What People are saying …
One of the neatest things about the show is that there is a live band. For me, the drummer Mark Alfred stood out the most. He has such enthusiasm and a fierce desire to really have a connection with the cast and the audience. His timing was spot on and he really was infatuating to watch.
Mark Alfred (also the Musical Director) is worth the ticket price alone. Alfred looked like he was having so much fun, I think they should be charging him for a ticket. I was swept up in his enjoyment, and it made me enjoy it even more. He also has a featured solo number that is incredible. He flies around the stage pounding on a bodhrán, and his boundless energy and blaring rhythmic percussion fills the crowd with breathless excitement. I truly loved watching him, and I don’t believe I’ll ever see anything quite like him again
The unexpected gem of the show is. Mark Alfred.
Mark is the music director and also the drummer, nay, percussionist for the show. When you think of a drummer you think of a guy sitting behind a trap set keeping a beat. Mark was encased in such a conglomeration of percussion instruments of every size, shape and utility that every once in a while I actually caught myself turning my attention to watch him in his monkey cage. I was in awe of his ability to go between the different setups with such precision and poise. I couldn't tell you how many instruments he had to play with but I am thinking it was probably more than 100 all told. When he stepped out of his cage to solo on the bodhran, the Irish pride rose in this reviewer to levels not easily attained.
Mark Alfred particularly shone as drummer and percussionist, as he made his way to center stage to interact with some of the dancers which provided an element of humor to some of the performances.
— Heartbeat of Home Review Piccadilly Theatre London (officialtheatre.com)