#southwark playhouse elephant

[slingshotsandrosarybeads]

Trailer for Matthews latest project

[rionsanura]

Final week of Benjamin Button! Hope someone's making a proshot!

[lavender-gayz]

Lizzie the musical at Southwark Playhouse Elephant - some little moments that I loved, part 1/?

Background: This production originated at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester. It features Lauren Drew as Lizzie; Maiya Quansah-Breed as her neighbour, Alice; Shekinah McFarlane as Lizzie’s sister, Emma; and Mairi Barclay as the Bordens’ housekeeper, Bridget. Esteemed tumblr user thegirl20 has many lovely photosets and gifsets of the cast, including this high-definition one where you can see the faces of everyone in the main cast (and also the set!)

I was lucky enough to catch this show with the main cast in London at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant a couple of times (plus once with Emma Louise Hoey as Lizzie and Ayesha Patel as Bridget) when they went on a mini tour in Nov/Dec 2023 :)

1. The House of Borden:

Bridget ladles out impressively gloopy gruel while singing about all-purpose mutton. Both Lizzie and Emma give it a wide berth (and say no to breakfast for the rest of the show).

Emma goes, 'we’ve no personal objection BUT SHE CAN'T HAVE WHAT'S OURS' – an increasingly-concerned Lizzie rushes over and shakes her head and Emma is temporarily mollified. Fair is fair in the House of Bordennnnn!

The way their voices go up in the last ‘let us take you to an August back in 1892’ – MUAH.

2. This Is Not Love:

Lauren Drew performs the majority of this song while sitting uncomfortably in an ornate armchair where something horrifying routinely happens. It’s very effective.

She really conveys the despair and the agony Lizzie feels – there's one bit in the final verse where she gasps out, 'this is not love' and she sounds so incredibly broken.

(“I want…to see arms outstretched to hold me / wanting nothing in return / but only for me to feel safe and secure”

She’s literally next door, Lizzie.)

And at the end she tears herself out of the chair with the line ‘I don’t know what it is, but I want out of it.’

3. ‘I love you too, Father.’

4. Gotta Get out of Here:

Lizzie absently trails her hand along Alice's arms and shoulders in this one bit at the start - Alice never stood a chance tbh.

Maybe I'll do a separate Alice x Lizzie highlights thing.

LOVE the energy in this song and how Lizzie almost seems possessed when she sings about something hanging over her and how she physically throws her body around.

Alice's higher 'stay here longer' when she joins in on the chorus is what angels dream of.

5. If You Knew:

Let's have MAXIMUM YEARNING

To set the scene: we’ve just come out of ‘Gotta Get out of Here’, where Lizzie expresses her need to get out of here and is hindered by Bridget, Emma and Alice (with some very cool dance breaks). Lizzie finally breaks free and Alice chases after her but loses her. We’re now in Alice’s bedroom where she’s thinking about Lizzie.

Lizzie is just off to the side (presumably in her own home or in her yard) looking sad and letting down her hair.

Alice is singing to herself about how much she loves Lizzie and wondering how Lizzie would react if she knew about this.

(She thinks a secret’s just a lie! This may or may not come back to bite us!)

Her voice just SOARS when she sings about dreaming about having Lizzie in her arms.

I like that this song expresses the pretty relatable concern of ‘oh no if you knew I had a big gay crush on you would you still let me touch you and comfort you’ but it doesn’t come with a side of ‘oh no it’s so wrong and gross for me to have feelings for another woman’. Thanks, Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Tim Maner!

And good news for Alice: YES Lizzie will let you hold her close when she knows about your secret gay feelings AND she will make out with you and hold you close too! You will get to be happy for approximately seven seconds before Bad News Bridget interrupts.

6. Soul of the White Bird:

'the violence of freedom'

Emma joins in with Lizzie from the side at ‘oh if I had wings like a dove’ - the harmonies!!

Bridget knits and goes la la la in counterpoint while Lizzie slowly falls apart.

7. ‘Lizzie, don’t!!’

8. Maybe Someday:

The FIRST iteration of this song and it’s Alice singing to Lizzie about how maybe someday her heart will be open. They may not get a conventional happy ending together but by god their story is integral to this show.

It is so sweet and then they end up cuddling and falling asleep!

I was going to save this for the Alice x Lizzie highlights, but this was too cute to leave out so I guess I'll just include it twice: Lizzie is the big spoon!!!

