Landor Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 20th May 2013
This production of Next Thing You Know at the Landor Theatre is absolutely phenomenal. The show is a simple yet eloquent piece of theatre which really hits home. The interesting yet predictable storyline is justified by the performers who bring a great deal of truth to the piece.
I don't want to give too much away about the storyline which reflects the journey the youth of today face as they grow up and make the inevitable transition into adulthood. A journey which comes with sacrifice, both professional and personal, mixed with a cheeky slice of fun on the side.
Anna Michaels’ set design is simplistic but effective with great attention to detail. The Landor may be small but the space has been used very cleverly and complements each scene nicely. I love that even the Musical Director has been incorporated into one of the set changes!
Casting Director Benjamin Newsome has ensembled a wonderful cast. Next Thing You Know is a demanding four-hander meaning each cast member needs to be able to knock the audience off their seats continuously throughout the performance. I am pleased to report that the cast are outstanding.
A stand out performance comes from Bart Edwards who plays the self loathing and occasionally awkward Darren. Bart’s portrayal is impressive, I haven't seen such a truthful and believable performance in a long time.
Unfortunately the band (who were great) overpowered the cast at times meaning lyrics were lost in certain musical numbers. I also felt that one side of the audience were completely ignored (the audience are sat in an L shape). My final criticism is that the lighting design in the final scene is shocking. The Eighties party lights look horrendous and need to be cut.
I really did enjoy this show, Next Thing You Know is one to watch. While there is slight room for improvement I think the minor issues can be easily resolved and should improve over the course of the run. This production only runs until Saturday 8th June so I would advise booking sooner rather than later, otherwise ‘next thing you know’ it will be over.
Reviewed by Jamie Chapman Dixon
contact@westendframe.com
Next Thing You Know runs at the Landor Theatre until Saturday 8th June 2013.
Please visit www.landortheatre.co.uk for further information and tickets.
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