Jersey Boys at The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton

I was kindly invited* with Southampton Bloggers to attend the opening night of Jersey Boys at The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton. Currently on it's second national tour, Jersey Boys is an award winning musical play based on the lives of the original members of The Four Seasons.

Unlike other recent musicals and stage adaptations, Jersey Boys is based on real events told from the perspective of each of the original members, Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi with the play split into four separate seasons.

The show is packed full of hits that are instantly recognisable, songs such as December 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don't Cry, Sherry and Can't Take My Eyes Off You. I'm sure most people know more Four Season songs than they realise!

The vocal talents of Michael Watson to be able to take on the role and distinctive falsetto singing voice of Frankie Valli was outstanding. Simon Bailey who played Tommy De Vito had the tough job of opening the show and setting the scene which he did right from his first line. You instantly knew you were watching a cocksure lovable rogue from New Jersey determined to make good. Declan Egan portrayed a character growing in confidence and Lewis Griffiths probably had the deepest voice and the best one liners in the show (if you've seen the show, you'll understand and appreciate his hotel towel rant!).

From l-r: Declan Egan (Bob Gaudio), Michael Watson (Frankie Valli), Simon Baily (Tommy DeVito) and Lewis Griffiths (Nick Massi)

It's brutally honest at times, showing the ups and downs of success and the drifting apart of the band until at the end, they are shown together once more earning their place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Knowing that it's based on real accounts make the scene where Frankie's daughter dies so much more heartbreaking.

As well as the four main actors, the supporting cast provided just the right level of support and added humour. Mark Heenehan in the scene with the song My Mother's Eyes made everyone chuckle. The level of enthusiasm and energy was 100% from start to finish and the whole cast thoroughly deserved all the applause.

Jersey Boys is playing at The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton 19th to 30th March 2019 and all I can say is....oh what a night!

*Tickets were gifted for the purpose of this review

Thanks for reading

Cathy
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Princess and the Hustler at Nuffield Southampton Theatre

Last night I was invited by Nuffield Southampton Theatre to watch Princess and the Hustler at their City venue*. Set in in 1963 the play tells the story of Phyllis Princess James (known as Princess) and her family at the start of the black civil right movement in Bristol and explores themes of forgiveness, hope, dreams and optimism.

It starts with the opening scene of Princess in her bedroom acting out her dream of winning Miss Weston-super-Mare. Kudzai Sitima is utterly convincing as Princess and you're immediately drawn into all the hopes and dreams of an innocent 10 year old. All she wants is win the beauty contest and have enough money to buy a house for her mummy (and a bike for herself) and to eat choc ices at Weston-super-Mare where all the beautiful people are.

Princess's world is about to change though. With the return of her estranged father, a new half sister and evolving racial tensions, you watch her heart break as she learns that her dreams might just be out of reach. The play also deals with the mending of relationships between her father and her mother and brother and whether they can learn to forgive.

At each location, there's an opportunity for local volunteers to join the production as demonstrators or as part of the beauty pageant at the end. This was such a lovely touch - the level of excitement and pride from the volunteers could be felt throughout the theatre.

The play really takes you through the whole mix of emotions. It goes from laugh out loud moments to sadness, anger and uplifting joy at the end. It's easy to think that the Bristol Bus Boycott, where a company refuses to hire black workers would be incomprehensible nowadays. But then I remember, this is 1963 - the year my partner was born and only a few years before I was born. It's sobering to think this really is in our lifetime.

Written by Bristol based Chinonyerem Odimba, this is the second production from Revolution Mix, Eclipse Theatre's new writing programme. It just has a two night run in Southampton, but will be playing in Oxford, Liverpool and Newcastle in March and April. It really is a play that will take you on a journey through all your emotions. It tells a story we all need to hear and should never grow tired of hearing.

* Tickets were gifted for the purpose of this review

Thanks for reading

Cathy
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Rain Man at The Nuffield Theatre, Southampton

A really good way to spend a Monday evening is by going to the theatre. On this particular Monday I was invited by Nuffield Southampton Theatre to watch Rain Man*. This stage adaption of the famous 1988 Oscar winning film starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman is currently touring the UK and from the 4th-9th March is in Southampton.

