Winchester News Online
REVIEW: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Mayflower Theatre
Tonight, Southampton was only talking about one thing… Jamie!
‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ is on Mayflower Theatres stage once again and what a way to start off the new year. The hit musical by ‘Dan Gillespie Sells’ (Music) and ‘Tom Macrae’ (Book & Lyrics) is back and better than ever. This musical has become a modern-day instant classic of theatre and is well deserved of its place with such prestigious company. Having won the awards ‘Jamie’ has won (‘Jamie’ is what I’m going to refer to the musical as from now on), and having a major motion picture adaptation of the musical – it could have been very easy for the show to forget its way and its powerful meaning. I’m very happy to say that this is just not the case.
One thing I love is a biopic story told via a musical. If that’s something you love too and you haven’t seen ‘Jamie’ yet, I think I may have the next musical for you. Based on the Firecracker documentary film, ‘Jamie: Drag Queen at 16’’, this true story follows Jamie New, a teenage boy from Sheffield coming to the end of his school life and thinking about what he wants to do after school. Or more importantly what he wants to be. Jamie doesn’t quite fit in, but with the support from his mum and friends he overcomes prejudice and steps out of the darkness and into the spotlight. His story is funny, powerful and touching. It’s just as important now as it was when it actually happened. Director, Matt Ryan, has done incredibly well to portray that level of importance throughout the show. Through song, dance, movement, and placement. Every little detail has been noticed and watching it unfold was seamless. Having such an important topic and giving it a feel good vibe can’t have been easy but the whole company has made it work.
Everything about his performance was outstanding.
The casting for this tour is phenomenal. Each and every member of the cast brought the energy and guided us through the story perfectly. We were tapping our feet at the highs, and you could hear a pin drop in the lows. Command over a packed theatre like that? Now that’s talent! The whole cast was brilliant but I can’t not talk about a few standout performances. The role of ‘Jamie New’ was played by Ivano Turco and I have no other word than WOW! His stage presence was incredible. The dancing, incredible. His comedic timing and delivery, yep you guessed it, incredible. Everything about his performance was outstanding, and to bring a voice like his into this role was perfection. The vocal choices that he made were spot on, he truly made the role his own and it was so refreshing. As ‘Jamie New’ himself would say, “Ivano you were FABulous!”. Returning to play Jamie’s Mum, ‘Margaret New’, was the highly talented Rebecca McKinnis. This is actually the second time I’ve seen McKinnis after seeing her as ‘Heidi Hansen’ in ‘Dear Evan Hansen’, as she was just as amazing then as she was tonight. Her relationship on stage with Ivano and the hilariously funny Shobna Gulati (playing the role of ‘Rey’) was so natural it felt like we were just watching their life unfold. Not to mention when she had the whole auditorium in tears during the songs ‘He’s My Boy’ and ‘My Man, Your Boy’. Phenomenal. Southampton are also lucky enough to have Giovanna Fletcher playing ‘Miss Hedge’ and John Partridge playing ‘Hugo/Loco Chanelle’ who again were both brilliant. John did a beautiful job at bringing in a further sense of sensitivity and understanding throughout the musical, whether he was dressed in his glamorous ‘Loco Chanelle’ get up or not. Veteran ‘Jamie’ actress, Talia Palamathanan reprised her role as ‘Pretty Pasha’, and all I can say is that it’s understandable why she has played the role multiple times in multiple different countries. It’s been so hard not to name each cast member individually in this review, but unfortunately it would make it unbearably longer than it’s going to be already.
The set was also what you’d expect from a record breaking West End musical. Clever, efficient, but still grand. West end theatres tend to be a lot tighter so sets need to make the most of the stage they have. This is something you can tell has been kept in mind with this set design, but it certainly doesn’t get lost on the Mayflowers stage. The wall at the back is multi-functional becoming a kitchen, a shop, and a multitude of different places whilst allowing for the shows multiple split scenes. I also really enjoyed the use of the school desks turning into a catwalk, mixed with the lighting which was really effective. The lighting was fairly simple throughout, relying heavily on spotlights to pinpoint certain characters in a scene. The use of projection and video added lots to different scenes however. In particular at the end of act 1, the tall curtains and projection of Jamie was very creative. The pre-recorded videos of Ivano and Giovanna that were projected onto the back walls also helped tell the story of the songs whilst filling some empty space.
It really is a fabulous story, fabulously told that makes you feel good.
