MARIANKA SWAIN ~ WRITE HERE, WRITE NOW

Dear Evan Hansen, Noël Coward Theatre

Posted on November 19, 2019 by mkmswain

Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen is an institution in the States, running on Broadway since 2016 and currently on its second year of a national tour. It also made a star of original leading man Ben Platt, now appearing in Netflix’s The Politician – and this long-awaited West End production could well do the same for the exceedingly talented 21-year-old Sam Tutty.

Read my full theartsdesk review here

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged ben platt, benj pasek, book tickets, broadway, dear evan hansen, death, depression, evan hansen, facebook, internet, justin paul, kickstarter, lauren ward, london, memorial, mental health, musical, rebecca mckinnis, review, sam tutty, school, social media, suicide, teenager, theartsdesk, viral, west end | Leave a comment

Strictly Speaking: Week 9

Posted on November 18, 2019 by mkmswain

For once, Blackpool Week just about lived up to the hype, with some fun, exciting and truly outstanding performances. But, as so often in this changeable series, erratic scoring led to another shock elimination. Michelle and Giovanni, one of this year’s most consistent and creative couples, and likely finalists, lost out in the dance-off, as Couple’s Choice, instead of acting as a free pass, proved fatal.

Read my full Dancing Times blog here

Posted in Dance, Journalism, TV | Tagged american smooth, anton du beke, ballroom, bbc, blackpool, blog, celebrity, charleston, competition, couples choice, dance, dance off, dancing, dancing times, eliminated, jive, judges, karim zeroual, kelvin fletcher, latin, madonna, michelle visage, quickstep, recap, review, saffron barker, strictly, strictly come dancing, strictly speaking, tv, vogue, week 9 | Leave a comment

Strictly Come Dancing Week 9: Whose technique helped them conquer Blackpool?

Posted on November 17, 2019 by mkmswain

The giant, sprung floor at Blackpool’s Tower Ballroom can offer a boost to our celebrity dancers – or it can prove exposing. Continuing this series of shock exits, frontrunner Michelle Visage fell victim to Blackpool’s vastness with a vogueing Couple’s Choice, which might have been more kindly received in the smaller studio. But the stylised tableaux and subtle gestures felt at odds with the capacious venue and big crowd eager to be entertained.

Read my full Telegraph article here

Posted in Dance, Journalism, TV | Tagged american smooth, anton du beke, ballroom, bbc, blackpool, blog, celebrity, charleston, competition, couples choice, dance, dance off, dancing, eliminated, jive, judges, karim zeroual, kelvin fletcher, latin, madonna, michelle visage, quickstep, recap, review, saffron barker, strictly, strictly come dancing, technical, technique, telegraph, tv, vogue, week 9 | Leave a comment

Touching the Void, Duke of York’s Theatre

Posted on November 15, 2019 by mkmswain

How can you possibly put Joe Simpson’s account of his hellish mountaineering accident on stage? Curiosity alone might well draw in viewers for this new adaptation, which premiered last year at Bristol Old Vic – swiftly followed by awe at the inventiveness of writer David Greig and director Tom Morris.

Read my full BroadwayWorld review here

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged book tickets, broadwayworld, cheap tickets, climber, climbing, david greig, duke of yorks theatre, joe simpson, london, mountain, play, review, simon yates, survival, ticket deal, todaytix, tom morris, touching the void, west end | Leave a comment

Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre

Posted on November 13, 2019 by mkmswain

It’s been 15 years since Cameron Mackintosh’s stage musical version of P. L. Travers’ Mary Poppins made its West End debut. Now, the magical nanny returns to the Prince Edward Theatre, with Zizi Strallen (who also headlined the UK tour) succeeding her sister Scarlett in the title role – all set to capitalise on the recent Emily Blunt-starring film sequel renewing our interest in the adventures of the Banks family.

Read my full theartsdesk review here

Posted in Dance, Journalism, Theatre | Tagged adaptation, book, book tickets, charlie stemp, children, dancing, disney, family, julian fellowes, london, magic, mary poppins, matthew bourne, musical, nanny, pl travers, review, singing, songs, theartsdesk, theatre, west end, zizi strallen | Leave a comment

Strictly Speaking: Week 8

Posted on November 11, 2019 by mkmswain

Rejoice, for our long national nightmare is over! Finally, Mike Bushell has left the Strictly dancefloor, taking his “comedy” with him. And about time – lord knows what tricks Katya was going to introduce next in sheer desperation (Katya hangs over shark-infested waters while Mike does an uncertain chasse nearby! Katya leaps over a pit of fire while blindfolded! And Mike is also there!).

