Reviews Archive
Love, Loss & Chianti - two plays by Christopher Reid. Riverside Studios, Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London W8 to 17 May 2020. 4****. William Russell.
Spell binding and beautifully performed.
Not I, Rockaby & Catastrophe by Samuel Beckett. The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London SE4 to 7 March 2020. 3***. William Russell.
Not for the faint hearted but well worth taking the risk - three short Beckett plays impeccably performed.
The Prince of Egypt. Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Book by Philip Lazebnik. The Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, London W11. to 31 October 2020, 2**. William Russell
Lavish but dire musical about how Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and abandoned his not quite brother Ramses.
A Number by Caryl Churchill. The Bridge, Potters Field Park, London SE1 to 14 March 2020. 4****. William Russell
A chilling, finely performed and staged production.
Elton John - It's a Little Bit Funny by Chris Burgess. Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate Village, London N6 to 1 March 2020 & then on tour. 4****. William Russell.
A terrific revue featuring the songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin to send everyone up and away with Rocket Man and all the rest.
Notch by Danaja Wass, Vaults Festival, London to 23rd February 2020. 3***. Mark Courtice
A bleak glimpse into the black hole of obsession, powerful and openly theatrical.
La Cage aux Folles by Jean Poiret in a new version by Simon Callow. The Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, London N4 to 21 March 2020. 4****. William Russell.
Forget the Jerry Herman musical and enjoy this laughter filled version of the original farce - the best laugh likely in ages.
The Cutting Edge by Jack Shepherd. The Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 to 21 March 2020. 4****. William Russell.
Maggie Steed marvellous as Elvira, an ageing sozzled Bohemian artist' in Jack Shepherd's play about the nature of art and life in the country.
Luisa Miller Giuseppe Verdi. English National Opera, London Coliseum, to 6th March 2020 3*** Mark Courtice
Superb singing in a production that sacrifices subtlety to concept
People Show 137: God Knows How Many. Southwark Playhouse, London and then tour to 26.05.2020. 4****. Mark Courtice
Veteran disrupters in delightful, thoughtful and reminiscent form
Far Away by Caryl Churchill. The Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street, London WC2H to 1 April 2020. 4****. William Russell.
A chilling, thought-provoking view of a future world at war with itself.
The Dog Walker by Paul Minx. Jermyn Street Theatre, 18b Jermyn Street, London SW1Y to 7 March 2020. 4****. William Russell.
A story of two lost people in New York very well acted, directed and with a superb set.
Lepoldstadt by Tom Stoppard. Wyndham's Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London WC2 to 13 June 2020. 4****. William Russell.
An elegiac, deeply moving piece about a Jewish family in Vienna covering the years from 1899 to 1955.
Tryst by Karoline Leach. Chiswick Playhouse, 2 Bath Road, Chiswickm London W4 to 29 February 2020. 4****. William Russell..
Will you walk into my parlour said the spider to the fly - a neat, well performed thriller.
Musik - by Jonathan Harvey & the Pet Shop Boys.Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, London WC2 to 1 March 2020. 4****. William Russell.
Filthy, funny and fabulous Frances Barber as the rock diva to end all rock divas.
Blitz - Lyrics & Music by Lionel Bart, Book by Bart & Joan Maitland. The Union Theatre, 229 Union Street, London SE 1 to 7 March 2020. 3***. William Russell.
Jessica Martin terrific as the Jewish matriarch surviving the bombs in Bart's sentimental but tuneful tribute to the East End.
On McQuillan's Hill by Joseph Crilly. The Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 to 29 February 2020. 4****. William Russell,
A well acted sparkling black comedy Joe Orton would have envied set in a small Derry town after the signing of the Good Friday agreement.
Poet in da Corner by Debris Stevenson & Jammz. Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London SW1 to 22 February & then on tour. 4****. William Russell.
A most exhilerating gig which will take your breath away.
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier adapted by Joseph O'Connor. Richmond Theatre, London TW9 to 8 February 2020. 2**. William Russell.
A distinctly turgid version of Du Maurier's celebrated tale of suspicion, frustration and lust in 19th Century Cornwall
Dad's Army Radio Show - on tour to 19 June 2020. 4****. William Russell
Spend some time in Walmington-on-Sea with Benson and Lane conjuring up the ghosts of the past to perfection.