REVIEWS
Also car-crashing their marriage are the Maces, Joanna and Giles, Joanna is having an affair with Teddy but when he breaks it off Jenny played by Jenny Thurston deliciously indulges in tipping her character across from being borderline daft to full-on barking mad. Nick Owenford gives the masterclass of the show with perfect Ayckbourn delivery plus adding his own take, building step by exasperating step a worm that will finally turn, albeit just by popping his head out a bit. Owenford’s one man Morris dancing is buffoonery at its most joyous..
Paula Snow lives it up as visiting French film star Lucille Cadeau and there is a sympathetic turn from Nick Owenford as the cuckolded Giles. Ayckbourn portrays the men as selfish and/or ineffectual. Owenford actually arouses our sympathy, while still delivering a comic portrayal. Charles Hubbard does the same as the lovelorn teenager Jake, mooning after Sally, and also falling foul of Gavin Ryng-Mayne.
House comes out strong in its first act, particularly with the arrival of Giles (Nick Owenford), the cuckolded neighbour and Teddy’s former best friend. Owenford adds a warm dimension to the frosty family dynamic, balancing pathos and brilliantly-delivered comedic relief.
Between him and Pearl (Chloe Trotter), the less-than-efficient cleaner, Ayckbourn’s humour is in safe hands. These two take on an even bigger role in ‘Garden’ and had the audience in stitches.
House and Garden
Crescent Theatre
Paula Snow lives it up as visiting French film star Lucille Cadeau and there is a sympathetic turn from Nick Owenford as the cuckolded Giles. Ayckbourn portrays the men as selfish and/or ineffectual. Owenford actually arouses our sympathy, while still delivering a comic portrayal. Charles Hubbard does the same as the lovelorn teenager Jake, mooning after Sally, and also falling foul of Gavin Ryng-Mayne.
House comes out strong in its first act, particularly with the arrival of Giles (Nick Owenford), the cuckolded neighbour and Teddy’s former best friend. Owenford adds a warm dimension to the frosty family dynamic, balancing pathos and brilliantly-delivered comedic relief.
Between him and Pearl (Chloe Trotter), the less-than-efficient cleaner, Ayckbourn’s humour is in safe hands. These two take on an even bigger role in ‘Garden’ and had the audience in stitches.
House and Garden
Crescent Theatre
It is difficult to mention every individual performer and musical number though outstanding and I am sure memorable for the audience was the Fezziwig Party. In characterisation and vivid costume Nick Owenford oozed vitality with energy and exuberance. The whole company throughout the show provided pace and energy to be admired and applauded.
This is a show with so many named characters that it is impossible to do justice to them all and equally, the show has so many large ensemble numbers that you are inevitable not going to do justice to everyone. However the opening of the show with “Hear The Bells” pretty well involving the whole company, Carollers and Children, was truly special - possibly overtaken by “Fizziwig’s Annual Christmas Ball” with particular mention for Mr. Fezziwig (Nick Owenford) and his wife (Jo Smith) who, together with Young Scrooge (Jake Genders) and Emily (Annabel Pilcher) gave very nice cameo performances.
Then there was the fabulous Fezziwigs, Nick Owenford as Mr and Jo Smith as Mrs – my word they gave their all – acting majestically, powerfully vocal, leading the party dancing with a boisterous jubilance that was infectious and jumped the curtain line to have us smiling from ear to ear.
I absolutely loved the Fezziwig’s annual Christmas ball. A huge song and dance number with some lovely choreography thanks to Aaron Gibson, and a very catchy song. With Nick Owenford as Mr Fezziwig and Jo Smith as Mrs Fezziwig, this was the standout scene of the entire show for me. Ms Smith is such a charming singer, it is a shame there are not more main female roles in A Christmas Carol.
Speaking of bundles of fun, special mentions for Nick Owenford and Jo Smith who light up the stage as Mr and Mrs Fezziwig and Jen Eglinton whose Mrs Mopps facial expressions never fail to raise a giggle.
Whilst it is obvious that Scrooge finds it hard to relive his past in many ways, there is the outstanding scene to briefly lighten his mood at the 'Fezziwig's Annual Christmas Ball' (one of a number of great routines created by Choreographer, Aaron Gibson) and led stunningly by Nick Owenford and Jo Smith as Mr & Mrs Fezziwig.
A Christmas Carol
Alexandra Theatre
This is a show with so many named characters that it is impossible to do justice to them all and equally, the show has so many large ensemble numbers that you are inevitable not going to do justice to everyone. However the opening of the show with “Hear The Bells” pretty well involving the whole company, Carollers and Children, was truly special - possibly overtaken by “Fizziwig’s Annual Christmas Ball” with particular mention for Mr. Fezziwig (Nick Owenford) and his wife (Jo Smith) who, together with Young Scrooge (Jake Genders) and Emily (Annabel Pilcher) gave very nice cameo performances.
Then there was the fabulous Fezziwigs, Nick Owenford as Mr and Jo Smith as Mrs – my word they gave their all – acting majestically, powerfully vocal, leading the party dancing with a boisterous jubilance that was infectious and jumped the curtain line to have us smiling from ear to ear.
I absolutely loved the Fezziwig’s annual Christmas ball. A huge song and dance number with some lovely choreography thanks to Aaron Gibson, and a very catchy song. With Nick Owenford as Mr Fezziwig and Jo Smith as Mrs Fezziwig, this was the standout scene of the entire show for me. Ms Smith is such a charming singer, it is a shame there are not more main female roles in A Christmas Carol.