9. ‘Her bed is freshly made, as if she hadn’t slept in it at all!’ – Bridget, relishing her role as a gossipmonger-in-chief

10. Who hasn't had to kick a girl out in the morning because your sister needs to vent about developments in your father's will and is threatening to go to Fairhaven? Sisters, amirite?

11. ‘Emma, wait! What if Mrs Borden…dies first?’

12. Sweet Little Sister:

It has been said before and it bears saying again: vocals for DAYS.

The little lyric change to “I look into your cold dark eyes” to suit Lauren’s eye colour!

Bridget and Alice pop up with mic stands to sing along.

And then Emma fucks off to Fairhaven even though her sweet little sister was begging her to stay.

13. Mairi's delivery of 'oh Miss Emma you've forgotten your book! And she asked me to pack it S P E C I A L.' is so deeply funny.

14. Also hilarious: the very un-suspicious way Bridget slides the book of household poisons over to Lizzie.

15. ‘…time for Mrs Borden’s tea!’ I love Bridget.

This feels like a good time to take a break!

[iconuk01]

A sample from "Unfortunate", with Shawna Hamic absolutely killing it as Ursula, as we see her story from a slightly different point of view.

Currently playing at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 17 February 2024.

[millificent]

If anyones in London and looking for a newer, smaller show to see with a ‘home grown theatre’ feel to it, I genuinely cannot recommend Ride at the Southwark Playhouse in Elephant and Castle enough.

A super talented cast of just two (!!) in the most clever set I’ve seen in ages, and with only a handful of seats. Honestly an amazing, fun and thought provoking show and one of the best I’ve seen in years.

[thegirl20]

Good evening, hope you are well! I have a random question for the resident Lizzie expert, if that's okay? For the current production at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant, where did you sit? Have you tried one of the seats at the side? I am going to try to see it in its last week and am trying to figure out if it would be better to sit closer to the stage at the side or further from the stage in the middle block. Thank you!

Oh my goodness, I'm not an expert in anything!!

And I can't help you, I'm afraid. I saw it in Manchester a few times, but I haven't seen it in London yet.

In Manchester, I was sitting front row centre the first time I saw it, and I can tell you it's quite an experience!! It's a very loud, visceral show and it doesn't really ever stop as it's mostly sung through with some dialogue sprinkled in.

Being near the front also means better videos of the megamix, if that's important to you.

From what I've seen of the theatre in London, if you're in the side seats I think you'll be looking at people's backs quite a lot, as the other theatres it's been in haven't had that set-up so the blocking isn't built around it. So I would recommend the centre seating if you want to catch most of the action.

But maybe other people who have actually been to the theatre can help you properly. Anyone?

[theatrenews]

Echo: Theatre-News.com Sappho, Southwark Playhouse Elephant - #Sappho @swkplay #SouthwarkPlayhouse http://dlvr.it/T6nXLF

[entertainmehub]

Sappho, Southwark Playhouse Elephant - #Sappho @swkplay #SouthwarkPlayhouse http://dlvr.it/T6g83L

[karenonlinereviews]

Unfortunate - Southwark Playhouse (Elephant) - 2.30pm Saturday 20 January 2024

This was a camp parody of the story of Ursula the sea which from The Little Mermaid. It is a bit rude, but very funny and makes fun of the original Disney story. The theater is modern but appears to be a flexible space so the seats feel a bit temporary. 7/10

[hansoloschubbybrother]

Unfortunate, Southwark Playhouse Elephant, London

[slingshotsandrosarybeads]

[iloveheartlandx]

Top Ten Tuesday #444

Hi all, I hope you’ve had a good week since my last TTT. As I mentioned in my last post, I was at a couple of theatre things last week. First on Friday I went to see Lizzie at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant (which is one of their two venues, the newer one which opened this year). It was good, and I enjoyed it, but I think it could have been better. The cast were all fantastic, and I generally…

[lavender-gayz]

Lizzie the musical at Southwark Playhouse Elephant - some little moments that I love, part 2/?

Previously: [Part 1]

We left off with Bridget announcing that it was time for Mrs Borden’s tea :)

Shattercane and Velvetgrass:

THIS IS MY JAM

Bridget brings in a tray with a teapot and associated accoutrements and starts singing about making tea while Lizzie reads aloud from a book on household poisons and forms a bright idea

Their voices are so gorgeous together

The last(?) time they do the chorus, Lizzie brings down the teapot dramatically and it hits the beat just right and it’s super satisfying

Bridget gives it her ALL in the last verse. FIRE BURN and TOIL.

