Joining Brenda Edwards in this festive family favourite are the hilarious duo John Kimmons, known for his ventriloquism and comedy, as Baron Hardup, and Steven Dalziel who takes on the role of Buttons.

Brenda Edwards rose to fame in 2005 as the last woman standing on ‘The X-Factor’. Since then she has conquered the world of musical theatre with acclaimed performances in ‘Chicago’, ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Carousel’ and ‘Hairspray’. Her recent spellbinding portrayal of the Killer Queen in ‘We Will Rock You’ at the London Coliseum received widespread acclaim, solidifying her status as a musical sensation.

John Kimmons embarked on his professional journey at the tender age of 15 as a children’s entertainer, eventually clinching the Children’s Entertainer World Championships at Blackpool Opera House in 2008. With an illustrious career as a comedy magician and ventriloquist, he has left audiences in stitches worldwide. John’s TV credits include ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’, ‘The Slammer’, ‘Dick and Dom’s Hoopla’, and the recent revival of ‘Crackerjack’!

Steven Dalziel, a versatile Scottish talent, currently takes the stage as the title character in ‘Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour’. His musical repertoire includes standout performances in ‘A Night at the Oscars’, ‘The MGM Story’, ‘News Revue’, ‘Grease’, ‘The Kissing Dance’, and ‘Seasons of Larson’.

Matt Powder, the General Manager at the Churchill Theatre, expressed his excitement, stating, “The Churchill Theatre is thrilled that the utterly magical ‘Cinderella’ will be taking over our stage this Christmas after our record-breaking panto last year! We’re looking forward to welcoming this hugely talented cast who are sure to put on a fabulous show, perfect for the whole family.”

‘Cinderella’, a production by Crossroads Pantomimes, the world’s largest pantomime producer and the driving force behind Churchill’s pantomimes since 2016, promises to whisk Bromley theatregoers on a magical journey this Yuletide. Audiences can expect to witness ‘Cinderella’s transformation from rags to riches, her clever triumph over her wicked stepsisters, and, with the assistance of her whimsical friend and a truly magical Fairy Godmother, her enchanting encounter with her Prince Charming.

Don’t miss your chance to experience ‘Cinderella’, the Fairy Godmother of all pantomimes. Secure your tickets to the Ball today and be part of this unforgettable Christmas extravaganza! Book now.

The post Cast members join Brenda Edwards for ‘Cinderella’ Pantomime at Churchill Theatre, Bromley appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

The story follows young, overweight but eternally optimistic high school student Tracy Turnblad (Katie Brace), who is bursting with enthusiasm for the cool new sounds and styles of the Sixties, even down to her beehive hair style. Desperate to be on her favourite local television programme, The Corny Collins Show, she busts some dance moves learned from her stylish new black friend Seaweed (Reece Richards) and wows the host. She even gets to dance with teen heart-throb Link Larkin (Ross Clifton) and wins a sponsorship deal that impresses her parents. But something is rotten at the heart of her new showbiz world. Producer Velma Von Tussle (Rebecca Thornhill) is a racist who seeks to undermine Tracy and her friends at every turn. Undeterred, Tracy vows to take on the authorities and use her charm and talents to stand up for what she knows to be right.

‘Hairspray’ impresses with its breathless energy, witty one-liners and sound moral message. This production succeeds in all of the essential elements and ably conveys the necessary colour and vitality that brings a schoolgirl’s idealistic world so vividly to life on the stage.

The casting is perfect. Director Paul Kerryson brings out the best in several highly enjoyable double-acts. Rebecca Jayne-Davies and Reece Richards are adorable as young couple Penny and Seaweed, whereas glamorous-yet-bigoted Velma and Amber Von Tussle (Rebecca Thornhill and Jessica Croll) are entirely believable as the ghastly mother and daughter. The biggest laughs of the evening are won by Tracy’s parents, Edna and Wilbur Turnblad. Alex Bourne, who towers over Norman Pace, is paired with him to comic perfection. Their rendition of ‘You’re Timeless to Me’ is hilarious, and it took some time for the audience to recover from hysterics!

There are individual performances of note too. Brenda Edwards may be singled out for her powerful singing voice and stage presence as Motormouth Maybelle. The leads Katie Brace and Ross Clifton enjoy a great rapport and provide the production with sustained levels of excitement and innocence.

Audiences will recognise one or two songs. The opening number, ‘Good Morning Baltimore’, sung by Tracy, suitably establishes the world of the story. ‘Run and Tell That’, which takes place at Motormouth Maybelle’s record shop, is an excellent set piece, and the final song, ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ is perhaps the best of all. It’s certainly an earworm – the melody will rattle through your mind as you leave the auditorium and for hours afterwards!

There are one or two moments in the first act where the energy dips, and not all of the musical numbers are as strong as the standouts. It’s also wise not to study the plot too hard. But ‘Hairspray’ isn’t aiming at plausibility or psychological realism. It sweeps its audience along with its confidently told moral message and leaves everyone with a warm glow after a thoroughly-earned walk down. There’s no preaching, just an enjoyable absence of cynicism and a representation of all that was great about the Sixties. Even the ostensible villains of the piece aren’t entirely irredeemable, so irrepressibly endearing is Tracy’s crusade. In this production, act two was pretty much flawless, and the exuberant energy held until the final curtain call. Little wonder that the audience loved it so much.

This production of ‘Hairspray’, carried off by an excellent cast, is great family fun and is sure to leave you wanting more. If you’ve been starved of theatrical entertainment in recent years, then this is a great one to lure you back in!

Cast: Alex Bourne, Brenda Edwards, Norman Pace, Rebecca Thornhill, Katie Brace, Richard Meek, Reece Richards, Ross Clifton, Jessica Croll, Rebecca Jayne-Davies Director: Paul Kerryson Writer: Mark O’Donnell, Thomas Meehan, Mark Shaiman, Scott Wittman Theatre: Churchill Theatre, Bromley Running time: 150 mins Dates: Monday 7th to Saturday 12th February 2022 Book now

[rwp-reviewer-rating-stars id=”0″]

The post ‘Hairspray’ at Bromley Churchill Theatre review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.