Whitby Pavilion Theatre
29th June 2008
Just a brief message to say "thanks" for another superb show on 29th
June. The Artistes were outstanding and as usual, Michael had the
audience eating out of his hand. The production elements were first rate
and everything combined to create an amazing atmosphere in the Theatre.
The sustained applause and cheering following the finale concluded a
really fabulous night.
Many thanks Keith.
Keith Norton
Operations Manager
Whitby Pavilion Theatre
Whitby
Dear Reader,
My wife and I are fairly well travelled and have watched various West
End shows, and the odd show on Broadway. Just over two weeks ago we disembarked
from the QM2, after a 6 day sojourn from Southampton - New York. As
a regular passenger on the QM2 , Likewise we are quite impressed at the
quality of the performers, singers and dancers.
Imagine my dismay when my wife informed me that I would not be able to
watch the European Cup Final, instead having to accompany her to your production
at Whitby. Prior to the performance my mood was quite low as I surveyed
the rather tired interior of the theatre.
Some two hours later I walked on air from the theatre, caught up in the
magical wondrous performance by your company. We were knocked out by the
sheer professionalism of the 5 singers, with high praise to the background staff
who conspired to perform miracles with the lighting set. Song after song
captivated us, together with the humour of Michael Courtney. The finale
was a classic with several songs from Les Miserables. Well done to
the whole company, but a special word of thanks to Michael Courtney. His
singing was outstanding, and with luck he could sing the lead in Les
Miserables, or any other West End show. Magnificent entertainment from start to
finish, my wife and I were still talking about it this morning. Oh the
football match ! Spain won 1 - 0. I watched the recording on
ITV and realised my wife had made the best decision when purchasing the
tickets.
A recent acquaintance of mine from my last cruise is Fred Warsaw, a
concierge literary critic, based in New York. I have already wrote to
him informing him that an excellent show you have
produced.
Congratulations.
Peter & Carol Clifford.
Loftus
Saltburn by Sea.
North Yorkshire.
Grantham June 2008
Mad About the Musicals show is a stunner
Published Date: 19 June 2008
By Richard Adams
Mad About the Musicals' show at the Guildhall last night
(Wednesday) was one you want to wrap up, put in a drawer and take out on blue
days to fill you with happiness.
Electric, infectious, exhilarating and entrancing, the
'baby' that Michael Courtney first brought to the Guildhall four years ago has
grown immeasurably into a sophisticated child.
The original foundations are still clearly to be seen. But the raw, earthy
panache of the early shows, brash and shiny satin, has been superceded and it
now wears clothes of pure silk draping seductively around out musical souls.
This is not simply a parade of songs but a multitude of shows within a show,
delightfully choreographed and wonderfully costumed.
Michael's superb tenor voice has developed, too, taking on a silkiness of its
own, becoming sweeter in the higher register, sensual, mature and more rounded
throughout.
Quality of voice, however, is not his preserve alone, with the rest of the cast
– Mark Carnell, full of cheeky chappiness, Louise Rosemary Geater, Kyia Grandi
and Lauren Wood all having voices that could grace any stage in the world – a
claim not made glibly.
Each possesses the often elusive ability to produce power without harshness and
to sing softly without the words hiding.
This is a team that bears the hallmarks of being brought together with the
utmost care and thought for balance and harmony. And what deliciously smooth
harmonies they were, even in the big boomer numbers! Credit there to the sound
man for cleverly keeping the recorded music at a level beneath the singing.
Lauren Wood, in particular, showed her diamond-sharp diction in her truly
delightful singing of Don't Cry for me Argentina, and her incredible range in
the almost ethereal duets from Phantom of the Opera, with Michael, that have
become part of the unalterable framework of the show.
But the format, while remaining ostensibly unaltered, has introduced many
subtleties, including an unusual opening. Behind the curtain chit-chat as a
taster to what lay ahead, was followed by a few bars of There's No Business
Like Showbusiness a cappella from Michael, before launching into the
all-singing, all-dancing show complete with mesmerising light effects – that
almost seemed a show in their own right.
