October Recommends
October Recommends highlights shows in the area I think are just too good to miss.
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET - EPSOM PLAYERS
My recommendation for Epsom Players has been inspired by their penchant for picking fun shows. This March they performed Grease, last October they presented Hello, Dolly! and next October they are performing Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. So Sweeney Todd, arguably one of Sondheim's most popular musicals, breaks the mold a little.
Dark and haunting, Sweeney Todd follows the story of the titular character seeking revenge for being unfairly banished so Judge Turpin could have Todd's wife, Lucy, for himself. On returning to London, he meets Mrs Lovett, who laments the scarcity of meat, and they agree upon a surprisingly convenient business plan. The bodies pile up as the plan falls apart.
There is nothing nice about Sweeney Todd. The humour is dark, the characters are wicked, and the action is straight up horrific. For a mainstream musical, it's pretty hardcore. Paired with Sondheim's wonderfully complex music, it's a tough show to pull off. So why am I recommending Epsom Player's production? While I mentioned the happier musicals they have produced, they also recently staged a production of Rent. In terms of dealing with complex emotional issues, it shares some similarities. So despite show like Grease, Hello, Dolly! and Footloose in their back catalogue, they've also proved they are more than capable of handling the heavy stuff. And if there's a sure fire way of getting me excited about a show, it's the company's track record.
Sweeney Todd plays at the Adrian Mann Theatre, Ewell, from 12th - 15th October.
Tickets are £15-£16 and information on booking can be found here.
ROCK OF AGES - BROMLEY PLAYERS
Rock of Ages only hit the UK in 2011 but is already well known to many. As a jukebox musical, it first and foremost appeals to fans of 1980s classic rock. However, a quick look at a list of the musical numbers demonstrates this musical has a good selection of songs to appeal to everyone.
The story is light. It's centred on 'making it big' and the trials and tribulations of Drew, an aspiring rocker, and Sherrie, an actress, and their attraction to each other.
Being a new musical, many companies have yet to jump on the bandwagon. In fact, if you miss Bromley's production, the next closest is in Enfield. But why would you want to miss such a fun musical? A quick look on Bromley's Facebook page, and you'll find some promo pictures that scream a good time. So give this lighthearted jukebox musical a look now as I imagine in a few years it'll be popping up everywhere.
Rock of Ages is playing at The Bob Hope Theatre, Eltham, from 19th - 22nd October.
Tickets are £12.50-£14.50 and can be booked here or by calling 020 8850 3702.
PERVE - NEW STAGERS
Perve is the first full length play by Stacey Gregg, who has previously been shortlisted for the Royal Court Young Writer's Festival. And if you had to chose only one production to see this month, the latter half of that sentence should have more than piqued your interest. The same festival has launched the careers of Simon Stephens, writer of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time adaptation, and Polly Stenham, who wrote That Face, so the level of writing and content is remarkably high.
Perve handles a subject that is difficult to approach, discussing our society's culture to presume those suspected of paedophilia as instantly guilty. The play is centred on film graduate Gethin, who wants to make an honest documentary about hysteria surrounding paedophilia. Proving a point, the rumours he spreads about himself in order to capture peoples' reactions backfire and he loses control of them.
It's a big topic for anyone to take on, and I'm interested in seeing how New Stagers tackle it. I'm hoping I'm thrown in at the deep end with this unsettling play and question some idealisms with this clever, clever play.
Perve is on at St. Anne's Hall, Wandsworth from 26th - 29th October.
Tickets are £10.50 (with concessions available at £6.50) and can be found here.
