SIRENS OF THE SILVER SCREEN
Upstairs at the Gatehouse, N6, 7 – 18 November 2017
‘Gorgeous vocals, stunning stories and tremendously entertaining’ ★★★★
Solo performer, Beth Burrows, has created this show based on three of the most iconic silver screen stars of the last century. As well as bringing to life their public persona she delves into their private selves to bring a more rounded understanding of three of the greats, Judy, Audrey and Marilyn.
The large broad stage of the Gatehouse is suitably set with a bandstand, the shell of a dressing room with a well-lit mirror, a dressing room screen and a chaise lounge. Underneath the seat are three pairs of shoes, a sparkly red, sophisticated black and platform silver. Designer Giulia Scrimieri also proves to have a handle on the dress of the three women, as Burrows look sensational in all of them.
Whilst Burrows, isn’t a look alike to any of them, it doesn’t matter because she uses their physicality, projections of real events (on the dressing screen) and her props to excellent effect. She takes us through some of the well-remembered star lit moments, as well as some of their most shocking private moments. Whilst the light treatment didn’t really do their stories full justice, this was not the point of this entertaining show.
It is guaranteed that you will learn something about each of the idols that you didn’t know before and best of all, is Burrows has a lovely singing voice. It is pure, clear and very confident. It is ably backed with piano and double bass (Bobby Goulder and Doug Grannell). Pianist Bobby Goulder is also the Music Director and he has the sound exactly right. There is so much light and shade but at every stage the balance is always right between the three of them.
Gorgeous vocals, stunning stories and tremendously entertaining.
SIRENS OF THE SILVER SCREEN
Upstairs at the Gatehouse, N6, 7 – 18 November 2017, 7.30pm
Tickets: http://www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com/
Reviewer Heather Jeffery is founder and editor of London Pub Theatres magazine www.londonpubtheatre.com (email for press releases: hjwrites@aol.com)
Formerly playwright and Artistic Director of Changing Spaces Theatre. Her credits include productions at Drayton Arms Theatre (Kensington), ‘Nothing, a tale of two zeros’ at Old Red Lion Theatre (Islington), VAULT festival (Waterloo), St Paul’s Church (Covent Garden), Cockpit Theatre (Marylebone) and Midlands Arts Centre (Birmingham)