A beautiful, moving, gritty piece of musical theatre, about real life Mancunians during the blitz.
It was my first ever visit to 53two theatre in Manchester and it certainly won’t be my last. This is a gem of a venue, oozing character and with its bare brick and arched ceiling, 53two provided the perfect setting for this heartwarming piece of stand out theatre.
From the get go, we were transported back to 1940; smog hanging in the air, amid suspended debris, while the familiar crackle of the broadcast met our ears, immersing us into the era and anticipation of the story about to unfold.
A talented cast reeled us in with strong vocals and harmonies; a song fitting to and inspired by the era. Transitions between songs and scenes were flawless and believable, presenting characters with true northern warmth, and a ‘find a way through’ attitude, that you’d imagine during war time. We are with the characters through every step of their journey and we care about them as if they are one of our own, such was the investment into the characterisation.
Comedy timing was en pointe throughout and contrasted well with the poignant, emotional scenes; there were some lovely moments, in particular, the umbrella scene to show the spark of romance between Lizzie (by played Amelia Simpson) and Bob (played by Alex Cosgriff). Movement was choreographed well to bring light hearted romance and comedy to the situation, as well as capturing that awkwardness of first encounters. This was very cleverly done. It was a favourite of my theatre companions and I. Nothing was over romanticised in this play, the raw reality of the situation was there, alongside the hope to carry on.
Love and friendship against all odds, were prevalent themes, making tragic events even more raw. The friendship between Mavis (played by Rebecca McAuley) and Lizzie was well pitched and blossomed throughout, with some lovely moments. We instantly felt the chemistry between the two as they chatted over a cuppa and Lizzie’s burnt bread and sang about the nostalgia for old times. Ida also made a great contrast with her hard exterior and stiff upper lip. Her entrances always held the audience and broke the fourth wall, bringing us into the action, with great comedy moments.
Direction was tight throughout with some great choreographed scenes and tableaus. We loved the contrast between the women and the men as they each relayed the story of their engagements. Jim’s account was simply asking Mavis if she fancied being his wife, while Mavis embellished and romanticised. This created some wonderful comedy.
To weave music and raw gritty scenes together and still retain an engaging plot, is no mean feat and this was successfully achieved in this piece. There was not a dry eye in the house as the final scene played out, we were not the only ones who were moved to tears and in fact it was a roller coaster of emotions throughout. The understated, natural performances, alongside a well written and directed piece, with just the right ambience, created a beautiful Christmas piece, sending the message home that there is always hope of new beginnings and that Christmas is not just about consumerism. Congratulations to all involved, I for one would recommend this show, the final night is tomorrow, if you can grab a ticket, you will not be disappointed.
https://imaginalityproductions.co.uk/realms-of-glory-programme
Lovely review and many thanks for photo credits. 🙂