held the audience's attention. I would love to see more from Unfolding Theatre.

Best In The World can next be seen at Latitude Festival

Michael Hunter

Tags: Alex Elliot, Annie Rigby, Carina Rodney, Unfolding Theatre, Washington Arts Centre

Separate Tables -Review- People's Theatre

Separate Tables
People's Theatre
20 June 2012

I have never been to Bournemouth before, but after watching Terence Rattigan's Separate Tables at The People's Theatre, not sure I would want to set foot in the place...well certainly not the Beauregard Private Hotel.
Set in the dining room of this 'not so plush' hotel, Separate Tables tells the tales of the guests that come and go, and the long stayers-the ladies and gents that are too posh to end up at a retiree home.
Act 1 is set as 'Table by the Window' in the Winter of 1952.
We see the residents all sitting at, as the title suggests, separate tables, discussing the weather, and the morals of the other guests. We see the conversation of a down at heels journalist Mr Malcolm (Michael Blair) on his travels, but being hunted down and found by his ex wife Mrs Shankland (Moira Valentine) both are still in love with each other, but after trying to kill her, wants to be incognito. Trouble there I can tell you! Especially when it is uncovered that Malcolm and the hotel's manager, Miss Cooper (Penny Lamport) are having relations.
The really humourous and 'oh-god-how-I-could-really-quite-happily-strangle-a-couple-like-this' mother-daughter team of Mrs Rainton-Bell (Anne Cater) and Sybil ((again played by Moira Valentine), torn into each other (well, Sybil did it in her head) but the mother always ruled the roost in that and any conversation.
A young couple, Miss Jean Tanner (Kelly Godfrey) and Charles Stratton (Jacob Ellis) act foolishly in love, but against the whole opinion of marriage.
All served by Mabel (the brilliant Elizabeth Hack) the waitress with the flair of an ostrich and witty, or maybe a little rude personality on the scale of Stalin.
All separate tables, all separate problems for the long walk on the promenade to digest.
The interval comes, with us having to piece together what becomes of them.

Act 2 is set as Table Number Seven in the Summer of 1954.
The lovebird couple from act 1 are back in the hotel, after being, go on, guest it, married, with child-in-tow.
A snobbish ex-Major Pollock (also played by Michael Blair) parades around the hotel, as though he owns the place, but is certainly put in place when a crime is reported on, in the local press that sets the tongues wagging of the hotel's motley crue.
The Mother-daughter combo are still sheltering there, still having the type of relationship, that The Samaritans get thousands of calls a day from.

The whole genre of what it takes to be a human is displayed in front of us, with passion and humour that makes us all be the same, but at totally different ends of the social and mental spectrum
Rattigan uses his massive knowledge of playwright supreme to conjure up a play that anybody can watch, that anybody can be related to the characters involved, or certainly know of somebody who is similar.
This mild mannered comic play was well acted by all on stage. Top marks for the almost Miranda esq performance from Hack, who had me and my +1 giggling like little kids.
I liked this play because it had a bit of everything involved, but the slowish pace wouldn't have me seated for another showing. One of these plays that I am grateful to have seen, but it is firmly tucked up in bed now.

Separate Tables is showing until 23rd June.


Michael Hunter

Honours for Live Theatre’s top brass

Honours for Live Theatre’s Chief Executive and Chairman in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List

 

Live Theatre’s Chief Executive, Jim Beirne and its Chairman Paul Callaghan have both been honoured in the Queens Birthday 2012 Honours List announced today (Saturday 16 June).

 

Jim Beirne

Jim Beirne has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and Paul Callaghan, Chairman of Live Theatre, has been awarded a CBE Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

 

Jim has been Chief Executive of Live Theatre since 2000, overseeing the £6million capital refurbishment and has overall responsibility for the management and vision for the company.  Live Theatre has a turnover of £1.6 million and up to 40 staff when in production. Next year, in 2013 Live Theatre will celebrate that it has been creating plays on Tyneside for 40 years. 

Prior to moving to Newcastle to work at Live Theatre Jim was Director of Performing and Combined Arts for Yorkshire Arts Board (now Arts Council Yorkshire).  Jim is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, has been a trustee of The Sage Gateshead and Leeds College of Music and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from Northumbria University last autumn.