Read my full Dancing Times blog here

Posted in Dance, Journalism, TV | Tagged american smooth, ballroom, bbc, celebrity, competition, dance, dance off, dancing, dancing times, eliminated, kelvin fletcher, latin, michelle visage, mike bushell, paso doble, recap, review, saffron barker, salsa, strictly, strictly come dancing, strictly speaking, tv, waltz, week 8 | Leave a comment

Strictly Week 8: Whose technique failed them in a dramatic dance?

Posted on November 10, 2019 by mkmswain

Celebrities can get away with a certain amount on Strictly by adding comedy elements or a cheeky grin, but those “triers” are often exposed by the more serious dances – unless, like John Sergeant’s infamous paso doble, their playing it straight is itself hilarious. This week’s eliminated contestant, Mike Bushell, couldn’t repeat the feat in his paso: though partner Katya Jones choreographed a dramatic piece, it still showed up technical failures like his lack of fluidity in transitions between steps, and shaping that aimed for flamenco and came out more like scarecrow.

Read my full Telegraph article here

Posted in Dance, Journalism, TV | Tagged american smooth, ballroom, bbc, blog, celebrity, dance off, dancing, judges, kelvin fletcher, latin, michelle visage, mike bushell, paso doble, recap, review, saffron barker, salsa, shirley ballas, strictly, strictly come dancing, technique, telegraph, tv, waltz, week 8 | Leave a comment

Strictly Speaking: Week 7

Posted on November 4, 2019 by mkmswain

Right, hands up if you know how to perform an exorcism? For clearly the evil spirit is still in possession of this series of Strictly, keeping Ginger Neil on the bench, taking poor Will Bayley out of the competition altogether, even cursing Manly Bloke Kelvin with sickness – and yet somehow still keeping Mike Bushell dancing on, possibly forever, the Brexit of contestants. Also: Gyles Brandreth pitched up in a crossword jumper. These are weird times, people.

Read my full Dancing Times blog here

Posted in Dance, Journalism, TV | Tagged anton du beke, ballroom, bbc, blog, celebrity, charleston, dance, dance off, dancing, dancing times, emma barton, emma weymouth, johannes radebe, karim zeroual, latin, mike bushell, quickstep, review, rumba, samba, same sex dance, strictly, strictly come dancing, strictly speaking, tv, week 7 | Leave a comment

Strictly Come Dancing Week 7: Whose Latin technique got them in trouble?

Posted on November 3, 2019 by mkmswain

It was a hard week for the female celebrities tackling Latin dances, with all but Michelle Visage’s paso doble landing at the bottom of the leaderboard. Emma Weymouth, the latest eliminated contestant, was felled by samba – notorious for its tricky rhythm changes and “double bounce action”, which requires working into the floor and bending and straightening your legs.

Read my full Telegraph article here

Posted in Dance, Journalism, TV | Tagged anton du beke, ballroom, bbc, celebrity, charleston, dance, dance off, dancing, elimination, emma barton, emma weymouth, judges, karim zeroual, latin, mike bushell, quickstep, rumba, samba, strictly, strictly come dancing, technique, telegraph, tv | Leave a comment

Strictly Come Dancing – with its first same-sex dance tomorrow, is the show keeping in step with the modern dance world?

Posted on November 2, 2019 by mkmswain

Bereft fans of popular new professional Johannes Radebe, who departed Strictly Come Dancing with partner Catherine Tyldesley after a controversial dance-off last week, will at least get to see him make history on tomorrow night’s results show.

Read my full Telegraph article here

Posted in Dance, Journalism, TV | Tagged ballroom, bbc, competition, courtney act, dance, dancing, dancing on ice, dancing with the stars, gay, johannes radebe, latin, lead swapping, lgbt, results show, same sex ballroom, same sex dance, stacey dooley, strictly, strictly come dancing, telegraph, the greatest dancer, tv | Leave a comment

MARIANKA SWAIN ~ WRITE HERE, WRITE NOW

Strictly Speaking: Week 9

Strictly Come Dancing Week 9: Whose technique helped them conquer Blackpool?

Touching the Void, Duke of York’s Theatre

Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre

Strictly Speaking: Week 8

Strictly Week 8: Whose technique failed them in a dramatic dance?

Strictly Speaking: Week 7

Strictly Come Dancing Week 7: Whose Latin technique got them in trouble?

Strictly Come Dancing – with its first same-sex dance tomorrow, is the show keeping in step with the modern dance world?

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