Milkshake Live at the Buxton Opera House Review
Milkshake Live
Buxton Opera House
10 August 2014
Reviewed by Cathy Porteus
Milkshake is a popular slot on Channel 5 in the early morning. Any parents of under tens are likely to be familiar with the brightly dressed presenters and dancers who liven up the morning of our children. The Milkshake! Party Party Live is a theatre show with characters from the TV shows, hosted by some of the regular cast.
The presenters at our matinee performance were Derek and Amy, whilst Kelly joined in via a computer screen, presumably pre-recorded. It is Milkshake Monkey’s birthday and the team have decided to throw him a surprise birthday party. The Milkshake TV stars turn up one by one and rehearse their party pieces. The Bananas in Pyjamas, who reminded me oddly of Jedward, belted out some songs and decided to wear their best PJs to the party. Next came the Little Princess, who showed off some interesting ballet moves. Toby and Delores (from Toby’s Travelling Circus) trialled a new magic trick, although it didn’t go without a hitch. Bello from Jelly Jam decided to DJ, whilst Noddy opted to make a cake.
Sadly Milkshake Monkey feels rejected when everyone pretends to forget his birthday and wanders off. In the second half, the audience help the presenters find Monkey and it is time to get the party started.
The Milkshake presenters and other cast members sang and danced their way through a selection of songs with lots of energy, including some oldies that I enjoyed singing along with. I enjoyed the Bananas’ rendition of Singing in the Rain and a fun version of ABC. The Little Princess channelled Lady Gaga with an interesting interpretation of Just Dance, which made me smile. All in all the party went well and Monkey cheered up no end.
My 8 year old son said that he wanted to give the show 100 stars; I thought this was a great endorsement for the entertainment that he got from the performance. Many of the audience were younger and they seemed to love the party, dancing and jumping in time with the performers.
Buxton Opera House is a great setting to watch any entertainment. The ornate gilding and decorations looked like they had been recently repainted and added grandeur. The turquoise velvet on the seats and curtains contrasted well with the gold paint and overall the theatre looked very smart. The toilets could use some updating though; let’s hope the next lot of renovations can cover these areas too.
I thought the interval ice creams were quite reasonably priced – ices for the 3 of us came to just over £6, I’ve paid more than this in theatres in the past. The cheerful volunteers did a good job of ensuring that everyone was served quickly, as they did with seating on the way in. Booster seats were on offer, which is useful for small children to ensure their view isn’t obscured by taller adults in front.
We were able to park on the street directly outside and pay on the meter, although this is free after 6pm. There is also a car park nearby at Pavilion Gardens. The Opera House is only a short walk from the train station, so going by public transport would be an option.
Rating: 5/5 
For information on shows at Buxton Opera House visit www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk.
Milkshake Live is currently on tour, for more details and tour dates click here.
Buxton Opera House, Water Street, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6XN | 0845 127 2190
