Kaleidoscope Players - Fantastic Mr Fox

Fantastic Mr Fox is over now and was an incredible success. We've had some great feedback and responses from audience members who've praised the professionalism and quality of the production. The Derby Evening Telegraph came to visit on opening night and gave the show a fantastic review. This is what they said:

"ROALD Dahl fans will be delighted with the Kaleidoscope Players' version of this much-loved children's classic.
The play sticks very closely to the original and tells the story of the cunning Mr Fox as he outwits three evil farmers.​

A furry tale – Kaleidoscope Players in Fantastic Mr Fox. From left, Ryan Olakunle, Catherine Long, Daisy Chell, Josephine Walker and Toby Bradford as the Fox family.

Toby Bradford was excellent as the elegant and cunning Mr Fox.

Phil Stanley also gave an eloquent and emotive performance as the narrator and badger, helping to tie together the story.
The three notorious farmers (Barry Smith, Carol Thornton and Richard Hammond) made the performance for me.
They were brilliantly cast to provide the exact stereotypes of the farmers from the story – one fat, one short, one lean, all of whom went down excellently with the audience.
The set was very cleverly designed, making the most of the small space.
I particularly found the cave on the turntable to be very effective.
I was surprised to see music incorporated into the play.
Credit must be given to Ron Newsham (keyboard), who was perfectly in time with the mood on the stage and created a more intense atmosphere.
The simple songs which were included brought the performance together, allowing the chorus to further support the key roles.
On a further note, the younger members in the cast gave a superb performance and they should be very proud.
Kaleidoscope Players should be commended on a high-quality production from all involved. This is definitely one not to be missed – for all youngsters and for those who are young at heart."

You can also read the review at http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Cunning-version-kids-classic/story-12794571-detail/story.html

Thanks to all those people who came to see the show and helped make it a huge success!

Thanks for reading.

Video: Fantastic Mr Fox - Bean's speech

Fantastic Mr Fox is one of the most famous and successful stories by legendary children's author Roald Dahl. In 2001 a stage adaptation by David Wood made its debut. I am currently playing Farmer Bean in Kaleidoscope Players' production of the play and wrote a monologue for Bean to promote the show.

Here, Bean is broadcasting a message encouraging all of the local villagers to join in the hunt for Mr Fox.

I do not own the any of the characters mentioned, they are the creation of Roald Dahl; the above video is a tribute to the characters and the play by David Wood.

Kaleidoscope Players' production of Fantastic Mr Fox is at the Guildhall Theatre, Derby on Friday 17th June at 7:15pm and Saturday 18th June at 2:15pm and 7:15pm. Tickets are from £7.50 and are available from the box office on 01332 255800 or at http://www.derbylive.co.uk/Public_Event.aspx?ID=1111

For more information about the production, please visit http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Kaleidoscope-Roald-Dahl-s-classic-Fantastic-stage/story-12704461-detail/story.html

I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for reading!

Music Recording: 'Sunset Boulevard' from 'Sunset Boulevard'

Sunset Boulevard (based on the 1950 film of the same name) follows Joe Gillis, a failing Hollywood screenwriter who, while evading agents attempting to repossess his car, stumbles across the home of retired silent film star Norma Desmond. Convincing her that he will write her a film and return her to the spotlight, Joe begins a doomed affair with her, and his friend's fiancee, Betty, which ends in tragedy and heartbreak for all involved.

Many thanks to my good friend Joe Lammond who helped me record the title song. For more from exceptionally talented musician, please visit http://soundcloud.com/joe-lammond

The quality of the video above is not as clear as the original recording, a problem I have been unable to rectify. Despite this, I hope you enjoy listening.

Thank you for reading!

Music Recording: 'Who Am I?' from 'Les Misérables'

'Les Misérables' is the world's longest running musical and has been seen by an estimated 55 million people worldwide. Adapted from Victor Hugo's timeless, classic novel by French composers Boublil and Schönberg, with English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, 'Les Mis' follows the story of Jean Valjean, imprisoned for nineteen years after stealing a loaf of bread. Realising he has been given the opportunity to begin his life anew, the former prisoner 24601 assumes a new identity as Mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. But he discovers he will never be rid of the shadows of the past when he is purused to the streets of rebellion-torn Paris by the ruthless Inspector Javert and discovers the virtues of compassion, redemption and love through his care of the orphaned child Cosette.

'Who Am I?' sees the tempest within Valjean's skull as he wrestles with his conscience, can he condemn an innocent man mistaken for himself, or must he face his past and return to the galleys with a number and no name?

'Les Mis' remains my favourite musical of all time and Jean Valjean the most emotional and rewarding character I have played.

Many thanks to Joe Lammond who helped me record the song. To hear more from this very talented musician, please visit http://soundcloud.com/joe-lammond.

The sound quality of the video is not as clear as the original recording; something I have been unable to rectify. Despite this I hope you enjoy listening to it.

Thanks for reading!

Music Recording: 'If I Can't Love Her' from Disney's Broadway musical, 'Beauty And The Beast'

'Beauty And The Beast' is a 'tale as old as time', one of Disney's greatest animated hits as well as a successful Broadway musical by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Linda Woolverton.

'If I Can't Love Her' is one of the songs composed especially for the musical. At the end of Act I, the Beast, horrified by his treatment of Belle, laments that he will remain a monster forever and will never discover the beauty of humanity or love, as he believes he is incapable of loving the only person who has ever shown him any tenderness, Belle.

Once again thanks go to Joe Lammond, my good friend who helped me record this song. For more from Joe, please visit http://soundcloud.com/joe-lammond

Unfortunately, the sound quality of the video is not as clear as the actual recording on my computer, something I have been unable to rectify. Despite this I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for reading.

Music Recording: 'I'd Rather be Sailing' from 'A New Brain'

A New Brain is a moving, heartwarming semi-autobiographical musical by William Finn and James Lapine.
It presents the life of Finn's alter-ego Gordon Schwinn, a talented song-writer with a stalling career writing for children's TV entertainer 'Mr. Bungee'. His life takes an even greater turn for the worse when he is diagnosed with a life-threatening tumor and fluid build-up on his brain. Fearing that all of his best songs are still unwitten, he spends his days leading to his opertation composing.
In this song, his loving boyfriend, Roger, sings with Gordon about the image of spending a beautiful day on the sea and ending it perfectly by Gordon's side.
A New Brain is a celebration of creativity, even in the face of death and the healing power of art, as Schwinn recovers completely and learns how to appreciate life better.

Many thanks go to my good friend Joe Lammond, who helped me record this song. For more from Joe, visit http://soundcloud.com/joe-lammond

Unfortunately, the sound quality of the video is not as clear as the actual recording we made, something I have been unable to rectify. Despite this I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for reading.

Kaleidoscope Players present FANTASTIC MR FOX!

Hello! Rehearsals for FANTASTIC MR FOX are entering their final stages with a dress rehearsal tomorrow! The Derby Evening Telegraph featured an article about the show in their issue on Friday 3rd June:

You can also read the article at http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/news/Kaleidoscope-Roald-Dahl-s-classic-Fantastic-stage-outing/article-3623188-detail/article.html

Remember you can still get your tickets at http://www.derbylive.co.uk/Public_Event.aspx?ID=1111

Fantastic Mr Fox runs on Friday 17th June and Saturday 18th June at the Guildhall Theatre, Derby. Evening performances 7:15pm, Saturday Matinee 2:15pm. Tickets from £7.50. Group discounts available.

My latest video project, featuring the vicious famer Bean, who is intent on finding Mr Fox, will be uploaded in the next week! Stay tuned!

Thanks for reading!