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Reviews
Pacific Overtures. Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by John Weidman. The Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, London SE1 to 24 February 2024. 4****: William Russell.
“A superb revival of a difficult Sondheim musical - not to be missed.”
Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan.
I Should Be So Lucky - Theatre Royal Plymouth – until 09 December, 2023 and touring. 1*: Cormac Richards.
“Lazy, outdated, tacky nonsense.”
Photo Credit: Marc Brenner.
Oh What A Lovely War by Joan Littlewood, Gerry Raffles & Charles Chilton. Southwark Playhouse – the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 09 December 2023. 4****: William Russell.
“Littlewood’s magic is lacking but for first time audiences this production should still work powerfully enough.”
Photo Credit: Alex Harvey-Brown.
Mandy Patinkin in Concert. The Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D to 19 November, 2023. 5*****: William Russell.
‘Patinkin delivers a master class in the art of singing popular song.’
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus.
The Time Traveller’s Wife. Book by lauren Gunderson. Music & Lyrics by Joss Stone & Dave Stewart. The Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1. 3***: William Russell.
‘A gloriously bonkers show for all who collect the unusual.’
Photo Credit: Johan Persson.
Lizzie by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer, Tim Maner & Alan Stevens Hewitt. Southwark Playhouse Elephant, Dante Place, London to 02 December, 2023. 2**: William Russell.
‘A show that needs as many whacks as possible.’
Photo credit: Pamela Raith.
Antisemitism by Uri Agnon. Camden People’s Theatre, 58 Hampstead Road, London NW1 to 28 October, 2023. 3***: William Russell.
‘A flawed musical for today outstandingly performed.’
Photo Credit: Cam Harie
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical, Birmingham Hippodrome, 18 October 2023 ‘till 04 November 2023, then on tour ‘till 04 February 2024. 4**** David Gray & Paul Gray
‘Roald Dahl’s sense of wicked fun brought to life in a lively musical adaptation.’
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Birmingham Hippodrome, 10 October, 2023. 5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray
‘Strong performances all round in a lively explosion of a show.’
Close-Up by Ben Elton. The Menier Chocolate Factory, 50 Southwark St, London SE 1 to 18 November 2023. 2**: William Russell.
‘A dire juke box musical life of Twiggy.’
Photo Credit – Manuel Harlan.
The King and I by Rogers and Hammerstein – Theatre Royal Plymouth until 23 September 2023 and touring, 5✩✩✩✩✩. Review: Cormac Richards.
‘Traditional, vibrant and refreshing production of a real classic.’
Photo Credit: Johan Persson
Rebecca based on the novel by Daphne DuMaurier. Book and Lyrics by Michael Kunze. Charing Cross Theatre, The Arches, Villiers St, London WC2 to 18 November, 2023. 2**: William Russell.
‘Better take the road to Mandalay than to Manderley – a truly dreadful musical.’
Photo Credit: Mark Senior.
Police Cops, Book & Lyrics by Zachary Hunt, Nathan Parkinson & Tom Roe. Southwark Playhouse, the Large – 77 Newington Causeway, London SE 1 to 14 October, 2023. 5*****: William Russell.
‘Lewd, loud and fun – a great night out.’
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith
Next to Normal. Music by Tom Kitt. Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey. The Donmar, 41 Earlham Streeet, London WC2H to 07 October, 2023. 4****: William Russell.
‘An ordinary day, an ordinary family but an extraordinary musical.’
Photo Credit: Marc Brenner
Death Note the Musical in Concert. The London Palladium 21 August, 2023 and then the Lyric, Shaftesbury Avenue for three more performances. 5*****: William Russell.
‘Absolutely enthralling, packed with rousing arias which are belted out!’
Photo Credit: Mark Senior
42nd Street, Theatre Royal Plymouth until 12 August, 2023 and touring. 4**** : Cormac Richards
Top-tapping tunes and superb dancing but something missing!
Tickle, Tinkle, Boys in the Buff & Love is Blue – Edinburgh Festival Fringe at C Arts, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 - four shows individually or in pairs. 4****: William Russell.
Some fabulous four stars shows from the Fringe.
The Lion King, Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham, 13 July, 2023. In Birmingham until 16 September, 2023. 5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray
‘A stunning spectacle with a full and rich human heart.’