Reviews Archive
Ten Days in a Madhouse by Nelly Bly adapted by Douglas Baker. The Brockley Jack Studio theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London SE4 to 2 July 2022. 4****. William Russell.
Stunning performance, amazing effects.
Manchester Collective. Lakeside, Nottingham. June 15 2022 (and on tour to Liverpool, London, Manchester and Bristol). 4****. William Ruff
Manchester Collective offers a musical adventure with plenty of surprises along the way
Parsifal (Opera North). Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. June 15 2022 (also on tour to Gateshead and Southbank Centre, London). 5*****. William Ruff
Five hours of thrilling intensity and musical beauty from Opera North
Chicago by Fred Ebb, John Kander & Bob Fosse, Theatre Royal Plymouth & Tour, 4****, Cormac Richards
Sexy and Sassy - a musical treat.
The Excursions of Mr Brouček by Leoš Janáček 4**** Grange Park Opera, Horsley, Surrey. Clare Colvin
Surrealism and satire mingle in rare Janáček comedy
The Hallé. Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. June 10 2022. 5*****. William Ruff
Plenty of pizzazz and high-octane power to end the 2021/22 Nottingham Classics season
Seven and a Half Years by Mark Glentworth. The Brockley Jack Studio theatre,410 Brockley Road, London SE4 to 11 June 2022. 4****. William Russell.
A moving account of recovering from mental illness.
Handel’s Messiah, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 8th June 2022, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra with the CBSO Chorus, 4**** David & Paul Gray
After a surprisingly lacklustre first part, this Messiah finally caught fire
Singing in the Rain, Birmingham Hippodrome, until 11 June 2022 and touring, 5***** David & Paul Gray
Rows A to E of the stalls will get wet.
Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera by Harry Hill & Steve Brown. Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, London N4 to 9 July 2022. 4****. William Russell.
Laughs galore but flogging a dead horse.
Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi Libretto by Alessandro Striggio 4**** Garsington Opera, Wormsley estate, Stokenchurch. Clare Colvin
A universal tale of love and loss
Cancelling Socrates by Howard Brenton. Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, London SW1 to 2 July 2022. 4****. William Russell
Brenton on form in this tale of the downfall of Socrates.
Starcrossed by Rachel Garnet. Wilton's Music Hall, Grace Alley, London E1 to 25 June 2022. 5*****. William Russell.
Splendidly acted tale of two ill fated lovers in Verona but not who you think they are going to be.
Britannicus by Jean Racine translated and adpated by Timberlake Wertenbaker. The Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith to 25 Hune 2022. 3***. William Russell.
A fine adaptation of Racine's play by Timberlake Wertenbaker.
The Wreckers by Ethel Smyth 4****Glyndebourne Opera Festival, Lewes, East Sussex. Clare Colvin
Stormy weather in dark tale of tragic love triangle
Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year. William Russell
A worthy winner
The Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings. The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 146 Brockley Road, London SE 4. A charity event - 4 June 2022. William Russell.
A charity event most deserving.
Soho Boy music and lyrics by Paul Emelion Daly. Drayton Arms Theatre, 153 Old Brompton Road, London to 4 June 2022 & then to the Edinburgh Fringe. 3***. William Russell
The perils of Spencer.
Magic Goes Wrong - by Mischief Theatre and (magicians) Penn and Teller @ Birmingham Hippodrome Tuesday 24th May 2022 (and on tour) 3*** . David & Paul Gray
Magical fun, frolics and some great laughs, but overlong, and the same formula of corny "things go wrong" gags reworked over-and-over again
Top Gun: Maverick (2022), Dir Joseph Kosinski, Paramount Pictures, 5*****: Matthew Alicoon
A tremendous return to Top Gun that will stand the test of time.