Reviews Archive
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory - The Musical, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Cormac Richards 2**
Ill-judged, charmless and disappointing production
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser. Book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock & Willie Gilbert. Southwark Playhouse, the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE 1 to 17 June 2023. 4****. William Russell.
Loesser's other great show gets a pared down updated staging.
Titanic The Musical, The Hippodrome, Birmingham, Tuesday 18th to Saturday 22nd April then on tour. 4****. David Gray & Paul Gray
An earnest and heartfelt musical dramatization of a terrible tragedy
Alessandro Stradella, 1678 The Power of Paternal Love - The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham – The Barber Opera, University of Birmingham 14 April 2023 – 5*****, David Gray & Paul Gray
A very long overdue revival of an opera that needs to be heard more
My Fair Lady, The Lincoln Centre Theatre Production, Birmingham Hippodrome, 8 to 19 March 2023 then touring. 5****, David Gray & Paul Gray
A lavish and very well sung production
Idiots Assemble – Spitting Image Saves the World: Live on Stage, The Rep, Birmingham, 16 February 2023, on until 11 March 2023 4**** David Gray & Paul Gray
Vicious, true, laugh-out-loud satire
Strictly Ballroom, Theatre Royal Plymouth until 4 February and Touring, Cormac Richards, 3***
Far better without the songs!
Queenz: The Show with Balls, Birmingham Town Hall. 7 November 2022. 5***** David Gray & Paul Gray
A show with big hair and a big heart - Fantabulosa
Sister Act, Theatre Royal Plymouth to 10 December 2022 and then on tour. 3***. Cormac Richards
Fun show packed with unmemorable songs
La Boheme – Giacomo Puccini, WNO, Birmingham Hippodrome, 9 - 11 November 2022 then on tour, 4**** David Gray & Paul Gray
A well sung revival of a sturdy production
Legally Blonde the Musical, The Arcadians, Crescent Theatre Birmingham, 3 November 2022. 4**** David Gray & Paul Gray
A fun packed, high energy study in pink.
Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom - The Musical, Birmingham Hippodrome. To 5 November 2022. 3*** David Gray & Paul Gray.
A dance musical that doesn’t always deliver the dance
Sister Act - A Divine Musical Comedy - Birmingham Hippodrome 04/10/22 - David Gray 4****
An infectious feelgood show.
Community Opera – Gelert, by Composer Paul Mealor and Librettist Grahame Davies. North Wales International Music Festival, St Asaph Cathedral, 24/09/11, 14.30 Welsh performance; 17.30 English performance. David Gray 4****
A thoughtful, melodically rich take on the ancient Welsh tale of the faithful hound, Gelert
Beautiful, Theatre Royal Plymouth until 24 September 2022 and tour until November 2022, 3***, Cormac Richards
Musically accomplished but unengaging show
The Government Inspector by Jodie Prenger & Neil Hurst, Music by Cat Gisby & Maxwell Tyler until 17 September 2022, 2**, Cormac Richards
New adaptation of Gogol's play misses the targets.
Singin' in the Rain, Theatre Royal Plymouth until 20 August 2022, 4****, Cormac Richards
Hugely fun stage version of the wonderful film musical
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo - music byClaude-Michel Schonberg, lyrics by Alain Boublil and Herbert Kretzmer Birmingham Hippodrome, to 27 August 2022. 5***** David Gray & Paul Gray
A spectacular in every sense of the word
The Cher Show – A New Musical. The Birmingham Hippodrome, 02/08/22 5***** David Gray & Paul Gray
A thoughtful and imaginative telling of a remarkable life with some really great music
Voice – Hildegard Transfigured 28/07/2022 All Saints Church, Hereford; Megaphones for the Unheard 29/07/2022 Hereford Cathedral. Two concerts as part of the Three Choirs Festival, Hereford 2022 – 5***** David Gray and Paul Gray
Voice - Truly Voices of Angels