REVIEW: BUMBLESCRATCH (Adelphi Theatre) ★★★★
Some of the best loved musicals of all time have come from the Shermans. They are true classics, and I think Robert J. Sherman’s Bumblescratch could be on its way to being just that. It is refreshing to see a new classic musical, as even though musicals have developed and changed in style over the […]
REVIEW: PARTY (Above The Stag) ★★★★★
There is one word that springs to mind to describe the thrilling experience that was watching ‘Party’ – FAB-U-LOUS! It’s not often that a comedy is this effective in producing consistent laugh-out-loud reactions from an audience, but there was no shortage here. It was rather like watching a saucy version of ‘Friends’, except with seven […]
REVIEW: THE MGM STORY (Upstairs at the Gatehouse) ★★★★
Judy Garland saunters through an empty film studio of Hollywood institution MGM, browsing through the unused costumes and camera equipment, while some stagehands sweep the premises. Or so it seems – the snappy start of the narration soon breaks the spell, and all cast burst into song. Less a musical or play than an educational […]
REVIEW: TWO MAN SHOW (Soho Theatre) ★★★★
The title of the event Two Man Show is slightly misleading as there are no men in the show and three women, however that is a mere bagatelle next to the real content of the show. RashDash was formed at the University of Hull in 2009. It comprises two very talented young women, Helen Goalen […]
REVIEW: KINKY BOOTS (Adelphi Theatre) ★★★★★
Kinky Boots celebrated its 1st birthday in the West End last night with a special media night to introduce the new cast of the show. David Hunter (Once/One Man Two Guvnors) has replaced Killian Donnelly in the lead role of Charlie alongside Matt Henry who remains in the role of Lola. David Hunter has some […]
REVIEW: DIARY OF A MADMAN (Gate Theatre) ★★★★
Al Smith’s witty new adaptation is based on Gogol’s classic story. Transporting the action to modern day Scotland, Gogol’s protagonist Poprishchin becomes the engineer Pop Sheeran – a troubled man spiralling towards insanity when his senses of personal, professional and national identity are seriously challenged in a post-Brexit world. Pop Sheeran is not a civil […]
REVIEW: VANITIES THE MUSICAL (Trafalgar Studios) ★★★★
VANITIES THE MUSICAL opened this week at Trafalgar Studios starring three big west end names. Lauren Samuels (We Will Rock You/Bend It Like Beckham), Ashleigh Gray (Wicked/Cool Rider) and Lizzy Connolly (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels/Mrs Henderson Presents). So with these three ladies making up the cast, I was excited to go and check it out. Vanities tells […]
REVIEW: TRAVESTY (New Diorama Theatre) ★★★★
Liam Williams’s debut play, Travesty, comes to New Diorama Theatre after a sell-out run at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Williams is primarily known for his acclaimed stand-up shows. He was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Best Newcomer Award in 2013, and in 2014 his follow up show was nominated for the main award. Travesty is produced […]
REVIEW: TITLE OF SHOW (Waterloo East Theatre) ★★★★
[title of show] is a musical with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and a book by Hunter Bell which is described in the show as “a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical!” The show presents an account of it’s own creation as an entry into the New […]
REVIEW: LA BOHÈME (King’s Head Theatre) ★★★
What happens when you cross Rent with La Bohème? It might seem interesting to amalgamate Puccini’s opera with Larson’s musical, but that is precisely what Adam Spreadbury-Maher and Becca Marriott have done. Brought (even more) up-to-date, flat mates Mark (Thomas Humphreys) and Ralph (Matthew Kimble) are realising that their dreams alone will not pay the […]