What did you think of the show?
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theatreguys 
Peaky Blinders
Wasn’t sure what to expect but WOW factor from the start dancing superb cleverly performed only criticism narrator very difficult to understand
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Peaky Blinders
The Peaky Blinders Show was a relentless display of spectacular acrobatic ballet cameos, completely spoilt by the brain splattering ,voice distorting, visual disturbing Mega Disco noise. The echo of an anvil being struck every now and then tried to remind the audience of the television wonder of Peaky Blinders.
Was it worth the trip. Yes of course, a trip to the theatre always has benefits, in particular the scene of the long, quiet shadows of the set of the First World War which were gentle and memorial and continued to remind us of the effect of these terrible trenches were the birthplace of the Peaky Blinders.
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Peaky Blinders
Having watched a couple of episodes of the tv drama I understood the general background storyline, which did help. It was a spectacular show and the cast/dancers energetic, passionate and exciting. The special effects were amazing although for me the music at times was rather loud and the narration a bit hard to hear. I particularly enjoyed the fight scenes, dog chase and Red Right Hand dance which were all very skilfully choreographed.
All in all a very enjoyable evening. Thank you Fredo – for organising the trip, waiting for us late arrivals and a memorable journey home.
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Peaky Blinders
Like a number of our group we were unfamiliar with the details of the TV production. In some ways this may have been an advantage. We took this production on face value as a ballet version. There was a good deal of darkness and violence throughout but particularly in the first act. The music which I found at times rather over raucous emphasises the turmoil. I thought the opening referencing WW1 was a good way of showing the damage war does not just to bodies but also to minds. But it was the dance that was breathtaking- more modern dance than traditional ballet. In the second act the mood changed which personally I enjoyed although some critics believed the ballet lost momentum. Tommy was a lost soul after the murder of his bride and the dance seemed to become more balletic until he decided to live and the tempo quickened with more incredible dance moments. Like all art forms a ballet has to the be innovative and surprising. In many ways Peaky Blinders was just this. We both had a very enjoyable evening. Many thanks Fredo and Mike.
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Monica
Peaky Blinders
An absolutely outstanding performance of modern ballet and choreography along with incredible acrobatics. You didn’t really have to know the story line though you could get an idea? It was a spectacle to behold. Jan, you can get the whole performance on iPlayer performed by the Birmingham Hippodrome. Another theatrical experience so thank you Fredo and Mike for a super evening.
An interesting drive down The Chase!
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Peaky Blinders
There is absolutely no doubting the ability, technical expertise, and athleticism of the Ballet Rambert dancers. This production showcased modern ballet very well with explosive and original choreography, which was spectacular until it became monotonous. I was an avid viewer of the TV series, which is just as well otherwise I would not have had the slightest idea of the storyline of this production.
Through my past interest in the series I was able to recognise a number of the key characters. Tommy Selby, of course, Aunt Pol, Tommy’s sometime conscience and restraining influence, Grace, his love interest, and Arthur, his reckless older brother who had never really recovered from his experiences fighting in France alongside Tommy. But Tommy’s relationship with these three characters was glossed over almost to the extent of being “written out”. There were many other wonderfully portrayed characters who formed major parts in the storyline. The British Intelligence Officer, Inspector Campbell, who was instrumental in using the Peaky Blinders to perform political assassinations on the instructions of Winston Churchill. Subsequently placing the Peaky Blinders at odds with the I.R.A. My favourite character, again with a huge influence on Tommy Shelby’s progress to wealth and riches was Alfie Solomons, head of the Jewish underworld in London, an eccentric and completely over the top performance by Tom Hardy.
This production gave me the impression that the Director had scanned through all 36 episodes of the series and extracted chunks of the most violent scenes in each episode. This was then crammed into two hours of admittedly spectacular choreography comprising unsurprisingly of almost unrelenting violence, which is why I remarked earlier on that the performance had, for me, become monotonous.
With so much of the storyline ignored, a comprehensive narrative was required.
The pre recorded narration by Benjamin Zephaniah did little to alleviate this problem. It was too short, fairly banal, and often barely audible.
Once again many thanks Fredo and Mike for your work in organising this latest outing. Regrettably this was not one for me.
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Peaky Blinders
I found the plot confusing having not seen the television series. However I don’t think that would have helped much. The Dancers were amazing, their was agility spectacular and the acting of the scenes was very moving.
