Women on the Verge on a Nervous Breakdown

I had planned to see this gem of a show playing at the Playhouse Theatre at the Embankment in June, after seeing the excitement surrounded by it at the Oliviers earlier this year. 

However, plans quickly changed when I received an email telling me that this show was closing on Saturday 23rd May! Despite much upset, I managed to get a lovely little bargain to see the performance with my mother on Wednesday afternoon.

Outside the Playhouse Theatre.

Knowing nothing other than the vague plot line that was given on their website, this musical took place in Madrid in the 1970s about a lady named Peppa, who was magnificently well portrayed by Tamsin Grieg. Admittedly, I had not seen her in anything else but she surprised me in her acting and made me laugh with tears at her unfortunate circumstances that materialised throughout the show. 

We first meet Peppa as she awakes and realises she is late for work. She has taken a strong dose of sleeping pills. Catching a taxi to work, we learn that she is an actress for the TV and an image in the public eye. Grieg's frantic nature shapes this character rather well, resulting in the audience being able to make a judgement on the sort of person Peppa is.

Waiting for the performance to begin.

The story unravels, revealing her husband Ivan has disappeared and has not been seen for two days. He has left her for another women, we soon learn. Peppa later meets Ivan's ex-wife (Lucia), a lady Peppa did not even know about, whilst she was married to Ivan. This character is played manipulatively well. She is in the background for the majority of the Act One. In Act Two, Lucia comes to life as we see someone who is also as mental as Peppa. She tells the audience of the past 20 years she has had to deal with Ivan not being in her life. Lucia outlines that she will be going to court over the ordeal of Ivan. Peppa also meets his son, and Fiancé. 

As the plot thickens, the audience simultaneously meets Peppa's best friend, Candela who has a love affair with an Arab, and learns from the television that he is a terrorist.

Comical and light hearted, Women on the Verge was an abstract performance, embodied with Spanish tunes and dancing. A daring new show in the West End that has unfortunately not taken off. I really would have loved to have seen Hadyn Gywnne as I worked with her in Billy Elliot, alas she was not performing on the day. 

I would tell anyone to catch the show whilst it is still on in its final two days. It also reassures yourself that there are situations out there more complex than you're own!

The finale.

On our way out, I literally bumped into Jo Brand, as my Mum and I were heading to the Savoy to book tickets for Gypsy with Imelda Staunton and to have some lunch! I politely asked for a photo and she said yes. She was such a lovely lady.

Jo Brand and I along the Embankment.

Have you seen the show, or ever bumped into anyone famous whilst you were out?

Kirsty

xxx

Day in London with Lucy

On Saturday my sister and I headed into the city for the day. With our parents currently away and the freedom to make our own plans, we decided to go into town early before seeing McBusted later that evening.

We got the C2C into West Ham and headed towards EC1 (Brick Lane, Hoxton, Spitalfields) and arrived within good time to look around. The first place we went to was the Beigel Bar on Brick Lane. This brings back so many fond memories as a child. Our parents always used to take us here to get a smoked salmon bagel or hot salt beef. We also got two doughnuts, filled always with lots of jam!

The Bagel bar

Once stopping by here to buy a dozen bagels to take home, we carried along the high street. We found alcoves of thrift shops and cubby holes of warehouses FULL of unique clothing lines and international foods. We then went to look for the Hummingbird Bakery to get cupcakes for our dessert later that evening!

The entrance in Shoreditch

One of the lovely cakes inside.

Before entering the arena, Lucy and I went to Pizza Express, where we devoured a pizza!

How beautiful does it look!

We had a cocktail at All Bar One, then made our way to our seats in the arena. We did not have to wait too long for the band to come on as we did not see the supports. They played some of their new songs but their old songs were best!

This was their set:

And this was at the end of the night:

It was a great day and I will definitely be going back to Brick Lane when I have money to spend!

Have you had a day out recently?

Kirsty

xxx

Edward Scissorhands at Sadlers Wells

On 11th January, I went along with my family to Sadlers Wells in Islington, North London, to see Matthew Bourne’s adaptation of Edward Scissorhands. We went to the afternoon performance, which was the last show of the run. Dominic North was playing Edward and there was heightened tension in the air due to last show nerves and giving it their all before the tour began in Woking two weeks later. 

On arrival, my parents both had photos with the cardboard cut out that was displayed upon the entrance and as we took photos, more people followed to take photos. We then made our way to our seats to see the holographic name of the production on the stage, projected, for everyone to see. 

My Mum and Dad

Mum and Me!

The stage before the curtain arose!

The first act was an hour, and it flew by so quickly! The most obvious thing to point out firstly is that there is no talking in the production and feelings and thoughts are all displayed through dance. We quickly learn the plot line of the show. Edward dies and many crowd round his tombstone to mourn his death. Later, we then see a workshop where an inventor creates a doll. The doll is rather different to a normal childs toy. Edward has scissors for hands. With the fantasy of lightening, he comes alive and becomes a living person. He escapes out the window, and makes his way to a traditional classic town in America.

Matthew Bourne very much epitomises the classic things expected in an area where society compete with each other. The idea of ‘keeping up with the jones’ came to mind. Matthew shows that if one family member does something, then the next door neighbour equivalent would stride to get something better. Moreover, we see the secrecy in a town where we see there is an affair going on behind the scenes of ‘happy families’.

We go on a journey with Edward as we learn through his solo dance before the end of act one, that he is in love with Kim, a teenager of the family who takes in Edward. They try to fit him into society as normally as they can, aware that he has scissors for hands. They take advantage of this and he cuts hedges majestically to create animals out of grass, only to envy the surrounding neighbours. 

Throughout the show, I never once see a dancer falter and they appear strong equally with strong technique. We learn that Edward is only trying to fit into society. Out of all the shows Matthew has directed over the past few years, I believe Edward Scissorhands is by far my favourite.

The cast list of the day I saw the show.

After the show had ended, my sisters, parents and I went to Whitechapel for dinner. We had Nandos, whilst I celebrated my last evening with them for a while. It was a lovely day, in which I very much enjoyed myself.

My dad decided instantly what he would have.

Did you go to see anything over the Christmas or New Year period?

Kirsty

xxx