The play follows the story of the two Babbitt brothers Raymond and Charlie. Charlie played by Chris Fountain is the younger brother, a brash and abrasive salesman who learns that his father has bequeathed his multi-million pound fortune in trust to Charlie's older brother Raymond.

Raymond (played here tonight by Adam Lilley) is the opposite of Charlie. A gifted autistic who lives in an institution, he is 'borrowed' by his younger brother Charlie. The play follows the two brothers trip across America as Charlie hatches a plan to get his share of the fortune but along the way discovers the true value of Raymond.

It's a been a while since I've seen the film so I was hopeful I wouldn't be making comparisons between the two. I needn't have worried etc. After a few minutes in I had forgotten all about the film versions of the characters.

The two lead roles played by Chris Fountain and Adam Lilley were outstanding. By the interval I was beginning to dislike the character of Charlie, by the end he had me nearly in tears with some laughs along the way.

Adam Lilley's portrayal of Raymond in particular was touching, heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure. The scene where Charlie teaches him how to dance, I think I was holding my breath the whole time. If you see it, you'll understand.

At the end, the cast received a thoroughly deserved standing ovation, if you get a chance to see it, you definitely should. I thought that after seeing this, I'd probably watch the film again, but now I don't want to - I'd prefer to remember this version instead.

The original film was set in the 80's and scene changes were accompanied by classics from that era (seriously, my whole childhood was re-lived in the music alone).

Rain Man is the premiere production in a brand new series from Bill Kenwright under the banner Classic Screen to Stage. Having previously adapted The Exorcist, A Few Good men and The Shawshank Redemption, I can't wait to see what comes next.

*Tickets were gifted for the purpose of this review

Thanks for reading

Cathy
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February favourites

It's been long old time since I've done one of these, but after reading some favourites posts this weekend, I realised I had a few favourites of my own I wanted to share. So I thought I'd start with make up and beauty.

Now I'm not a lover of foundation. More often than not I'll only wear CC cream, eyeshadow and mascara and that's it. The one CC cream I always go back to is the 123Perfect CC Cream by Bourjois. It's a light coverage cream that doesn't feel heavy and sticky but still helps balance out uneven skin tone without looking like a mask.

I was recently given a tester of Benefit Porefessional. So far, so good. Enough for me to be tempted to look at buying the full size when I'm passing through Duty Free later this year. It's not something I'm using everyday, but on special days, it just helps minimise those pesky pores and make me feel a bit more put together.

I love to have hand creams scattered throughout the house, car, handbags etc. This hand cream from a Christmas gift set from Marks & Spencer is lavender scented and is as pretty to look at as it smells - perfect to keep on my bedside table to use last thing at night.

Revolution makeup and skincare always have a place on my favourites. Their eyeshadow primer just helps eyeshadows last that little bit longer (and helps stop you looking like the living dead in the morning...)

The One Concealer, I'm honestly heartbroken that this seems to have been discontinued. So often concealers are too drying for me. This one comes with an almost waxy/silicone surround that helps it blend and smooth. I'm not sure how good this would be for very sensitive skin but for my older, dryer skin it works just fine. The hunt for an alternative is on!

The Essence Super Curl from Wilkos is such a bargain at only £3. I wanted a cheap dupe for my absolute favourite mascara - Benefit Roller Lash and this doesn't do a bad job. It has the small plastic wand that I like and even though it can sometimes transfer as the day goes on, at that price, I can live with it. I also like being able to take something cheap and cheerful on holiday without worrying about losing it somewhere.

My next favourite is my absolute favourite, holy grail eyeshadow product - Two Faced Chocolate Bon Bon eyeshadow palette.

This was a birthday splurge in a French Sephora a couple of years ago and it's still going strong. I remember thinking that I'll never use all of the shades, esp Totally Fetch, the gorgeous deep pink/cerise but I have and I love them all. They have so little fall out and last all day. Plus they smell so good. Everytime I use it, I'm reminded of summer and holidays - and that's no bad thing.

And finally, Daisy by Marc Jacobs. I honestly haven't tried a Marc Jacobs perfume yet that I didn't like and this is my current favourite. I'm finding as I get older, my taste in perfume is moving away from citrus scents towards more floral scents.

So that's my February Favourites - I think I'll try to alternate with books and films for March (guess I better start reading!)

Thanks for reading

Cathy
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