Speaking of bundles of fun, special mentions for Nick Owenford and Jo Smith who light up the stage as Mr and Mrs Fezziwig and Jen Eglinton whose Mrs Mopps facial expressions never fail to raise a giggle.
Whilst it is obvious that Scrooge finds it hard to relive his past in many ways, there is the outstanding scene to briefly lighten his mood at the 'Fezziwig's Annual Christmas Ball' (one of a number of great routines created by Choreographer, Aaron Gibson) and led stunningly by Nick Owenford and Jo Smith as Mr & Mrs Fezziwig.
A Christmas Carol
Alexandra Theatre
Finally, amongst the principal line up, was Nick Owenford as Grandpa. An oddball character who was provided with
ample opportunities to create his eccentric personality, which he did with great timing and bravado. This was
particularly well demonstrated during “Roses of Success” with the five Madcap Inventors in the Vulgarian Town
Square.
James Gordanifar is a gloriously understated and highly absorbing Caractacus Potts, central core of the Potts Family, consisting of Nick Owenford as a thoroughly entertaining and likeable Grandpa Potts, with at this performance the cheeky personality of Rui Greaves as Jeremy and the effervescent smile of Daisy Green as Jemima, not forgetting show stealer Falkor as family dog, Edison.
The family was completed by Nick Owenford as Grandpa Potts. I really enjoyed his rendition of POSH.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Alexandra Theatre
ample opportunities to create his eccentric personality, which he did with great timing and bravado. This was
particularly well demonstrated during “Roses of Success” with the five Madcap Inventors in the Vulgarian Town
Square.
James Gordanifar is a gloriously understated and highly absorbing Caractacus Potts, central core of the Potts Family, consisting of Nick Owenford as a thoroughly entertaining and likeable Grandpa Potts, with at this performance the cheeky personality of Rui Greaves as Jeremy and the effervescent smile of Daisy Green as Jemima, not forgetting show stealer Falkor as family dog, Edison.
The family was completed by Nick Owenford as Grandpa Potts. I really enjoyed his rendition of POSH.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Alexandra Theatre
"A special mention, too, for Nick Owenford and his honest and believable portrayal of Lenny Cox"
Wallop Mrs Cox
Birmingham Evening Mail
“Younger members of the cast provide the fluency with Nick Owenford particularly impressive as Harold”
Spring and Port Wine
Birmingham Evening Mail
" Nick Owenford deserves a big hand in the lead role. He is crisp, cruses along with a fine aristocratic air and has exquisite timing"
Lord Arthur Savilles Crime
Birmingham Evening Mail
"Nick Owenford is wily slave Pseudolus, desperate to buy his freedom. In collusion with his master’s son, Hero, he contrives to get the boy the girl of his dreams in exchange for his emancipation. Owen is thoroughly in charge of all the machinations and consequences, establishing an easy rapport
with the audience with his asides, managing to be camp without being effeminate
(that is left to the eunuchs!) "
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Views from a Bum
"The Crescent Theatre’s adaptation of Forum delivered exactly what was needed for a comedic farce- frenetic energy! Nick Owenford (Pseudolos) was a revelation, as was James Knapp’s portrayal of the fretful and fastidious Hysterium. Their impressive voices, as shown in ‘Free’ and ‘Lovely’, were just the tip
of the iceberg as far as talent goes."
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
‘A play that hums with novel ideas and assured performances’
Nat Archer is West Brom through and through – he even has the pubes of the teams from the 60’s and 70’s in a raisin box as a good luck charm. Nick Owenford plays him robustly and the change from a pint-drinking paint-splashed workman in dungarees to chino wearing TES reading wine drinking fan of the Schools League Tables is both believable and bizarre
The whole cast do a good job with the material they have. Owenford presents the most rounded character, while Thorne effectively takes us through the range of emotions as the Ricoh Arena tries to climb the social ladder.
One Year Off - Old Joint Stock
Wallop Mrs Cox
Birmingham Evening Mail
“Younger members of the cast provide the fluency with Nick Owenford particularly impressive as Harold”
Spring and Port Wine
Birmingham Evening Mail
" Nick Owenford deserves a big hand in the lead role. He is crisp, cruses along with a fine aristocratic air and has exquisite timing"
Lord Arthur Savilles Crime
Birmingham Evening Mail
"Nick Owenford is wily slave Pseudolus, desperate to buy his freedom. In collusion with his master’s son, Hero, he contrives to get the boy the girl of his dreams in exchange for his emancipation. Owen is thoroughly in charge of all the machinations and consequences, establishing an easy rapport
with the audience with his asides, managing to be camp without being effeminate
(that is left to the eunuchs!) "
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Views from a Bum
"The Crescent Theatre’s adaptation of Forum delivered exactly what was needed for a comedic farce- frenetic energy! Nick Owenford (Pseudolos) was a revelation, as was James Knapp’s portrayal of the fretful and fastidious Hysterium. Their impressive voices, as shown in ‘Free’ and ‘Lovely’, were just the tip
of the iceberg as far as talent goes."
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
‘A play that hums with novel ideas and assured performances’
Nat Archer is West Brom through and through – he even has the pubes of the teams from the 60’s and 70’s in a raisin box as a good luck charm. Nick Owenford plays him robustly and the change from a pint-drinking paint-splashed workman in dungarees to chino wearing TES reading wine drinking fan of the Schools League Tables is both believable and bizarre
The whole cast do a good job with the material they have. Owenford presents the most rounded character, while Thorne effectively takes us through the range of emotions as the Ricoh Arena tries to climb the social ladder.
One Year Off - Old Joint Stock