It perhaps caught the audience with their socks down and it took most of the
first half for them to warm to responsiveness.
But it was a delight to see how the cast worked hard to stoke the fires of
enthusiasm, Michael, in particular, showed his skill and years of experience,
dipping into a bagful of old chestnut-style humour, to gently, but
persuasively, tease the audience to a high little by little, so that by the
time the fiery Blues Brothers opener to the second half arrived they were
red-hot, too.
When there are no lows in a show it is merely left to judge how high are the
highs. Those in this show are in the stratosphere.
It is a true flavour of the glitz, glamour and thrill of a West End production
that only struggled in trying to squeeze such big, BIG show on to so small a
stage. It's a fabulous more than two hours of quality entertainment that just
seems to get better and better.
June 2008
Brilliant
orchestrations, performed by a live on stage band, amazing
lighting, elegant costumes and clever staging are just a few of the
elements that make Mad About The Musicals such a brilliant production.
Michael Courtney has certainly put together a stunning show which left the
audience at the Epsom Playhouse shouting for more on Saturday night. This
production is pure entertainment at its very best. I have already re-booked the
show for 2009 and now recommended it to other theatres
that have not already joined the MATM fan club.
Trevor
Mitchell
General
Manager/Artistic Director
Epsom Playhouse
The Stage Review
Jack and the Beanstalk
Fine costumes, realistic sets and an innovative lighting plot combine to
bring the story of Jack and the Beanstalk to life, but it is, undoubtedly, the
strong cast that ultimately adds the final sparkle to this excellent
production.
As always, comedy is the prime factor and this company is richly served by
the experienced Adrian Fletcher as Dame Trott, Michael Courtney as Simple Simon
and the delectable Lynn Larkin as Fairy Beanstalk. Three excellent principals
who keep the fun buzzing throughout with some well-worked routines.
Fleshcreep (David McClelland) is the evil one, filled with cruel intent and
his maniacal laughter strikes fear into cast and audience alike, before he
finally comes to his deserved and sticky end in the penultimate scene, much to
the delight of the youngsters who booed him throughout.
Finally to the romantic leads and the loving bond that grows between
Princess Rosalind, beautifully played by attractive Jessica Negus and the
handsome Jack Trott, equally well portrayed by Daniel Henderson. The duo make
an ideal couple and no one is in any doubt that the pair will live happily ever
after.
A fun-filled production that will keep the tills ringing in the box office
until the season ends.
By Jim
Kennedy
Published Fri
21 December 2007
Mad About the
Musicals
The Beck
Theatre, Hayes – Friday 5th October 2007
Produced by Mad About Productions
Directed by Michael Courtney
Musical Director – Bruce Knight
It is highly flattering to know that someone out there not only reads my
reviews but actually takes heed of what I write. In April of 2005, when I first observed the above production, I passed the opinion that, although the show
was excellent `one ached for a live orchestra to replace the recorded backing
tracks` What sheer delight, therefore, to visit the company once again and
note that not only was a live band on
show but probably one of the best I have heard in a very long time.
Show Director, Michael Courtney
fronts the vocal team of Catriana
Sandison, Kate Smiddy, Jessica Negus
and Paul Daniel Cloeter and each
would grace the West End stage with distinction. Not only are their excellent
voices a delight to the ear but each movement throughout is choreographed to
perfection, giving the overall presentation a highly professional gloss which
glides each musical routine from one to the next with polished ease. It helps,
too, that all are young, good looking, graceful and undoubtedly `mad about the
musicals`
The span of musical numbers covered by the company is immense and covers
an extensive range from the older classics by Rogers and Hammerstein to the
more modern melodies of Andrew Lloyd Webber and many in between. It would be
unfair to pull out any one performance as being special for, truly, they were
all special but I would only comment that the each performer looked and
projected like the seasoned professionals they surely are and the heavyweights
behind the scenes of the London casting agencies could look no further than the
five principals of this delightful production when selecting the cast for their
next musical blockbuster.
