Reviews Archive
Halloween Kills (2021), Dir David Gordon Green, Universal Pictures: 4.5****: Matthew Alicoon
London Tango Quintet. Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. October 15 2021. 4****. William Ruff
Passion, energy and the sort of virtuosity which never took itself seriously
Notos Quartet. Lakeside, Nottingham. October 14 2021. 5*****. William Ruff
Musical conversations both civilised and generous
Our War byAndrew Ashaye, Brockley Jack Studio, Brockley Road, London SE 4 to 23 October 2021. 3 ***. William Russell
The rewards for serving the Motherland
The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh. The Lyric, Hammersmith to 6 November 2021. 3 ***. William Russell
shocking, brilliant revival
Ludwig van Beethoven's Fidelio - Glyndebourne, Lewes, Sussex & on tour to 31 October 2021. 3***. Claire Colvin.
Fidelio rewritten.
Lady Chatterley's Lover. Music & Lyrics John Robinson. Book by Phil Willmott. Based on the novel by D H Lawrence. Stream Theatre 15 October to 21 November.. 3***. William Russell.
Into the woods
No Fear by Linda Marlowe and others. Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street, London N1 to 16 October 2021. 4****. William Russell.
Fearless and fabulous
Bad Hair (2020), Dir. Justin Simien, Netflix: Rating 3***: Dana Archer
Has promising potential but fails in the execution.
Emmanuel Despax (piano). Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. October 10 2021. 5*****. William Ruff
Emmanuel Despax strikes an ideal balance between visceral excitement and Classical restraint
The Idea - music by Gustav Holst libretto by Fritz Hart. The Brockley Jack Studio, 410 Brockley Road, London SE4 to 9 October 2021. 4****. William Russell.
Some big ideas Prime Ministers have are bad ideas
Hamlet by William Shakespeare. The Young Vic, London to 13 November 2021. 4****. William Russell.
A Hamlet for today
The Hallé. Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham.October 1 2021. 4****.William Ruff
The Hallé returns to Nottingham with undiminished power and subtlety
Snowflakes by Robert Boulton. The Old Red Lion, 418 St John Street, London EC1 to 16 October 2021. 4****. William Russell.
Who will survive?
No Time To Die (2021), Dir Cary Joji Fukunaga, Universal Pictures: 5*****: Matthew Alicoon
A beautiful love letter to the James Bond Saga.
Leos Jancek's Jenufa. Royal Opera House, Covent Gardn, London WC2 in rep to 12October. 5*****. Clare Colvin
The first new production in twenty years. Also streamed 15 October
Tokyo Rose. Book & Lyrics by Maryhee Yoon & Clara Baldwin. Music by William Patrick Harrison. Southwark Playhouse, The Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 16 October 2021. Then on tour.4****. William Russell
Act Two turns it into a triumph.
Back to the Future - the musical. Book by Bob Gale. Music and Lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard. The Adelphi theatre, The Strand, London. 4****. William Russell.
The de Lorean flies and so does the show.
The Weekend. Music by Scott Stroman, Libretto by Tamsin Collinson based on the play by Michael Palin. Bloomsbury Theatre, Gordon Street, London WC1 to 27 September 2021. 4**** . William Russell.
A disastrous country weekend based on Michael Palin's play.
Northern Ballet's Merlin. Theatre Royal, Nottingham. Sept 25 - Oct 2, then touring till December.5*****.William Ruff
Northern Ballet’s Merlin: a modern classic has been born