We came…  We saw…  And we laughed our bloomin’ socks off!

Followers of this blog will know from my preview last week that I was certain Scouse Pacific would be a smash hit.

Was I wrong? …Was I heck as like!

It was laughter all the way – from the moment the curtain went up, right through to the final standing ovation.

Very very loosely based upon Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Classical musical, it tells how Father O’Flaherty, played by the inimitable Alan Stocks, is banished by the bishop to set up a missionary on a tropical island along with four of the tastiest nuns you’ve ever seen – the “Sisters of Mersey”, played by graduates of the Dolphin Dance School.

They discover the island is inhabited by a family whose Liverpudlian ancestor was washed up there following a shipwreck.  Head of the family Terry (Andrew Schofield) educated his wife and daughter (Lindzi Germain and Rachel Rae) through the medium of scouse. “ya know warra meeen la?”

The arrival of Father Flaherty and his nuns (who by this time have dis-robed to reveal skimpy grass skirts) prove no threat to the family’s idilic existence. The arrival of Messrs Burke and Dick (Paul Duckworth and Stephen Fletcher) on the other hand, comes with plans to turn it into a tourist trap.

This is a brilliant fast-moving musical with the story being told via the funniest interpretation ever of dozens of well-known songs  such as Bali Hi’i, irreverently blended with rock classics and right through to contemporary rap!

Bohemian Rhapsody was the musical highlight for me.  It wasn’t real life. It was a fantasy – and the entire cast contributed to this hilarious full-length, three-part parody.  Andrew Schofield’s epic guitar solo was every bit as good as Brian May’s. And if Freddie Mercury was looking down from beyond The Gods, I am certain he would have approved.

This is a lively, colourful and uplifting comedy cleverly written especially by Fred Lawless for the Royal Court’s pantomime season and directed by Bob Eaton who has been responsible for so many of the theatre’s recent hits.

Scouse Pacific runs until January 8th.  It is definitely a festive season “must-see”.

More photos from the show can be seen here

Update: The Show has opened and the reviews are out.  Read mine here

Tonight sees the opening of a brand new musical in Liverpool – and whilst Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein might be turning over in their graves, I can assure you the audiences at the Royal Court Theatre will be rolling in the aisles!

This musical comedy gem comes from the pen of playwright Fred Lawless and in the genre of the Royal Court, it is very scouse specific!

During the hour I was photographing the dress rehearsals I could tell that this irreverent take – based very loosely upon the original musical – is going to be a smash hit.

Worry not. If you’re the kind of person who is turned-off by the word “Musical”, let me assure you: there is nothing Bali Ha’i-brow about this production.  Yes, there is some talky talky talky Happy Talk – very much in a Liverpool accent and very very funny.

The songs range from parodies of the original Rodgers & Hammerstein classics to a hilarious version of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. There’s even a rapping vicar thrown in for good measure!

I personally can’t wait to see it through and a full review will, of course, follow.

Get you tickets from the Royal Court Box Office.  Meanwhile, here are a few shots to whet your appetite:
(click image for a larger version)
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More about Scouse Pacific on the Echo and Daily Post web sites.

Bob Eaton’s production of Lennon opened on Friday at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre.

I think it is true to say there was not an empty seat in the house.  Until the ovation, that is, when virtually every member of the audience was on their feet.

I can honestly say I have never seen such a unanimous, sustained and enthusiastic standing ovation.

I can also honestly say that, without exception, this was the best show of its kind I have ever seen.  Not just at the Royal Court but anywhere!

The story of John Lennon’s bitter-sweet life, from the cradle to the grave, is eloquently told through the medium of the songs he wrote and co-wrote with Paul McCartney.

And although none of these guys bore more than a passing resemblance to John, George, Paul and Ringo,  it is testament to their acting skills that they convincingly took on the looks and mannerisms of the fab four characters they are playing.

Andrew Schofield was exceptional in the role of the older Lennon, as was Daniel Healy playing the younger mop-headed John.  It was a tall order being asked to not only portray one of the most famous singers Liverpool has produced – but to sound like him too!  Both were outstanding in matching the vocals during the various stages of Lennon’s iconic career.

When Chris Grahamson let his hair down and lolled his head from side to side he ‘became’ Ringo.  A brilliant guitarist, Paul Mannion was more than convincing as the taciturn George, and Stephen Fletcher had more McCartneyisms than Paul McCartney himself.  Right down to the soulful round eyes and the famous Paul pout!

When they stepped up to the microphones, it was amazing that they actually “sounded” like the Beatles, not just vocally, but right down to the authentic tonality and intonation of the instruments.  All credit to musical director Howard Gray.

I had to keep reminding myself that this is a group of talented actors who also happen to be accomplished musicians.  They performed more than forty songs spanning the early Beatles right though the Sgt Pepper era in a way that would put the very best of today’s Beatles tribute bands to shame and then seamlessly adapting to the post-Beatles Lennon classics.

In many ways this play wrote itself.  After all, inspiration for the songs was drawn from Lennon and McCartney’s life experiences. The real skill, however, is in the way writer/director Bob Eaton has woven it all together, cleverly inserting just enough dialogue in between the songs to tell the story.

There is of course plenty of humour, including all those famous Lennon one-liners.  There are poignant moments too and the shooting itself was sensitively handled with a backdrop of projected black and white images showing the adult John Lennon fading to the teenager, the child, the baby and then to darkness.

Below are a few photographs from this brilliant show, which runs until November 13th.  It is one you really should not miss.

Tickets available from the box office or the  Royal Court Theatre Liverpool website More reviews on the Liverpool Echo site.

Click for a larger image. Best viewed full screen (Press F11)