"Actor: Rebecca Thornhill"

• From Here To Eternity | DVD | (08/12/2014) from £51.84   |  Saving you £-33.85 (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Tim Rice's epic new musical From Here to Eternity was released in UK and Ireland Cinemas in July for a limited period giving fans the opportunity to experience the critically acclaimed stage show in their local cinema. The production was filmed across two nights at the Shaftsbury Theatre in London and directed by Nick Morris (Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert and Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Concert). It will include an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the Shaftsbury as well as an interview with Tim Rice. Adapted from James Jones' classic 1951 novel it is a gripping tale of illicit love and army life set in 1941 Hawaii immediately prior to the attacks on Pearl Harbour. Having recently transferred to the base troubled Private Prewitt (Robert Lonsdale) falls for Lorene(Siubhan Harrison) the kind hearted escort club girl while simultaneously his platoon sergeant Warden (Darius Campbell) embarks on a dangerous affair with his commanding officer's wife Karen (Rebecca Thornhill) setting the lives of both men on a course they cannot control. As war approaches the worlds' of the four lovers and the soldiers of G Company are dramatically ripped apart. The title is best known as the iconic major motion picture that won eight Oscars including Best Picture at the 1954 Academy Awards® ceremony. It has been interpreted by Tim Rice Stuart Brayson and Bill Oakes into a breath-taking romantic and excitingly original show. Tim Rice is one of the world's leading lyricists having partnered with Andrew Lloyd Webber on productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita before going on to work on the international smash of the screen and stage The Lion King. On having his latest stage spectacular transfer to the silver screen after a successful 6 month run on London's West End Tim Rice said “I am delighted that our ambitious musical version of this magnificent story is going to be available to cinemas across the UK. It's an epic tale with a score to match so it's fantastic that our version will get a big screen release” Bonus material (30 mins approx.) Exclusive behind the scenes footage at the Shaftsbury Theatre and interview with Tim Rice

• Oklahoma! | DVD | (13/11/2000) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  When Mary Rodgers, daughter of the composer Richard Rodgers, was reported as saying she never wanted to see another Oklahoma!, it was her way of paying the highest tribute to Trevor Nunn's production at the Royal National Theatre which was subsequently taken into the studio and filmed. The camera follows the playgoers into the auditorium of the Olivier where in their company we watch the show and applaud the numbers as the real thing. Nunn treats Rodgers and Hammerstein's first collaboration with the utmost seriousness restoring the full text, running to three-and-a-half hours, so that it comes across as a drama indebted to Eugene O'Neill. The documentary, viewed preferably as a preview, with Tim Piggott Smith the penny-plain narrator, allows one to relish in the smallest detail Nunn's scrupulous touch, which according to Maureen Lipman (Aunt Eller) included addressing the cast for two days at rehearsal, an approach that by her account paid off handsomely for the company. Although Oklahoma! unfolds at a leisurely pace, it is extraordinary how one is drawn into the drama under Nunn's direction. There's seldom a wish for true locations as the pace picks up and we move into the claustrophobic company of Judd Fry in his riveting encounter with the cowboy Curly. The close up camera work affords an experience the theatre can't bring and pays handsome dividends too in appreciating Susan Stroman's intricate and lively choreography that was dissipated somewhat on the big apron stage of the Olivier. Her dancers are a fine team, notably Jimmy Johnston who is outstanding as Will Parker leading the Kansas City ensemble. Hugh Jackman as Curly matches him in vocal prowess and looks, and Shuler Hensley sings the tricky role of Judd Fry very well. It's harder to place Peter Polycarpou's Pedlar, a considerably larger role than in the film version, whose accent strays from East End wideboy to the plains of Europe. Maureen Lipman, rightly deemed the lynchpin of the musical by Nunn, is a joy to watch. Laurey and Ado Annie are good but not special. Aside from an abrupt start to Act Two and the occasional voice off microphone, the production sounds good with a larger orchestra present than in the theatre. An Oklahoma! on an epic scale. --Adrian Edwards