Finally, a mention of the four piece band that accompany the show under
the disciplined direction of Bruce
Knight. A first rate addition to an excellent presentation that must rate
this particular company as being the very best of its kind.
I loved
every minute of it!
Jim Kennedy
Grimsby Telegraph
ENTHRALLING MUSICAL PLAYS TO FULL
HOUSE
21 September 2007
The glitz and glamour of Broadway and the West End sparkled
in Louth.
Mad About The Musicals enthralled an audience at the town's
Riverhead Theatre with songs from around the world, which bridged the
generations and got the toes tapping uncontrollably.
It was billed as a night of show-stopping highlights and,
from the very first minute, no one could argue with that!
The guys and gals looked every inch the "beautiful broad"
or the "suave gent" and the singing was top-notch.
A very friendly and jovial atmosphere encouraged great
audience participation, and people's knowledge of the world of musicals was put
to the test with fun quizzes.
Lincolnshire-born Michael Courtney doubled superbly as
compere and comedian between some songs and he was warmly received by the
audience, who were clearly having a ball.
And when it came to the serious side of things, the music
was just as popular, with many musical favourites and some less well-known, but
as equally enjoyable, numbers from more contemporary shows.
There was a superb mixture between raucous numbers such as
Hey Big Spender, slower numbers such as Someone Like You from Jeckyll And Hyde,
and more light-hearted numbers from The Blues Brothers, Annie Get Your Gun and
West Side Story.
The two-hour show was packed to the rafters and the
audience needed little prompting to sing along. All in all, the lively and
enthusiastic cast ensured a very slick and professional show hit the right
note.
Cast: Michael Courtney, Catrina Sandison, Paul Daniel
Cloeter, Jessica Negus and Kate Smiddy.
PAUL DONOVAN
Mad About 2006. SPA Pavillion, Felixstowe
'Mad About The Musicals' at The Spa Pavilion
Theatre on Saturday evening really was a show not to be missed! With a non-stop
selection of West End razzamatazz, superb singing and clever comedy, the
audience was enthralled from opening to finale. [Review by Giles]
'Mad About The Musicals' was a fast-paced, engaging journey through some of the
highlights of the world of musical theatre over the years. Michael Courtney,
Eddie Dredge, Vicky Betterton, Katie Carr and Ashley Oliver brought to life a
mixture of solos, duets and ensemble songs from a wide range of well-loved West
End and Broadway shows. They covered old favourites such as 'Oklahoma!',
'Anything Goes', 'Les Miserables' and 'Phantom of the Opera', as well as
including newer shows like 'We Will Rock You', the funky 'Saturday Night
Fever', and lesser known musicals like 'Little Shop of Horrors' (although
visitors to the Spa earlier this year should know that one!).
The versatility of all the singers was evident from the sensitivity of 'Aspects
of Love' and 'Miss Saigon' to the power and drama of 'Jesus Christ Superstar',
from the raunchy 'Chicago' to the fun and lively 'Mama Mia'. All the selections
were staged and choreographed imaginatively, always adding to, rather than
detracting from, the performance, and the introductions were witty and
entertaining. One of the highlights surely had to be Michael and Eddie's
convincingly rock-hard but soulful Jake and Elwood from 'The Blues Brothers',
getting the near-capacity audience to join in enthusiastically with the
actions!
The five-piece live band was excellent, and obviously had a great rapport with
the singers, and the the sound was all spot on. The costumes were suitably glitzy,
and the lighting was some of the best I've seen at the Spa.
The cast and crew have been on the road with 'Mad About The Musicals' since
April, and over 100 performances later, Felixstowe was the last date of their
tour. The show was as slick and assured as any last night, but still had all
the energy and excitement of a first night. The style may have been 'cabaret',
but this was no holiday camp imitation - this was a real slice of the West End
magic!
