Friday, March 29Royal Holloway's offical student publication, est. 1986

Author: Saskia Leach

Chicago Razzle Dazzled!
Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Chicago Razzle Dazzled!

Standing out in stark contrast with the convivial tone of previous productions Super Kart and Legally Blonde, MTS opted to tread a darker path in their final show of the academic year by bringing us the delights of Chicago. Based on the 1926 Maurine Dallas Watkins play of the same name, Chicago follows the trials of two women who murdered their lovers and satirises the corruption of America's criminal justice system and the notion of the 'celebrity criminal'. It boasts music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse - the former of whom composed the Broadway hit Cabaret. Director Sorrel Wilson endeavours to present a production that is self-aware as a theatrical performance and her concept is clear throughout. The traverse stage, adorned with red drapes and li...
Here We Go! Super Kart: A Review
Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Here We Go! Super Kart: A Review

It's that time of year again when MTS put on their 'Variations' production, a unique show written, crewed, and performed entirely by MTS first-timers. This year, the task fell to Finley Hodges, Jamie O'Connor, and Gabriella Mulé, and they brought us Super Kart: The Musical. Based on the world-famous Mario Kart series, it features everyone's favourite characters and boasts a script packed to the brim with Super Mario references. Finley Hodges's clever writing ensured that even those without an in-depth knowledge of the Nintendo world could appreciate the numerous allusions to the franchise. I came out of the show wondering whether I had actually ever hit someone with a green shell, and why poor Blue Toad bore the brunt of so much mockery - I always played as her! Jamie O'Connor was the ...
In Short: Edges was a hit
Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

In Short: Edges was a hit

Following the success of Songs for a New World last December, MTS opted to continue their production of an autumn term 'mini show' with Pasek and Paul's Edges, a song cycle exploring the themes of love, coming of age, and self-discovery. Most well-known for writing the lyrics for La La Land and the music and lyrics in Dear Evan Hansen, Edges served as Benj Pasek and Justin Paul's first venture into musical theatre. It was written while they studied at the University of Michigan in 2005, and made Pasek and Paul the youngest ever winners of the Jonathan Larson Award. Aside from listening to Carrie Hope Fletcher's covers of I Gotta Run and Perfect (the latter of which was sadly omitted from this performance), I must admit, I was unfamiliar with the majority of the songs in Edges. But, if ...
What You Want is to see Legally Blonde.
Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

What You Want is to see Legally Blonde.

After bringing us the delights of Bake Off: The Musical last year, Lucy Wilson, Faye Tolliday, and Jenny Tipple return to whip us into shape with the Broadway and West End hit Legally Blonde. Based on the 2001 film of the same name, it tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrols at Harvard Law School. On a wet November evening, we were welcomely transported from the SU hall to sunny Malibu and Harvard Law School. The pink drapes hanging from the ceiling over the audience were a great addition and really helped the audience to suspend their disbelief. A couple more drapes around the stage would have helped to take this even further, particularly as Elle’s pink door had to be wheeled offstage at points. The effective use of lighting really helped bring the production tea...