As I’ve already mentioned, the singing within the show was brilliant; but as I always say, if there is one thing that can really elevate a musical it’s live music. The live band headed by Danny Belton, was note perfect. They really helped set the pace of the show, and when they were involved you could feel the energy move with them. I also like how they have stuck to their West End routes with the band being sat on stage above the action, rather than moving them to a pit which they could’ve easily done with the space provided. Something that I haven’t really mentioned but really enjoyed was the choreography and dance. Choreographer, Kate Prince, has done a great job at including a range of different dance styles and highlighting these in certain areas as well. If there is one thing that I thought ‘Jamie’ could improve on, it would be the long dialogue sections between characters when nothing else was happening. These are needed, but towards the end of act 1 I could start seeing people check their watches for when the interval was coming and I was also the same. I think it was the silences when silence wasn’t needed for dramatic effect. But that is just me being incredibly picky.
I’m so impressed by this story and how the cast have told it so effectively. The story holds so many important morals and challenges that can be interpreted differently by each individual. Not only that, but it had me laughing out loud, speechless (which is challenging), and even close to tears. It really is a fabulous story, fabulously told that makes you feel good. I feel like this is a musical so many people will be able to resonate with in different ways. I keep saying about how important I feel the show is and one line that Jamie says almost sums it up without spoiling it for those who haven’t seen it. It’s along the lines of, “Real superheroes/men don’t wear capes, they wear dresses”. This will all become clear when you see this musical, which you absolutely should if you get the chance (especially with this tour cast!). ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ is at Mayflower Theatre until January 14th before continuing on its UK tour and I wish the whole company all the success they deserve.
Colden Common leapfrog into second as they produced a ruthless display
to thrash managerless Blackfield & Langley 10-0, piling further misery
on the Watersiders who arrived with only a starting XI and no
substitutes available.
The hosts needed just four minutes to open the scoring. Joao Ferreira
found Cal Archer outside the box, and the midfielder rifled a low
strike into the bottom corner beyond Ollie Bull.
Colden Common continued to dominate, with Charlie Hitchings and Sam
Woodward both threatening as Blackfield struggled to contain the early
pressure.
The second goal soon followed when Brad Lethbridge’s delivery found
defender Sam Middleton at the back post, where he finished sharply
from close range.
The Watersiders briefly threatened on the counter-attack when captain
Bradley Snelling raced through on goal, but James Egeland-Jensen stood
tall to deny him
The Stallions quickly punished that missed chance. Cam Stone’s cross
from the left found Ferreira inside the area, and his effort squeezed
through Bull’s legs to make it 3-0.
Woodward was then denied by an excellent leg save from Bull, while
Middleton saw a volley blocked after Ollie Riddell flicked on
Lethbridge’s corner.
Ferreira added a fourth despite strong appeals for offside from the
visitors, before Middleton missed the chance for another when he
headed wide at the back-post.
The fifth came through Woodward, who converted from close range.
Moments later, Stone won possession high up the pitch following a
loose pass from Josh Moody, allowing Ferreira to race clear and fire
home his hat-trick.
Archer then grabbed his second goal before half-time with a near-post
finish to complete a devastating opening 45 minutes and send Colden
Common into the break 7-0 ahead.
The hosts resumed in the same manner after the restart and added an
eighth goal within three minutes when Woodward’s effort took a
deflection on its way past Bull.
Archer thought he had completed his hat-trick, but the effort was
ruled out for handball. Woodward also had a strike disallowed for
offside, while former Watersider Hitchings saw another finish chalked
off after Middleton’s low drive ricocheted into his path.
Woodward continued to search for more goals but could not convert an
acrobatic attempt inside the area.
Blackfield did carve out a rare chance, as Cam Ross’s headed clearance
fell kindly for Charlie Luff outside the box, but his volley arrowed
wide of the post.
The ninth eventually arrived when Ben Sunley picked out Lethbridge,
who made no mistake from close range for his 19th league goal of the
season.
Colden Common were then forced to play the final ten minutes with ten
men after Sunley was injured with all five substitutions already used.
Even so, they still found time for a tenth. Owen Sims struck the post,
Alex Vine’s header was saved, but shortly afterwards he found the
target from close-range to complete the scoring.
Colden Common are back on the road as they take on Totton & Eling on
Thursday night at Miller Park, whilst Blackfield & Langley will face
The Millers two days earlier at Gang Warily Recreation Centre on
Tuesday night.
The Stallions stormed into a four-goal lead in a ruthless first-half display in a 4-2 win over local rivals Alresford Town
The hosts thought they had struck inside the opening minute when Cam Stone managed to lob keeper Ben Barnard, only for the offside flag to cut short the celebrations.
