Reviews Archive
The Silver Lake by Kurt Weill & Georg Kaiser. English Touring Opera autumn tour. 4****. William Russell
A rare chance not to be missed to see Weill's 1933 songspiel about the rise of the far right & still relevant.
tick, tick...BOOM! book, music & lyrics by Jonathan Larsen. The Bridge House Theatre, Penge, London SE20 to 27 October. 4****. William Russell
Musical about the tribulations of a young composer in 1990s New York trying to get his show put on. A first rate cast dazzles.
Murder, Margaret and Me by Philip Meeks. Theatre Royal, Windsor to 5 October and then on tour. 3***. William Russell
A tale of an awkward, touching friendship between Agatha Christie and Margaret Rutherford, a memorable Marple but not what Dame Agatha envisioned her to be.
Derriere on a G-String by Alfred Taylor-Gaunt. Lilian Bayliss theatre, Roseberry Avenue, London EC1 to 4 October 2019. 4****. William Russell
An invitation to the dance not to be turned down. A comic delight performed with style.
Crown Dual by Daniel Clarkson. Wilton's Music Hall, Grace Alley, London E1 to 14 September 2019. 4****. William Russell.
A right royal romp through Netflix's The Crown and a view of the Windsors to relish.
For Services Rendered by Somerset Maugham. Jermyn Street Theatre, Jermyn Street, London SW1 to 5 October 2019. 4****. William Russell.
A well acted play about a country fit for heroes that was anything but. A revival which resonates still.
Anahera by Emma Kinane. The Finborough theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 to 28 September 2019. 4****. William Russell.
Gripping, thought provoking play about a run away child and parents revealed to be not what they seem as social worker struggles with the truth.
Hansard by Simon Woods. The Lyttelton, National Theatre, London SE1 to 25 November 2019. 3***. William Russell
An engrossing and frequently very funny marital battle which has a powerful conclusion.
A date for your diary? The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole 4**** comes off at the end of the month.
Seize the chance if you have not already done so to see Sue Townsend's legendary teenager on stage.
Hello Again - words & music by Michael John LaChiusa. The Union Theatre, Union Street, London SE1 to 21 September 2019. 3***. William Russell.
A sophisticated merry go round of love affairs based on Schnitzler's famous La Ronde.
Thriller Live - Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1 to 24 April 2020. 4****. William Russell
Thriller Live thrills and is as fresh today as when it opened a decade ago. A first rate night out with the King of Pop.
Dogfight. Music & Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. Book by Peter Duchan. Southwark Playhouse, Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 31 August. 4****. William Russell.
On the Town it ain't but this tale of three young GIs looking for sex on the eve of going to Vietnam works wonderfully well.
Collapsing Creation by Arthur Meek. The Brockley Jack Studio theatre, London SE4 to 31 August. 2**. William Russell.
Interesting but ultimately over long play about Charles Darwin and his On the Origin of the Species.
Queen of the Mist by John Michael LaChiusa to 5 October. Charing Cross Theatre, Viliers Street, London WC2N. 4****. William Russell don WC2. 4**
The best sung musical in town. A fine cast is led by Trudi Camilleri as the woman who went over Niagara Falls in a barrel.
Warheads by Taz Skylar. Park Theatre 90, Clifton Terrace, London N4 to 7 September. 4****. William Russell
Powerful play about the post traumatic stress suffered by a young soldier who served in Aghanistan. It provides no answers, raises the issues effectively.
The Sea Queen by Daniel Winder & Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare - the Scoop, County Hall, London SE 1 to 1 September. 2**. William Russell..
This annual open air season outside County Hall gets off to a shaky start, but what the heck - it is FREE.
Once on This Island by Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens. Southwark Playhouse, London SE1 to 31 August. 5*****. William Russell
A splendidly directed, choreographed and performed island in the Caribbean sun musical - a summer evening delight.
Hippolyte et Aricie by Rameau. Arcola Theatre, Dalston, London E8. Grimeborn season. To 17 August. 3***. William Russell.
Baroque opera - hard to take perhaps, but rewarding as the Greek gods and mortals have the inevitable misunderstandings.
Actually by Ann Ziegler, Trafalgar Studio 2, Whitehall, London SW1 to 31 August. 4****. William Russell.
She didn't say yes, she didn't say no - an interesting examination of an alleged date rape which will set you arguing about the truth.
Showtune by Jerry Herman. The Union Theatre, Southwark, London SE1 to 24 August. 4****. William Russell.
A glorious wallow in the show stopping songs of Jerry Herman delivered with style by a first rate cast.