Archives: Reviews 0
Reviews
Review: Potty the Plant – A New Dark Comedy Musical
A light hearted pseudo-horror story with a few jibes at current affairs
Review: The Effect
It’s as if a decade’s experiment has altered this headlong, mind-rippling play. Returning to the National Theatre after 11 years, Lucy Prebble’s 2012 The Effect directed by Jamie Lloyd now comes out bigger than ever, one of the finest 21st century British plays, questioning identity and emotion under the effect of drugs, placebos, what we imagine ourselves into. What, in fact, the imaginary of love is.
Review: The Imitator
Julián Fontalvo imitates the voices 70 famous singers as he tells his life story.
Review: Makeshifts, Realities, Honour Thy Father
Finborough’s absorbing ReDiscovered season continues with a triple-bill of plays directed by Melissa Dunne that after tonight, you might never wish to imagine apart. Of course they should transfer, be far better-known, and at least they’re packed out - grab a ticket if you possibly can. We can be grateful again for Neil McPherson’s curating yet another series of early 20th century revivals.
Review: Afrique en Cirque
A stunning spectacle of circus arts told through the lens of life in Africa
Review: Rosie Holt – That’s Politainment
Contemporary political satire that invites people to laugh less and think more.
Review: Burning Down the Horse
The audience - very nearly completely full - was in stitches throughout the entire piece.
Review: Alan Turing : A Musical Biography
Competent biography portraying the highlights of Alan Turing's life, from school to grave, with songs
Review: Babs for Life
You got to pick a scandal or two, solo show of fantastic political commentary.
Review: Extreme: The New Norm
A fantastic series of interconnected scenes all about the world’s favourite pandemic.
Review: Indoor Kids
An interesting story of two next door neighbours who became the very best of friends.
Review: Bumble’s Big Adventure
A worthy attempt at addressing the environmental impact around us and trying to teach the youngest about the natural world.
Review: Out of the Blue
An hour of entertainment from University of Oxford's male a cappella ensemble
Review: Kravitz, Cohen, Bernstein and Me
Charming, delightful, and witty, a lovely way to spend an hour with the three "Lennys" through Deb Filler's experiences.
Review: Nicola Macri: Single Entendre
Macri’s performance is warm and inviting, and although her arguments are made intelligently and with plenty of back-up, it never feels like a lecture as much as a chat with a pal who occasionally dances around as the Spectre of Sex, here to ruin every conversation with its ubiquity.
Review: JM Coetzee’s Life & Times of Michael K
Beautifully adapted, directed, performed and designed - masterful puppetry, poignant and meaningful.
Review: Why Am I Like This
An exquisite and hilarious blend of personal experience, debunked myths and compelling storytelling.
Review: The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria
King Boris of Bulgaria stands up to Hitler, accompanied by Bulgarian and Jewish folk music.
Review: Chevalier – Hobbyhorse Circus
A very sweet and well-executed homage to the circus horse, ideal for families with small children or those still young at heart.
Review: Did You Eat?
The combined talents of Kim and Yejin are a force to be reckoned with, and it is hard not to feel while watching that we are seeing the beginnings of a potentially legendary partnership.
Review: When We Died
An absorbing one-woman play seamlessly blending physical theatre with a poignant, gut-wrenching narrative
Review: Yippee Ki Yay
Die Hard re-telling, blended with Richard Marsh’s journey into fatherhood : Welcome to the party !
Review: Me, Myself, and Mary (Queen of Scots)
Never does it feel overstuffed, and never does it feel underexplained. The Goldilocks “just right” centre of historical adaptation has been achieved.
Review: waiting for a train at the bus stop
Captivating, laced with humour but dark and heart-breaking.
Review: Alison Skilbeck’s Uncommon Ground
Six seemingly unconnected lives are brought together during lockdown
Review: Just an Ordinary Lawyer (?) A Play, with Songs
A one hour and a half tour de force covering much of last century’s British-African history cleverly pushed along by important sporting events
Review: The Ruffian on the Stair and Funeral Games
Joe Orton’s The Ruffian on the Stair and Funeral Games come to the Lantern Theatre for four performances. This in-house double bill of one-acters is directed by Daniel Finlay and Mark Burgess respectively. A fitting end to the Lantern’s extraordinary week
Review: Lino
Mace Cowart is a talent to watch as both an actor and a writer, and you would do well to see him while you can.
Review: Bowjangles: Dracula in Space
The stakes are high, as a talented string quartet encounter Dracula, with tremendously entertaining shenanigans aplenty
Review: How to Survive and Thrive in an Impossible World – With a Piano!
Quirky and amusing lesson in getting wild and healed
Review: A Good Panto Die Hard
The alchemy required to create this panto/action/comedy/musical, and get away with it, should not be underestimated.
Review: La Petite Gerda
Imaginative retelling of Snow Queen story with beautifully sung songs, excellent acting and creative storytelling.
Review: Oscar at the Crown
An immersive neon extravaganza that brings us Oscar Wilde, not as we know him and not as we ought to either.
Review: Love, Monty
A one man show of original writing from an exceptional actor playing to the strengths of yesteryear.
Review: Walking Home
A decently imagined production of a serious topic that hints strongly at the work remaining to be identified, never mind done.
Review: Rites of Passage
A new play from two compelling performers, fascinating, moving, and relatable.
Review: The Last Flapper
Zelda is portrayed as a sympathetic, misused woman without taking away her teeth or her sense of humor.
Review: Adults
An entertaining farce set in a brothel with quality performances by its three-strong cast
Review: The Mitfords
The play will make you want to learn more about its subjects, and Emma Wilkinson Wright’s phenomenal performance that makes this show particularly gripping.
Review: God Done Opened the Sky!!
Each character is played with a charming sincerity that pulled the audience in and made us hang on his every word.
Review: Casting the Runes
It is difficult not to be hooked by Box Tale Soup’s charming vision of M.R. James’ work.
Review: Too Big for Her Britches
Audience members were laughing, crying, then returned to laughing again
Review: Macbeth
The strangeness of this Macbeth wraps in those three Witches/Murderers plus Seyton, slowly perambulating their trolleys around. The eerie, in Schmool’s sustained chords, remains. The horror, elsewhere.
Review: May Contain Traces of Nuts
A worthy attempt at showing the conflict within young people around gender, the future and all the stuff your parents warned you about.
Review: The Grand Old Opera House Hotel
An absolute blast with gags galore, soaring operatic arias and great performances
Review: Wee Seals and Selkies
A beautiful wee family show that manages to combine gentility with the warmth of good stories really well told.
Review: A Funeral For My Friend Who Is Still Alive
t A funereal plan which ends up with an intriguing twist – no “body” arrives.
Review: Shakespeare in Love
You’ll forget the film; you might even forget any staged version of Lee Hall’s in the West End. The mystery’s in the ensemble, the production, its bewitching leads Lewis Todhunter and Melissa Paris. With Claire Lewis’ direction, Michael James' music, and Graham Brown’s movement direction to the fore, it’s a mighty reckoning in a little room.