 

Paul Callaghan

Paul is Chairman of the Leighton Group, the North East based technology, software, media and communications group that he founded. He was Chairman of ONE North East from 2010 to 2012 and was also Chair of Chairs of all of England ’s Regional Development Agencies for that period. In 2009 he was commissioned as Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear.

 

Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and of the Institute of Administrative Management . He is the fourth ‘David Goldman Visiting Professor of Business Innovation’ at the University of Newcastle and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the University of Sunderland in recognition of his contribution to the business and academic life of the region. He is now Chairman of the University’s Board of Governors.  He is genuinely passionate about helping the North East region to grow and prosper. He believes that this is only possible by extending education, culture and the arts and by developing a talented and well-educated population and creating a fair and equitable society.

Make Better Please -Review- Northern Stage

Make Better Please
Northern Stage
15 June 2012

Writer: Fuel, Uninvited Guests
Director: Paul Clark
Reviewer: Michael Hunter
Rating: 4 Stars

I love the news. Turning on the TV or the radio on the hour and flicking through the papers in the newsagents, to find out what has happened to that corrupt politician, my football team, and events all over the globe, is one of favourite ever things. For me 'no news' is 'bad news'.
At the minute the European Football Championships and the run up to the London Olympics (the Olympic torch/flame is currently in Newcastle) is high on the agenda of every publication, be it broad sheet or red top.
The smaller stories are also making big headlines; a Scottish schoolgirl who has created a school dinner blog, had been told to cease publication because the local authority didn't like it, creating waves etc, but was overturned to maybe save their face.

Once the theatre doors were opened, we were lead to the backstage of Studio 2. I didn't know if this would be as normal, with audience in seats and actors performing for us. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the audience would play a massive part in tonight's proceedings.
Laid out before us were four small coffee tables full of the days newspapers, massive pots of tea, biscuits and writing implements.
We were told to look through the papers and find a story that shocked, or held something strong in our hearts; a story that fuelled enough passion to be able to create further discussion.
The assembled audience picked five stories that were all shocking, or thought provoking to merit inclusion to the next stage of the night. We were also told the pick a story that had a little bit of hope included.
Once the tables had been cleared away we all sat in a circle and after a minutes silence to reflect on our thoughts were asked to relay the stories to the other members of the audience.
This is where it became apparent that our stories would figure highly in whatever happened to the the rest of the night, our thoughts and stories would become theatre itself.
The performing artists of Paul Clark, Richard Dufty and Jessica Hoffman leapt into action as each story was finally told. They became the headline, they became Cameron,or Tesco's chief officer. The audience became judge and jury, we had to ask the headline makers why, when and how much!!.
We were put into a scenario of a war torn village in Homs, some of us were the fighters, some of us were the dead. Again a minute silence was put into place to reflect on what was happening. For myself it was quite emotional, thinking about how I could possibly kill another human being, i am sure the dead amongst the crowd felt similar.
Another scenario of the Leveson inquiry had us thinking what really did go on in the minds of the top brass of the Uk's power leaders.
All of the stories that we had picked were transcribed onto the wall of the theatre by the performers, think of the studio wall in 'Have I Got News For you' with current issues sticking out like sore thumbs.
The god or indeed the devil of bad news was paraded in front of us. Some of us were given mugs of milk to throw over him to, maybe to confirm our hatred of the stories that he loved to make popular.
Atmospheric music and sounds from the likes of cymbals being crashed, a piano being plonked and a mad crazy drummer beating out rhythms led us to Hoffman being the narrator to all of the stories involved, creating a crescendo of swirling words and mayhem.
I must admit that some of the scenes were very contemporary, leaving the audience asking questions that might only come to them in the days that pass. The devil wearing a huge newspaper made penis, certainly one of them, although I did guffaw when he started to bash the bass drum with it.

It was then our turn to highlight the hope that can come from the mass media, we again rose to our feet and reeled off stories that we found, or stories of our own little utopia.
The ending lead us to outside the theatre with the performers burning up our little pieces of paper of headlines, with the hope of 'Make Better Please'.
Make Better Please was a joy to be part of, really made me think that there is more to a story than just the simple headlines. The depth of tonight's performance will be put into full force the next time I buy my newspaper or get a thrill when the clock strikes the hour to tune into the radio news headlines.


