Performed live in late January of this year, and now available to watch on Youtube; this curiously named revue show, "A... My Name Will Always Be Alice" was performed and presented at The Waterside Theatre in Manchester by students from the BA Vocal Studies Course at Arden Theatre School.
"A...My Name Will Always Be Alice" is the final version of two earlier revue shows which were titled (...and you may not believe this...), "A...My Name Is Alice", and "A...My Name Is Still Alice"! Written by Joan Micklin, June Siegel, and Julianne Boyd, the revue started life in an off-off-Broadway setting in 1983. The piece was written by women, for women, about women, celebrating women, rejoicing in women and the power of femininity; which way back in 1983 was known as 'Girl Power' and was cool! These three ladies capitalised on the trend, and rode on the crest of the wave. Today, as heartening as it is to see a female-written, all-female show, celebrating the female, it felt somehow a little tame now. I have to admit that also, being the middle-aged bloke that I am, I found it difficult at times to relate to the characters, as there was hardly anything in the show which resonated with me. I realise of course that that is entirely due to my age and gender; but I also feel that any show, no matter what it is trying to achieve, should contain something - at least a little something - for anyone and everyone! However, that is not the fault of the company nor the producers, more a criticism of the writing and concept.
The revue has no tangible throughline or narrative; but instead we are presented with a series of vignettes in which the four actresses play females of varying ages, stages of life, career, even from different social backgrounds and countries; all tied up nice and neatly under the banner of strong females with heart. Musically it contains a complete hotchpotch of styles too... blues, rock, pop ballads, country, and pretty much everything else thrown in along the way. The style of the show is a typical off-Broadway revue (no surprises there), and the humour, dialogue, and presentation is extremely American. [it felt a little like a prototype for shows like 'Spelling Bee' and 'Avenue Q']. And to get some idea of the milieu, then watch any 1980's US sitcom, and you have it right there!
The revue is performed through without interval (75 minutes), and in this version it was performed by four very talented young actresses /singers: Louise Gaffney, Molly Hipkins, Abby Armstrong, and Charlotte Woodhead. Together they made a formidable quartet with some truly impressive harmonies which would make, without doubt, a superb "all-girl band"; whilst individually they showed equal talent as they morphed from character to character, scene to scene, song to song without so much as a hiccup. My two favourite songs from the show though, were easily, "I Sure Like The Boys" (a soulful ballad); and a much more comedic up-beat number which was titled, "Bluer Than You". These four actresses were a true ensemble, totally committed and working excellently together.
James Baker directed this revue with both imagination and sincerity; never forgetting that much of the show is highly humorous in a very self-effacing and tongue-in-cheek way. Sensibly, a more-or-less bare stage was used, save for four children's classroom chairs and a few props, whilst a four-piece band was on a podium to their rear. (MD - Jess Douglas).
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 23.4.22
on - 23.4.22
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