I have to admit the classical music and dance is more my genre, so heavy metal was
certainly not to my taste. However I didn’t walk out so that says something.
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Peaky Blinders
This was an experience not to be missed. I have not seen any PB on tv so I came fresh to this production. I can appreciate some may not have liked it but having sat through hours of atonal music such as Gerri Kurtag at IMS, this hit my Like button. I could say it was brilliant but I should say why. The musicians had the right balance of skill, sound levels right on the edge but enough to have brought the rhythmic first half to such an intoxicating level that I wanted to join in the dancing as we did about 30 years ago with a previous Fredo outing to Mama Mia. But that opportunity was missed in this production, otherwise I would have said it could have converted what was a really great production into an event designed never to be forgotten (like Mama Mia!)
The set was designed for contemporary dance and I wonder how the originators of Rambert and Ballet Russes with the Picasso sets would have coped. The second half was “darker” but the fight scenes were the best of any contemporary ballet. In particular, there was one dancer who went spinning across the stage at such a speed that Olympic athletes could not achieve. The difficulty of providing the story line with the sound levels of the music was to me not a problem as it was the dance and “miming” of a sort that made up for the lack of clarity of narration. BSL in the second half may have made up for this lack.
At the interval, there were a number of “celebrities”, some even serving at the bars! One noticed the peaky hats of Mike and Fredo, and after she had been looking at them for a few seconds ventured to ask their opinion on the production. Little did she realise that she had asked the best two critics in the theatre, former Olivier Award judges, and she quickly ignored my suggestion of audience participation. Wise lady! Who turned out to be the chairman of Rambert, Dame Sue Street, who I believe is likely to look at the theatre guys website. So do not write as poorly as my crit! I will repeat, it was for me brilliant, followed by a magical mystery coach drive home that will make it an evening not to forget.
(My apologies to Mike and Fredo but the previous most memorable evening was my first Hamlet at the Open Air theatre with a budding 21 year old unknown actor called Damien Lewis. Now whatever happened to him?)
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Peaky Blinders
I thought the whole production was incredible -the ability of the dancers to project both terror and tenderness was skilfully done.
I am not sure if someone who had not watched the series would have been able to follow the story line but even if they had not, the performance stands alone, as a masterclass in dance.
Thank you Fredo and Mike for taking us to yet another memorable evening at the theatre.
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Peaky Blinders
As someone who can struggle getting out of the bath or up steep steps I was in awe of the dancers in this production.
They were fluid and flexible, like liquid streaming across the stage. Terrifying in the fight scenes, full of romance in the relationship between Tommy and Grace.
It starts on the battlefield and ends with Tommy’s fate.
The leads for both Tommy and Grace were just outstanding. Conveying their love, yearning and passion in moves my body can only dream about.
Polly, as the matriarch, was a force to be reckoned with, her dancing, her acting, were just spectacular.
The soundtrack was pounding (I loved the loudness) and only emphasised the scenes and the characters as they moved through the story.
The Red Right Hand dance was mesmerising.
I don’t think it mattered if you have not seen the show, it stands on it’s own.
It was loud, bold, full of life (and death)
I just loved it, and for me, the best thing I have seen this year, by far.
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Evita
What a superb production. Excellent singing of those wonderful songs we
know. The stage settings worked so well as simple terraces for everything. Inspirational. Deserving of the standing ovation. Thank you yet again Fredo for arranging such good seating and especially for your ‘homework’ information on the back story of the play to remind us the historical context.
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Evita
A show like no other with the unexpected around every corner, and highlighting Jamie Lloyd’s wonderful interpretation of the Eva Peron story. It was emotional, entrancing, exhausting and full of energy. Rachel Ziegler was sassy, full of attitude, entertaining and very moving in her performance, as were all the cast and the music and orchestra were magnificent. I didn’t spot Fredo and Mike waving outside in the balcony scene, but they deserve to have centre stage too for making the show happen for us all.
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Evita 29th July
What a wonderful show! Having seen and enjoyed Harold Prince’s Evita with Elaine Page,Joss Ackland and David Essex in the late 70’s, I was quite aprehensive as to how I would enjoy this new version,but we loved it and importantly it was faithful to the original music and lyrics of Andrew and Tim. The choreography, which was a mix of dance and acrobatics, was amazing with the timing of the chorus and Rachel Zegler perfect,she was spellbinding to watch and listen to. What an original idea to have her actually singing from The palladium balcony to the crowds of people who had gathered for the free show in Argyle Street, I noticed many of them had tears in their eyes. Many thanks to Fredo and Mike for booking such an enjoyable evening and great seats at such a reasonable price.
