REVIEW: UNKNOWN PLEASURES: CNN – Ballet De Lorraine (Sadlers Wells) ★★★
For anyone who has been waiting for a fairer and more realistic representation of female choreographers, I have good news and bad news: First: this Dance Umbrella performance comprises five pieces created by one man and four (four!) women. However they are all anonymous. Maybe that’s some sort of progress. The intention is admirable; we’re […]
REVIEW: THE AUTUMN GARDEN (Jermyn Street Theatre) ★★★★
Considered to be Lillian Hellman’s best play by contemporary critics and the author herself, THE AUTUMN GARDEN has never been seen in London. The Jermyn Street Theatre now presents the London premiere of this neglected work by the Pulitzer-prize winning author. Set in 1949, the play takes place in Constance Tuckerman’s summer house, about 100 […]
REVIEW: GIMCRACKERY (Live at Zedel) ★★
‘Gimcrackery’ definition: ‘cheap, showy, useless trifles, ornaments, trinkets, etc.’ The performance is advertised as ‘A vaudevillian display of daring curiosity’. Words such as ‘MYSTERY!’ and ‘EXTRAVAGANZA!’ lured me into thinking I was about to see something rather unforgettable. It was, however, rather anti-climactic. We were introduced to the alternative personality of Driscoll Bleak, ‘part Victorian […]
REVIEW: ACORN (Courtyard Theatre) ★★★★
The women in Greek mythology are often presented in extremes. Either shrieking, swathed in fury and hungry for the flesh of men or swooning, excessively beautiful and unforgivably gullible, the two archetypes struggle to mesh with our continually evolving understanding of the modern woman. Taking two of the most well-known legends, the stories of Persephone […]
REVIEW: THE BOYS IN THE BAND (Park Theatre) ★★★★★
First seen on Broadway in 1968, the year before the Stonewall Riots, THE BOYS IN THE BAND shocked audiences when it was first released for its openness about gay life. It’s Harold’s birthday and Michael is throwing him a party, full of his closest friends, for a night of fun, cocktails and lasagne. Donald, Michael’s […]
REVIEW: THIS LITTLE LIFE OF MINE (Park Theatre) ★★★
The world premiere of THIS LITTLE LIFE OF MINE comes to Park Theatre for a limited season. The book is written by Michael Yale, who also directs the production. The music is written by Charlie Round-Turner, with set and costume design by Zahra Mansouri, and musical direction by Thomas Duchan. The show is produced by […]
REVIEW: ONE MAN TWO GUVNORS (Bridewell Theatre) ★★★★★
I first saw this hilarious play during its third UK tour, in early 2015. It is a modern adaptation of SERVENT OF TWO MASTERS – the classic Carlo Goldoni play – and Richard Bean’s script is both exceedingly clever and witty. As such, I was looking forward to seeing it a second time immensely – […]
REVIEW: MURDER BALLAD (Arts Theatre) ★★★
The UK Premiere of MURDER BALLAD burst into London’s West End this week at the Arts Theatre with an impressive cast of West End performers on its billing. Sarah (Kerry Ellis) ends an unhappy but sexually charged relationship with Tom (Ramin Karimloo) in favour of a more normal life of marriage and kids, with Michael […]
DANGER: MEMORY! (Theatro Technis) ★★★
These rarely performed one-act plays by Arthur Miller were not a big success when they opened at Lincoln Center, in the intimate Newhouse Theater, in New York in 1986, with the Mark Rich of the New York Times stating they were “gray” and devoid of drama. British audiences and critics were not convinced either when […]
REVIEW: UNDEAD BARD (Theatre N16) ★★★
Well, this was certainly a unique piece of theatre! Robert Crighton’s self-performed one-man show is a play of two halves, exploring the afterlife of William Shakespeare in all of its pantomime and woes. The first half, ‘The Shakespeare Delusion’, provoked laughter from the audience within seconds, continuing at this comedic pace throughout. Professor Ashborn, an […]