Runs until 16th June

Tags: Fuel,Jessica Hoffman,Make Better Please,Newcastle,Northern Stage,Paul Clark,Richard Dufty,Uninvited Guests

Michael Hunter

No Sex Please We're British -Review- Customs House

No Sex Please We're British
Customs House
7 June 2012

Everybody loves a good old British farce, nowt wrong with a bit of bawdiness and innuendo. 'Stags and Hens' last year and previously the brilliant 'Noises Off', have shown that Ion Productions under the leadership of Gareth Hunter (director) have a great track record.
'No Sex...' continues this path, with a superb cast assembled to get the chuckles out of The Customs House crowd.
Peter (Stephen Sullivan) and Frances (Kylie Ann Ford) Hunter are settling into newly married life, living just above the bank he works for. Things however go awry (why not, this is a farce remember!) when Frances orders some Scandinavian glassware from the ‘Scandinavian Import Company’. Instead of the items she was hoping for, she instead receives the finest pornography in the form of postcards, films and enough books to fill the British library. This of course being set in the late 60's, this type of adult material was illegal and frowned upon. So a lot of fuss and charging around the great built set (Chris Allen) ensures.
Add to the shock horror of the situation, along comes Peter's mother, Eleanor (Dolores Poretta Brown) a rather snobbish and needy woman, who has a certain penchant for Leslie Bromhead (David Cooke), who happens to be Peter's boss at the Bank, which doesn't bode well for the whole situation.
Peter's respectable colleague Brian Runnicles (James De Lauch Hay, who looks like a very young Richard Burton) is roped, with hilarious consequences, into the destruction and disappearance of the porn.
The Police are never far away in a farce, so Superintendant Paul (John Seymour) is lurking in the shadows, sneaking the odd 'on-duty' vodka and never really figuring anything out.
With bank duties having to continue, amongst the squabbling, a random inspection of all documents is due to take place, up steps Arnold Needham (Keith Wigham) with his offish approach and insomnia.
Getting rid of the pornography is hard enough, but getting rid of two call girls, Susan (Rachael Walsh) and Barbara (Annie Cairns) that the 'Company' send around is going to get a little tricky. A lot of farcial tasks awaits.
 I have only ever seen Sullivan acting, dressed up as a dame in the yearly Westovians Panto, being as camp as ever, but he really is great at acting it straight (as straight as you are ever going to get it in a farce). He was all over the stage coping with everything falling around him, he made it look really easy.
The rest of the cast were superb and brought down the house on many occasion, with their comedy and acting skills.
Great sound and lights from Martin Hogg
Having a great cast and even better laugh out loud script, means that 'No Sex...' is a sure fire winner, it certainly lifted the doom of the rainy skies outside.

No Sex Please We're British, runs until 9th June.