A fun thing I notice on the final night in London sitting in the right-hand balcony: while Bridget and Lizzie perform this educational masterpiece about poisons and teas, a shadowy figure stands in the aisle separating the middle section of the audience from the left section and leaves after a little bit. It’s Emma! There is no spotlight on her so I only realise it is her because she lets in a little light when she opens the door to enter and leave the theatre.

(Tbh my initial interpretation was that Bridget was cheerfully planting the idea of poisoning the Bordens in Lizzie’s head of her own volition, but I’m not mad about this revelation)

2. ‘To...clean a stain?’

Lizzie x Lying is a close second to Lizzie x Alice for me.

Quick break for me to gush about Lauren Drew’s performance as Lizzie because this feels as good a time as any! I just love the physical ways in which she conveys how deeply awkward Lizzie is – her posture is terrible and she blinks a lot when she’s nervous. It’s in her manner of speech as well and I just find it so compelling. At the same time, we obviously get these powerhouse vocals when she’s singing about her feelings – the contrast is fascinating.

3. Alice makes good on the invitation from this morning and comes over to hang out! Lizzie says she’s sorry but she must go to Benson’s Pharmacy.

‘Why?’ – Alice sounds so unguardedly baffled and offended and I personally find this hilarious.

4. ‘Are you well?’ is Alice’s first reaction to Lizzie freaking out about Alice calling Mrs Borden Lizzie’s mother

She cares about her so much, I wail

5. Lizzie in Kronk mode is one of my favourite things. The milk, the milk that comes in a can, the milk that leaves behind an empty can. The canned milk.

6. That awkward moment when the girl next door – in a kindhearted attempt to ease your mind! because she loves you! – casually pokes holes in your plot to poison your stepmother and you have to pivot and talk about your struggles with sleeping at night. 

7. Will You Stay:

So! Much! Anticipation!

How does one sing these suggestive lyrics about gathering ripening pears in skirts and biting through skin to the sweet flesh within while smiling (and sounding) like an angel? How?!

Alice sings, ‘let me bring back your smile’ and it does actually bring a tiny smile to Lizzie’s face :)

Lizzie says she has to go and things escalate rapidly

IT’S JEALOUS PEAR TIME

Maiya’s delivery of ‘she’s always eaten ingreathaste’!!!

And also the vocal acrobatics in ‘will you bite through the skiiiiiiiiiiiin’

Alice literally guides Lizzie’s hands down her neck and her torso and the whole time I panic while gay.

(NOT to be mistaken for the strategy of legal defence where a straight person argues that they found a purported same-sex advance so horrifying that they reflexively reacted violently!)

Alice promises to keep Lizzie safe while she sleeps. She has this cute smile when she ducks her head and says she’ll keep one eye open half the time

8. AND THEN THEY ARE CONSUMED WITH PASSION AND KISS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN BREAK APART AND KISS AGAIN

I have Notes from watching this from multiple angles

Hands-down the funniest view was when I was in the front row in the central block but at the last seat from the right and so could not see the actual kissing and just admired the braids in Alice’s hair the entire time

I have seen some clips from other productions on Youtube where it kind of looks like Alice is pushing Lizzie into the kiss? Happy to report that this is not the case here! They both lean in. Maybe Alice leans in a tiny bit more / first but Lizzie is definitely enthusiastic and wraps her arms around Alice. HA.

9. Alas, Bridget comes in bearing bad news and a bagful of dead pigeons.

10. Why Are All These Heads Off:

Somehow, another banger!

‘Wait, wait, wait! Everything is fine Lizzie, we will find a better way’ – there is audible laughter from the audience at this on the last night and, well, I get it.  

A fleeting moment of peace as Alice presses her forehead to Lizzie’s

A tug-of-war between Alice and Bridget before Lizzie strides forward in the middle and makes her choice

‘I'm standing looking forward in the dark / A feeling brushes past me / And I know the wind has changed’ – it’s like Lizzie's carving these words into stone. CHILLS.