They did not have to wait long. Just nine minutes in, Cal Archer threaded a pass into the path of Sam Woodward, who slid a low finish beyond Barnard to hand the Colden Common an early lead.
It should have been two soon after. Will Erdinc’s clever cut-back found Brad Lethbridge lurking, but the former Portsmouth midfielder could only guide his effort wide. Woodward then stung the palms of Barnard with a half-volley, while Owen Sims was foundinto acres of space on the right, only to see his dink drift off target.
Alresford briefly threatened Former Stallion Josh Bowerman capitalised on a loose back pass from Archer, racing through one-on-one, but James Egeland-Jensen stood tall to block and preserve the lead.
Colden Common punished the visitors as they struck twice in quick succession to take control. Joao Ferreira managed to curl home a composed finish after being picked out by Lethbridge, before rounding Barnard moments later to slot in his second.
Sims nearly added a fourth before the break, his low corner falling to Stone on the edge of the box, but the midfielder dragged his effort wide.
Alresford thought they had a route back when skipper Tom Henderson finished off a swift counter-attack, only for the flag to once again but this time to deny them. Moments later, Colden Common were awarded a controversial penalty for handball, and Lethbridge stepped up to convert from the spot, sending Steve King’s side into the break with a 4-0 lead.
It was one-way traffic after the restart. Sims continued to find space on the right and picked out Woodward, but the forward could not keep his effort on target. Lethbridge then saw a golden opportunity smothered by Barnard as the Stallions pushed for more.
An unmarked Henderson managed to head home Jack Welch’s delivery and pull one back for the Magpies. .
There was still time for more late drama. Matty Driver rattled the crossbar on his return, while a hopeful long ball forward from Barnard caused panic in the Colden Common defence. Henderson’s initial effort was blocked on the line by Sam Middleton, but Bowerman reacted quickest to force the ball home against his former club.
Next up for Colden Common is the visit of mangerless Blackfield and Langley, whilst Alresford host Frimley Green.
Mark Carney rises to address world leaders, businessmen and bankers at the World Economic Forum.
As the Canadian Prime Minister, he has faced constant attack from the US President Donald Trump with Trump stating that “they should be grateful to us, Canada. Canada lives because of the United States”.
Internationally things are heating up, Trump’s America is involved in wars in Gaza, occupying Venezuela, threatening to disband NATO by forcefully taking Greenland, Iran is in civil unrest and America is threatening strikes, the war in Ukraine is still ongoing and trump seemingly wants Ukraine to surrender land as the ‘only viable option’ for peace. He references Vaclav Havel’s essay: ‘The power the powerless in which it is proposed that the only way to bring down an oppressive state and challenge it is for the people to stop believing in its lies and engaging with its systems using one such example of a greengrocer placing a sign in his window stating “workers unite” in soviet states. Not because he believes it but rather as compliance with the state and only when they defy the state by taking the sign out of the window will anything change.
“We know that the rules based order is fading, the strong can do what they can and the weak must suffer” Trump has been throwing tariffs on any nation that challenges his perspective, since the end of WW2 Nato has served as a harbour for European and international powers for peace and prosperity and with potential attacks on Greenland the US is possibly going to bring an end to the alliance. His speech serves as a call to action for the middle powers and neighbours of larger powers (the UK, Canada, Mexico, lots of eastern Europe) to band together in a trade bloc against Russia China and the US in-order to demand more equality away from the three modern superpowers.
The stance Mark Carney takes opposes the stance trump takes on public forums. His speech is careful, considered and most importantly, pragmatic. Carney isn’t directly placing the blame on any nation or asking specifically for help and partnership but rather is dog whistling to smaller nations that nothing will change unless we band together, speaking on global issues at a global forum; compare it to trump’s speech at the same forum and it’s like night and day. The first statement that leaves his mouth “I’ve come to this world economic forum with great news from America” and continues on a monologue about his perceived achievements on home soil, very little time is actually dedicated towards international issues at the WORLD economic forum. We see this in all of Trumps international appearances, you only have to harken back to his speech at the UN where he does the same tactic: speak on domestic issues at an international forum bringing the attention onto him rather than issues that actually matter.
Carney and Trump’s speeches are direct mirrors of one-another; pragmatic and focused and rambling/egotistical people onlooking them can only hope that there are more world leaders upcoming with the stance of foreign policy that Mr Carney has.
People find solidarity in groups and are more confident when they know people agree with them, so as protests rage on in the US over ICE and the killing of innocent civilians and Trump’s presidency you can only ask; are the greengrocers taking their signs out of the window?
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