The A-Z of Mrs P - Southwark Playhouse

Having been a tourist in London in my time, I know the feeling of walking the streets staring at a map, but never had I considered how the London A-Z had come about.

The A-Z of Mrs P is a new musical which tells the story of Phyllis Pearsall, the lady who decided to create the A-Z after becoming lost on the way to a dinner party.

The show is quite clearly defined into two halves; the first utterly charming and compelling. The staging is unique and the company transforming from train to tube is a lovely concept which adds another dimension to the story and is very aesthetically pleasing.

The music and lyrics are incredibly sweet and Isy Suttie plays the lead with a simplistic charisma which left the audience grinning, her voice matching her portrayal of the character who I can only describe as endearing.

As the show reaches the second half, a darker side seems to appear and focus shifts to Mrs P's parents, played by Francis Ruffelle and Michael Matus, both with very strong voices and a commanding presence. The story and characters take a much more dramatic turn with only a hint of the earlier charm remaining, but it makes an interesting contrast.

The flashbacks in the show are so seamless that sometimes it can take a few moments to understand at what point in time the events are taking place, but overall the story proves an interesting account of both the life of Mrs P and her parents.

The remaining cast is made up of Stuart Matthew Price, Ian Caddick, Sarah Earnshaw, Max Gallagher, Sidney Livingstone and Dawn Sievewright, all of whom are flawless in their roles and their voices blend beautifully in the well written score.

The show takes place at Southwark Playhouse which creates a unique experience. With only 5 rows of seats either side and a performance space in the middle, the audience are incredibly close to the performance and it's easy to lose yourself in the story. The only downfall of this is the worry that you might accidentally trip one of the members of the cast, or be hit with any of the props (which I am advised had happened) so perhaps front row seats are not advisable, although it is an incredible experience to be so close to a production.

The A-Z of Mrs P does seem to be a show that can split an audience but overall the unique appearance and charm of the characters and score make it one i'm glad to have caught on its limited run.

Jack and the Beanstalk Pantomime - Sheffield Lyceum Theatre

It's finally that time of year when vaguely famous faces are on posters across every town in England, playing some fairy tale character or another.

Whilst I am sure that pantomimes are not usually aimed at 21 year olds, I can't help but go and see them to get into the Christmas spirit.

My first pantomime of choice this year was Jack and the Beanstalk at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield. 

Jack is played by Ian 'H' Watkins from popular 90's band, Steps, who manages to convey the part of the hero successfully and you can't help but want him to defeat the giant with his friendly enthusiasm and cheerful persona.

His love interest is the Princess Tamara (expect many Tamara/Tomorrow jokes, you have been warned) played by Madeleine Leslay who portrays a princess that every little girl would like to be. Not only does she look the part but she also has a very strong voice, covering 'Titanium' beautifully and with ease.

Andrew Fettes, also known as the villain Dr Hefferflumphenstein succeeds in being suitably evil enough to get the audience to boo and hiss, yet also has a certain amount of charm making you look forward to his next appearance in the show.

Pete Dunwell plays a very stereotypical yet convincing King Eric. Without ruining the surprise, I just have to say I have a lot of respect for playing this part up to 3 times per day, and after seeing the show, i'm sure you'd agree.

Sheffield favourite Damian Williams returns to play the Dame yet again and it is not difficult to see why this is his sixth year in the part. He is an audience favourite and has everyone chuckling throughout the show. Not only is he hilarious, he often improvises in scenes giving a unique performance each time and keep the cast on their toes. Though the less I say about his Miley Cyrus impersonation, the better.

Although Damian seems to be the audience favourite, I have to say mine is the Vegetable Fairy as played by Sarah Earnshaw. Not only is she funny and beautiful, she has the most amazing vocal range which I couldn't help but be mesmerized by. I honestly found myself disappointed that she did not sing more songs during the course of the show. However if I had it my way, the show probably would've been twice as long as I didn't want it to end.

The show itself is one of the best pantomimes I have been to, including songs that all age ranges will know, whether it's 'Best Song Ever' by One Direction, 'One Day More' from Les Miserables or even 'One Way or Another' by Blondie, which all result in a show you can't help but sing along to.

Whilst a lot of the jokes are one's you will have heard before, you can't help but laugh at the delivery, there are a few innuendos hidden in there for the adults, plenty of slapstick for the kids, and the vinyl routine is comedy genius, only made funnier on the occasions something goes wrong.

The costumes and sets are beautifully designed, so much so that I was even distracted from the show itself by the giants lair, made from the remains of planes that have crashed in cloudland. It was visually stunning.

Overall, this is a must-see show that suits all ages and will have you shouting and singing in no time. The cast are all fabulous, including the giant who is an incredible surprise and i'm sure will be unforgettable for the kids.

The show runs until the 5th January 2014.