REVIEW: THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI (Donmar Warehouse) ★★★★★
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, written by Bertolt Brecht in the 1950s and set in the 1930s, is a satyrical allegory based on Hitler’s rise to power as well as the career of the gangster Al Capone. ‘Ui’ a small time hood, has his sights set on taking over the Chicago cauliflower business, whatever […]
REVIEW: PETE ‘N’ KEELEY (Tristan Bates Theatre) ★★★★★
Pete ‘n’ Keely: A Musical By James Hindman and Mark Waldrop was first published early in 2002 and the first performance occurred, off Broadway, in December 2002. The show was an immediate hit with both the public and the critics. “The brightest, happiest and most entertaining show in town” according to Rex Reed of the […]
REVIEW: BRIMSTONE AND TREACLE (Hope Theatre) ★★★★
Dennis Potter’s Brimstone and Treacle is a shocking, visceral problem play that stares deep into the shadows and squalor of life to explore dark themes of good and evil. Originally a TV play it was filmed in 1976 but shelved for 11 years because of its controversial violence and seemingly anti-religious messages. The stage adaptation […]
REVIEW: ALICE’S ADVENTURES UNDERGROUND (The Vaults) ★★★★★
From the cocktails to the costumes, every detail of Alice’s Adventures Underground is intoxicating. It’s a revival of the Olivier award-winning hit 2015 show, but it’s had far more than a new coat of paint – this Alice is dizzyingly magical. The adventures take place in a wandering labyrinth of rooms and tunnels constructed in […]
REVIEW: ANGELS IN AMERICA IN AMERICA (National Theatre) ★★★
One of the most anticipated shows of 2017 has landed at the National Theatre this week. Angels In America, a gay fantasia on national themes, has a star studded line up and at seven and a half hours long, it’s a real commitment. But does it live up to the hype? The great thing about […]
REVIEW: GABRIEL (Richmond Theatre) ★★★★
Moira Buffini has been on my watch list since seeing her fantastic play ‘Hangbagged’ a few years ago, so when her new play ‘Gabriel‘ was announced I jumped on that like a cat in a warm laptop. And Buffini didn’t disappoint! Set in Nazi occupied Guernsey in 1943, ‘Gabriel’ follows a group of related women […]
REVIEW: WONDERLAND (New Wimbledon Theatre) ★★★★★
Wonderland, a musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass, began a 30 venue UK tour in January 2017, with a stellar cast. This week it is at the New Wimbledon Theatre and I went along to check it out. Alice’s husband has just remarried and so all hopes […]
REVIEW: TO BE OR NOT TO BE SCARLET O’HARA (Etcetera Theatre) ★★★★
An intriguing three man play, an imaginary take on what might have happened when Vivien Leigh, at the time a little known British actress, was given the staring roll of Scarlet O’Hara in the blockbuster movie, Gone With The Wind. This was a very big deal, the film was going to be the biggest and […]
REVIEW: LATE COMPANY (Finborough Theatre) ★★★★
The Finborough Theatre hosts the European premiere of Late Company, a play from award winning Canadian playwright, Jordan Tannahill. Late Company was written in 2013 when Tannahill was 23 and was inspired by the suicide of one of his peers. The play explores the challenges of teenagers and their parents in the 21st century. The […]
REVIEW: GUN METAL BLUE (Old Red Lion Theatre) ★★★★
Laura in a Night club with her on-line date, Matthew. He drinks whisky, while she, at his insistence, drinks a bright blue cocktail called a Gun Metal Blue. They are making friendly, small talk while he strokes her arms and shoulders erotically. It is the first time they have met, and now neither of their […]