11. Mercury Rising: the lyrics are so archaic and poetic. More chills.   

12. Somebody Will Do Something:

!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bridget whips out her microphone to announce that Mrs Borden is ‘ALL…BY…HERSELF’

‘AXE FALL RIVER RUNS RED’ is amazing to witness up close (the upshot of missing the kiss!)

‘My eyes they never saw it / But my hands they found the axe’ – BRIDGET is the one to hand Lizzie the axe – I don’t know if this is how they do it in all productions, but I love how integral she is to everything here.

There’s also something about the practised way in which Bridget shifts her grip on the axe just a little bit when giving it to Lizzie that has stuck with me!

Lizzie darts offstage to look for her stepmother

(A quick note on the staging: there’s a doorway with sliding…doors at the centre of the stage. For this scene, the doors are open and there are PVC strip curtains hanging from the doorway. You can see this in the eighth picture in thegirl20’s lovely collection of production photos here: [link])

Lizzie attacks Mrs Borden with her axe behind the PVC strip curtains while the 40 whacks rhyme is projected onto the wall

Another fun thing I notice while sitting upstairs: Shekinah and Maiya pop up in the balcony and sing about being afraid somebody will do something and that somebody will dieeeeeee! Such rockstars!

‘OOH Miss Lizzie you startled me’ is Bridget’s v chill response to Lizzie when she emerges from the murder curtains with blood all over her. Bridget’s reactions and harmonies are always top-notch.

Lizzie sounds so exhausted and on the edge when she says she might go out too. I know she's just violently killed her stepmother, but I do also want someone to wrap her in a blanket and give her some cookies (maybe no coffee).

Anyway, one final push! ‘HE’LL WISH HE’D HAD THAT SON,’ Lizzie declares to the balcony while holding aloft her axe.

Lizzie murders her father as well and immediately asks Bridget to summon Miss Russell because she does not want to be alone.

13. Lauren Drew looks really, really good covered in fake blood.

It’s time for the interval!

[picolin]

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Book & Lyrics by Jethro Compton

Music & Lyrics by Darren Clark

dir. Jethro Compton

2023年6月1日 Southwark Playhouse Elephant

F. スコット・フィッツジェラルドの短編小説の設定を元にした2019年のミュージカルの再演。今回ベンジャミン・バトン役に『ハリー・ポッターと呪いの子』のジェイミー・パーカーを迎え、新たに開場したエレファント＆カースルの劇場での上演となる。

この作品/プロダクションの最大の醍醐味は、ほぼ全員がアクターミュージシャンとして歌い踊り複数の楽器を演奏することだろう。タイトルロール以外のアンサンブルキャストはそれぞれキャラクターも演じるため、パートが欠けないように各自2つかそれ以上の楽器を演奏する。全員が全ての担当楽器を完璧にこなしているとは正直言い切れないものの、楽器を持ち替えなが��歌い踊り、なおかつ演じていく様を間近に見るのは圧巻である。主人公のベンジャミン役は楽器を演奏するのはカーテンコールのみ（ギター）とはいえ、老人からティーンまでを特殊なメイクやカツラの助けを借りずに演じ切るのでこれもまた大変な役である。パーカーの演技力のキャパシティの広さを十分に堪能できる。

物語は原作とも映画ともかなり異なるものとなっている。共通するのは主人公の名前と老化を逆行する謎の人物という設定程度だが、特にベンジャミン自身の苦悩に焦点を合わせることで自分の意思とは関係ない運命によって「普通ではない人生」を送らざるを得ない状況が浮かび上がるようになっている。この物語は今後も設定を借りて何度も語りなおされる可能性を強く感じた。脚色自体は執拗にタイムスタンプに言及したり偶然のいたずらを強調するエピソードなど、いささか凝りすぎのきらいはあるものの、次々と楽器を変えながら演じるアンサンブルを見るだけでも楽しめる。

[centrestagereviews]

Actor of the Week: Lucca Chadwick Patel

Actor of the Week: @luccac_p from @MammaMiaMusical 💙

Lucca trained at Guildford School Of Acting. His theatre credits includes: Millennials (The Other Palace), Legally Blonde (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Broken Wings (Charing Cross Theatre), The Magician’s Elephant (RSC) and Dogfight (Southwark Playhouse). His concerts include: Sondheim, The Clockmaker’s Daughter, Carousel: In Concert (Cadogan Hall) and In Pieces (Turbine Theatre). Lucca is…