Michael Hunter

Utopia -Review- Live Theatre

Utopia
Live Theatre
6 June 2012

 Think about what could be your Utopian dream?
Mine would definitely be a little different; how could we live together in this newly thought world, to survive and flourish.
With an ongoing partnership between Live Theatre and Soho Theatre, and with a superb team writing, including playwrights, MP's and stand up comics that question could well be answered!
New to treading the boards is actress Sophia Myles, and stand up, panel show favourite Rufus Hound.
Along with David Whitaker, Pamela Miles, Tobi Bakare and Laura Elphinstone the six of them take us on mindful, thoughtful and eye opening journey to a life of utter, utter paradise. But paradise isn't for everyone. Paradise doesn't last long and paradise is that wonderful dream that is singed at the frayed edges.
To portray this, the six of them dance, sing and act their way through clips and glimpses of perfect scenarios.
The Geordie Dictator in Propaganda(written by Alistair McDowall) was menacing as he described his utopia of young boys soldiers following his command, he suddenly changes suit, tho, when an anti Dictatorial Facebook page is revealed.
Thousands hate his regime, so he flips his utopian coin and plums for a better life for his captors, and those around his grizzly leadership.
Many scenarios were chopped up, intermingled and fed to us, in little bite sized chunks, like flashbacks.
Who was Ray(written by Dylan Moran) was one such tale. The uninvited guest at a party, Ray was the main gossip and on the tongues of the stragglers, as to how they all knew of him!
This to me felt like the Utopia of being loved and of being welcomed, but somewhere down the line, this shatters into painfully sharp pieces. Another Utopian disaster trek, diminished.
Throughout the plays the actors encourage, us, the viewer to think deeply into our own vision of the future. What will become of us, if Utopia isn't our cup of tea, maybe this play will pave the way for more lateral thinking and approach to how we view ourselves, and others.
With some stunning acting on show from all on board, this first nighter, was heady with a lot of thought provoking material,  just enough to shake a Dystopian finger at.  My top marks on the night, going to the wonderful Laura Elphinstone, especially as the young care nurse, tending to a blind retired MP. Elphinstone was so believable in her role, that Utopia must be with her at the minute.
The newcomers faired well amongst the strong role of the other cast. Hound and Myles were both exciting to watch, especially latter on, once they had warmed up and felt the pull of the stage.
With a fabulous concept and direction coming from Steve Marmion (and Max Roberts), this is going to get some tongues wagging. I was talking to Steve before curtain up, and he mentioned the timing of the play. I would agree with him that some of the scenes, could be a little shorter in length. I did say to him though, that I would probably want to watch it all night long, and I certainly would!
I asked my Twitter and Facebook community what their ideal Utopian outcome would be like. From the perfect cup of tea, worlds to explore, free flowing gin, tidy houses to the wonderfully sung 'Utopia' by Goldfrapp, ideals are so different. Maybe only Utopia will live in the mind and never be a reality.

Utopia plays until 16 June  

Michael Hunter

Lewis Schaffer -Review- Customs House

Lewis Schaffer
Customs House 
2 June 2012

I love free, me (try saying that in a 'Frank's Factory Carpets' style and you will know how excited I get when something as good as this, is indeed free)
I do a hell of a lot comedy gigs in the year, mainly all concertinaed in four of five days, up at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
All of the gigs that I see are free, with a voluntary contribution at the end of the performance.
I love to find, from the massive programme that is provided up there, new and diverse comedians that can make me laugh, maybe shock and tell well worn stories and bring them to a new audience. I have my favourites too that I see every year, Lewis Schaffer is one of them.
Lewis normally puts on two shows every day for the whole month of August. If I am up there for my allotted four days then that will be eight times that I will see him. No show has ever been the same. This is Schaffer's main draw for me. As well as the controversial nature of his material.
Schaffer loves living in the UK (Schaffer is a Jewish New Yorker), with the wonderful people of Britain and the surrounding nations, the cold weather doesn't bother him and is a big fan of the Monarchy. Whoops (cue very loud scratched record sounds) he dislikes them all with a passion, or certainly his on-stage persona does. He would rip in to an empty brown paper bag if he could get a reaction from the empty paper bag manufacturers. No subject is left unturned, even racial material that is normally a no-no on the UK stage, Schaffer gets around it with wonderful words and stories.
Schaffer loves to engage with the audience, the odd hiss from them, lights up his eyes. One such hisser, was an elderly lady sitting very close to the front row, she pointed and swore when not agreeing with his comedic point of view, at times this might get on a crowds nerves, but this is key to his success. If he can maintain some of the hate away from himself, then the more the controversial he gets.
Admittedly the last time I saw him in Scottyland, he didn't seem to be on his best form. Heckles from the audience are normally what makes the 'Free until Famous' shows very special, with point blank retorts from him being delivered with crisp timing. The last time he was a little sluggish, something that I thought, from a distance, might have been a new twist to his act. This not so. I told him this when he shook my hand and introduced himself to me as he opened the main doors to the Customs House (he was doing this to everybody, so as to get into his audiences head, even before the curtain has opened) he had me howling with his one liners and welcoming spirit, something that is missing in a lot of comedy/ theatre in general. He explained that, yes, he does have the odd bad day at the office; with a whatever comes out of mouth, will come out of his mouth attitude, you are never so sure what is act and what is real, again, this is very engaging and exciting.
I am very pleased that he chose to come and play in my own town, very pleased to announce that he was back on track with delivery, put downs and making the audience feel a little bit better about hating themselves for not being Jewish and from New York.
I will still see Schaffer this year in Edinburgh as many times as I possibly can, who knows, South Shields might even get a mention from him.

Michael Hunter