RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET by Bob Carlton. On tour to May 2002

Tour

THE RETURN OF
RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET
by Bob Carlton

Touring until 20 April 2002
Review Hazel Brown 12 November 2001 at Poole Arts Centre

Runs 2hr 50min One interval

Shake (speare!) rattle and roll this blend of The Bard, rock 'n' roll and sci-fi is still great fun. This show has achieved cult status since in opened in the West End in 1989 many of the audience in Poole had seen it in one of its previous incarnations and, judging by the final cheers and ovations, would come again. This latest version began at the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch in August 2001.

The plot is loosely based on The Tempest. Half the fun is spotting the quotes and close references to the text many Shakespeare plays. The worst has to be "Two beeps or not two beeps" and one of the best, from the spurned Cookie, "I'll be reveng'd on the pack of you!" The other half is singing along to some of the best rock 'n' roll numbers from the 50's and 60's, Great Balls of Fire (the Asteroid Attack), Good Vibrations (entry of Miranda) and Go Now (when Prospero leaves the starship).

After the crew of Starship Albatross has welcomed the audience into the theatre and put everyone through a 'safety routine', the show lifts off to Wipe Out and Telstar. The ship crash-lands on the planet D Illyria run by Dr Prospero (James Earl Adair) with his daughter Miranda (Sarah Beaumont) and his robot Ariel (Fredrick Ruth on roller skates). Miranda falls for Captain Tempest (Adrian Cobey) and spurns Cookie (Philip Reed, who plays a mean guitar in the style of Hendrix or Townsend). The Science Officer (G.L.O.R.I.A) is actually Prospero's estranged wife and mother of Miranda. Initially a villain, she ends up saving the starship. Patrick Moore makes a surprise guest appearance as The Chorus.

The whole cast sing, dance and play all the instruments guitars, drums, flutes, saxophones, trumpets, keyboards and many more - everyone of them is a true virtuoso but I have to pick out Cookie and Ariel as the real showstoppers.

Bosun Arras: Nick Lashbrook
Navigation Officer: Jane Milligan
Captain Tempest: Adrian Cobey
Cookie: Philip Reed
Science Officer: Diana Croft
Dr Prospero: James Earl Adair
Axel Dent: Scott Finlay
Tanya Hide: Zita Frith
Andy Sceptic: Cameron A Gordon
Wanda Brar: Christine Holman

Director: Bob Carlton
Set & Costume Designer: Rodney Ford
Musical Director: Julian Littman
Musical Staging: Carole Todd
Lighting Designer: Chris Jaeger
Sound Designer: Whizz
Special Effects: Gerry Anderson MBE

2001-11-18 04:13:31