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From the Croydon Advertiser - 8th of December, 2006
Review by Theo Spring
- 4 stars
ATG are certainly not afraid to tackle big musicals and this production showed just how much can be achieved on a small stage with limited resources.
Their first asset was an enthusiastic cast, their second, two inventive set designers (Jeremy Nicholls and Iris Crampton) and their third, really stunning costumes in shining silver and black (created by a team of three).
Vocally and musically demanding, the show constantly resurrects some of the best rock numbers from the 60s, with a few slower, meaningful songs thrown in for good measure - all of them helping to move the plot along.
Based on Shakespeare's The Tempest, the show pinches many of the oft quoted lines from his other plays, always relevantly inserted and meaningfully delivered by the cast.
Set inside a space ship, the video screen showed clever animations by Dan Howard and also allowed us to meet Prospero before he is invited aboard.
Peter Thomas was in good voice as the slightly enigmatic Captain Tempest and Keith Harper, he of the lovely, gravely voice, was the splendidly-dressed Doctor Prospero.
Prospero's daughter, Miranda (Louise Canfield) had her own turn in the vocal spotlight with numbers such as Robot Man and Hey Mister Spaceman and was one half of the choreographic duo with Nicola Howcroft. Nicola, in her turn, did a wonderful job as chief stewardess, relating all the in-flight information faultlessly.
Paul Grace returned from his professional work with Shakespeare 4 Kidz to be Cookie, pining for Miranda in the emotional She's Not There and Only the Lonely. Grace Hopkins smoothly roller-skated around the stage as the silver Ariel, never forgetting her robot movement and delivering Who's Sorry Now delightfully.
As musical director, Simon James' band sometimes overpowered the singers but created a good sound and Jeremy Nicholls was the courageous director who not only dared to boldly go, but succeeded.