#Around the world in 80 days actors full#
#Around the world in 80 days actors series#

The cast appear to be constantly fighting to maintain the dynamics against an unchanging, and quite dire, backdrop of what sounds like a cheap Casio keyboard. While this is understandable within a score that swings from rousing choruses to intimate ballads, what is unforgivable is the musical arrangement. It is a shame, though, that the sound mix often makes it difficult to appreciate the music.

#Around the world in 80 days actors full#

The music is full of crowd pleasers, particularly the anthemic overture which shows off the strong ensemble singing and sets the spirit of optimism that pervades the show. While in between practically stealing the show with her hilariously understated, blink-and-you-miss-it, portrayal of the birds and the wind that steer Fogg’s hot air balloon across the continent. There’s a star turn from Ceris Hine who adopts multiple roles with easy versatility from a jaded, Scottish-born Moulin Rouge chanteuse to the upper-class wide-eyed Miss Fotherington. This is billed as a fun filled musical comedy and, for the most part, the company and audience embrace this. But we are not here for social commentary. What he lacks, though, is the sense of satire inherent in Verne’s writing. Peggs neatly conveys the self-important imperialism of his character, dismissing other people, and other cultures, as mere dressing for his heroism.

There is a warm energy between Sam Peggs’ adventuring Fogg and Connor Hughes’ Passepartout as man and servant. As with all well-worn stories, we all know the ending and so the onus is on the maxim that the journey is more fun than the destination and it is clear from this punchy production that the cast are taking this to heart and patently enjoying themselves as they follow Fogg’s race against time to circumnavigate the world.

#Around the world in 80 days actors series#

Although Willmott has been closely associated with the venue of late, especially with his ‘Essential Classics’ series earlier this year, this production is staged independently of him. The latest is Phil Willmott’s musical running at the Union Theatre. Jules Verne’s classic nineteenth century novel, “Around The World In Eighty Days”, despite containing over a hundred characters, crossing eight countries using six trains, five boats and an elephant has inspired many stage adaptations over the years undaunted, in the spirit of its main character, Phileas Fogg, by the challenges. “The cast appear to be constantly fighting to maintain the dynamics against an unchanging, and quite dire, backdrop of what sounds like a cheap Casio keyboard” Dan Gillespie Sells – Musician / Writer – Everybody’s Talking About JamieĪround the World in Eighty Days Union Theatre Reviewed – 10th August 2018.Peter McGovern – Actor – The Comedy About a Bank Robbery.Linus Karp – Actor – Awkward Conversations.Mark Inscoe – Actor – Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.Lucie Shorthouse – Actor – Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.Emma Jenkin – Actress – Isolation Interview.Leading Light – Theatre Collective – Isolation Interview.James Ringer-Beck – Actor Composer – Isolation Interview.Maryhee Yoon – Actor Writer Director – Isolation Interview.Domenico Lopresti – Performer Producer – Isolation Interview.

Matthew Jameson – Deputy Director at The Space – Isolation Interview.

Ewens Abid – Actor – Isolation Interview.

Martin Malcolm – Playwright – Isolation Interview.

Benji and Elliot – The Bohemians Theatre Company – Isolation Interview.

Esther Mackay – Artistic Director The UnDisposables – Isolation Interview.

Shit-Faced Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet ★★★★.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe ★★★★★.