Reviews Archive
Southwell Festival 2019, 5*****: by William Ruff
Exceptional performances, imaginative programming, superb presentation: all combine to make Southwell an August paradise for music-lovers
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.
Dangerous Obsession, Manor Pavilion - Sidmouth, 3***, Cormac Richards
A good production of a flawed thriller
The Bodyguard - The Musical, Theatre Royal Plymouth to 31 August 2019 and on tour.. 4****, Cormac Richards
Full-throttle and a cut above the norm
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.
Dangerous Obsession by N J Crisp, Theatre Royal Nottingham, till 24 August, 4****: Alan Geary
An engrossing thriller
Influence, The Drum - Theatre Royal Plymouth to 24 August. 3***, Cormac Richards
An interesting piece but with production shortcomings
Southwell Festival Sinfonia, Southwell Minster, 5*****: by William Ruff
The Southwell Festival: close attention to the tiniest details produces thrilling results
Perfect Wedding, Manor Pavilion - Sidmouth, 4****, Cormac Richards
A well-plotted and performed farcical treat
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.
Anybody for Murder by Brian Clemens and Dennis Spooner, Theatre Royal Nottingham, till 17 August, 4****: Alan Geary
Skulduggery and laughs. Ingenious
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.
Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet. Sadler's Wells to 31 August . 5*****. William Russell
An unforgettable evening of dance which transforms Shakespeare's Verona to a world inside an institution for disturbed young people.
2021: A Cornish Space Odyssey, The Drum - Plymouth to 10 August. 4****, Cormac Richards
A perceptive and thought provoking piece of theatre
Go Bang Your Tambourine by Philip King. The Finborough Theatre, London SW10 to 31 August. 3***. William Russell.
Interesting and well acted London premiere of a forgotten, perhaps deservedly so, Philip (See How They Run) King play.