Boards & Reels
"A blog about all things literature, theatre, and film"
Recently Reviewed Shows
Are you a lover of musicals, and looking for some inspiration for your next trip to the theatre? Take a look at some of the productions reviewed on the blog below!
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'Six' the Musical - A Refreshing, Powerful Homage to Female Storytelling 👑
With music and lyrics by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss,'Six' is a lively and modern retelling of the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives, with each of the wives appearing as the member of a band in a rock concert. Following a rousing introductory number in which the wives lament on the way in which history has treated them (“I’m done ‘cause all this time, I’ve been just one word in a stupid rhyme”), and vow to set the record straight, they are each given a turn of the microphone and the opportunity to tell their stories in a song. What starts as a competition between the wives to see who can win over the audience with the saddest story develops into a celebration of sisterhood and diversity.
One of the many aspects of ‘Six’ I enjoyed was the myriad of musical styles, with the song for each of the wives having a distinct inspiration from modern female artists that shapes her character.
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'Frozen the Musical' - A Visually Stunning Production That Will Charm Audiences of All Ages ❄️
Directed by Michael Grandage, and with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez,‘Frozen the Musical’ finally opened its gates to West End audiences on 8th September 2021. Based on Disney’s 2013 animated film, which has enjoyed phenomenal success, the show follows the story of estranged royal sisters Anna and Elsa, when Elsa’s magical ability to turn objects to ice sets off a perpetual frost in their kingdom of Arendelle. In a quest to find her sister and break the enchantment on Arendelle, Anna teams up with ice harvester Kristoff, his reindeer sidekick Sven, and loveable snowman Olaf.
The stage show is not only faithful to the magic of the animated classic, but in many ways enhances it. In terms of the plot, it feels like a lot more time is devoted to the young Anna and Elsa, and establishing their backstory, which adds to the dynamic between the two characters as adults, and reinforces the overall theme of sisterly love. In addition to the well-loved songs from the film, including ‘First Time in Forever’ and ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman?’, the stage show also includes a host of new songs written specifically for the musical.
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