Mad About The Musicals - Sale Waterside
Arts Centre - 04/05/07
Mad About Productions stopped off at the Waterside
Arts Centre, Sale on Friday as part of their 2007 national tour “Mad about the
Musicals”, a potpourri of favourite songs from the shows. The packed audience
had the cream without the apple pie. Apologies to pie lovers but I am not one.
Vive La Crème de la Crème, which this show was.
A disadvantage of paying through the nose for a ticket for a professional
musical can be the long wait for your favourite musical number. But at this
concert, all the numbers were favourites. And the songs came from a wide range
of musicals. Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, The Blues Brothers and Miss
Saigon, to name a few.
Led by Michael Courtney who acted as Master of Ceremonies, Catriana Sanderson,
Paul Daniel Cloeter, Jessica Negus and Kate Smiddy gave captivating solos,
duets and choral performances of the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Schonberg
and other well-known song-writers.
The three girls had beaten five hundred others to win their roles and Paul had
come all the way from Nebraska to take part. So they had to be something
special, and they were. Catriana performed “With One Look” from Sunset
Boulevard with perfectly timed emotion, Jessica and Michael sang “Anything you
can do” from “Annie Get your Gun” with verbal dexterity and, in Jessica’s case,
vocal dexterity, too.
Kate came into her own with a romantic number from “Chess”. Her rendering of
“Someone Else’s Story” brought tears to listening eyes. I’ve never heard “The
Minute she Walked in the Joint” sung by more than one singer before. But the
three girls added triple sexiness to the seductive song.
There was plenty of audience participation as they responded to questions about
musicals and clapped enthusiastically to “The Jailhouse Rock” energetically
sung by the two men and danced to by the girls. Lighting effects that also
seemed to dance, and colourful imaginative costumes added to the effect. I hope
‘Mad About Productions’ return to Sale again soon.
Gang of five go mad about the musicals
Published on 14/09/2007
GLITZ and glamour was definitely the theme for Saturday night’s production of
Mad About The Musicals at the Queen’s Hall in Hexham.
The touring show is a cabaret-style night of show-stopping tunes from all the
well-known West End musicals, sung and danced by five extremely talented
actors.
Familiar songs from Miss Saigon, Sunset Boulevard and Les Miserables were
accompanied by some from the newer productions such as Wicked, Avenue Q and
Jekyll and Hyde.
The musical hits were interspersed with comical interludes by director and
actor Michael Courtney who played compere for the evening.
Courtney’s charming smile won over the audience and a series of musical theatre
quiz questions and regional jokes were thrown in to tickle the ribs.
The cast of five performed as soloists as well as in groups but their
indiviuality had been cultivated to give each performer a unique identity.
Making her professional debut was Kate Smiddy, who trained at the Sage Academy
in Gateshead.
With a maturity that belied her 19 years, she performed with understated class
and her sultry voice stands her apart from the typical stage-school product.
She perhaps needs more training in the art of enunciation and projection
however, as it was difficult to understand some of her quieter lines.
Jessica Negus gave playful performances especially in the Anything You Can Do I
Can Do Better number and her dance training was apparent in her light footed
movement.
Vocally, she came into her own in her upper range with a surprising crystal
clarity that rang out during her rendition of Think Of Me from Phantom of the
Opera.
Out of the three ladies, my personal favourite was Catriana Sandison who swept
the stage with elegant grace in everything she did.
A pure and powerful voice gave way to sweeter moments in some numbers and her
performance of Unexpected Song from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tell Me On A Sunday
was magnificent.
Although less glamorous to watch than the women, the men also excelled.
Paul Daniel Cloeter was typically American in his personality and presentation
and although his movement was a little jerky in places he was vocally adept.
Michael Courtney is clearly a very talented man, who with a lengthy list of
professional credits, starred in and directed this production including putting
his name to lighting design and musical arrangements.
Full credit must go to him though because the evening was highly entertaining
and the lighting was both effective and aesthetically pleasing.
The Queen’s Hall is a wonderfully intimate and fully modernised venue and to
echo Michael Courtney’s words at the end of the show, I too would encourage
people to get out and see more productions there.
Thank You For Visiting
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