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Evita
A fantastic production! Very modern dancing but a real up to date version of this story. Loved every minute of it. The whole theatre stood to applaud with numerous bows! Rachel Zegler has an amazing voice particularly from one so young! The balcony scene actually felt right to be performed off stage. Would like to have been outside as well! Loved Chez’s performance too. Thanks to Fredo’s excellent account of the story we were able to follow throughout! Thank you for a fabulous evening!
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This Evita was raw , edgy and loud , from the costumes to the choreography to the musical arrangements, as befits a 21 st century production. It certainly differed from the original many of us recall but part of the joy of theatre is to witness the creativity of direction and production . This was dazzling , at times spellbinding and, I felt , much more fiercely political Many thanks for Fredo’s very useful historical background information. A memorable evening indeed
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Evita
Most of the critics were right. This is a stunning show. Many of us had seen the musical before but this is almost a different beast. I use that word deliberately as this Evita was raw and unrelenting in its energy, power and vocal brilliance. We certainly needed Fredo’s notes to prepare ourselves for Jamie Lloyd’s version. The choreography was amazing and to those of us of a certain age the unrelenting physicality at times was unbelievable. I loved the balcony scene revelation and indeed I did prefer Rachel Ziegler in the second half as she became more reflective. Our favourite performer was in fact Diego Andres Rodrigues as Che Guevara. Together with Rachel Ziegler they were very exciting . The show had a rightful ovation but for me the emotional punch of Eva Peron’s life story was absent. Many thanks Fredo and Mike.
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Che Guevara summed it up beautifully. “Oh what a cicus, oh what a show”
This Jamie Lloyd’s take on Evita is entirely different to the previous one that I saw
at the Adelphi with Elena Roger. I enjoyed both but I experienced more sadness with the earlier production, this one took my breath away.
Absolutely fantastic.
Thank you Fredo and Mike
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EVITA
What an experience to have been there !! Wonderful new production of a favourite !!
In your face, powerful, loud, brilliant. I would like to have been able to make out more of the words, more distinctive dialogue, but any way, that did not take away from the wow factor. I also was worried I would feel short changed as Eva was outside singing, and I was inside. But no, I was fully compensated with a most marvellous rock opera !!
Thank you again Fredo and Mike. Wonderful theatre night again.
Jan.
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Evita
I wanted to use a less common exclamation or interjection (call it what you will) as wow. But all of the alternatives either sounded horribly American, or were unfit for a family website, so wow it must be. WOW!!! What an extraordinary show. An almost overwhelming explosion of energy, enthusiasm, and pure unadulterated talent.
Fredo’s pre-performance talk about the history of Eva Peron, and Jamie Lloyd’s new interpretation of “Evita”, was extremely interesting and very helpful in following the “plot”. This production took the form of a “Rock Opera” with such mesmerising energetic choreography, brilliant character portrayals, imaginative staging, and LOUD music, one could be easily distracted from the actual storyline. However, the much covered “balcony scene” was superbly done and shown on a huge screen, with Evita turning back from the crowd to the theatre audience giving a feeling of intimacy that she had not shared with the crowd outside. The symbolism towards the end involving Che Guevara, depicting the death of Evita’s Argentina was clever and original.
Surprisingly, having been metaphorically battered about the head by the aggressive energy of the first three quarters of the show, and my internal organs vibrated from the volume of the excellent music and singing, I found the last quarter, which was concerned with Evita’s gradual loss of influence together with failure of her health surprisingly emotional. In fact I found myself “welling up”!
For those members of the group fortunate enough to have tickets for the third trip you are in for a real theatrical experience, because love it or loathe it, you certainly won’t forget it.
Thanks again Fredo & Mike for a highly enjoyable and exhausting evening.
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Sensational! Minimal set with maximum thrill and movement. Talking of movement – how do they do it? Choreographical precision was the order of the day, boosted by incredible talent and timing all round. All lead roles absolutely marvellous.
Fredo’s informative pre-show talk was a great help in keeping up with the events that gave rise to this incomparable show.
The balcony scene simply added to the innovative and contemporary direction of this show of long-standing. This is the way to go. See it again anyone?
Thank you Fredo (and Mike) you’re a bit of a star yourself! There have been so may opportunities to see top notch London productions.
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