When Max Easton’s character begins by emphatically declaring he’s a cowboy, and ends by emphatically declaring he never was a cowboy, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that not everything’s okay with regards to his state of mind. But then the monologue is called Spaced Cowboy - and I must confess I found much of it rather disorienting. I couldn’t decipher whether the narrative was that of a dystopian future or one with an imagination run wild, or a combination of both - either way, it was the … [Read more...]
Little Women The Musical at Park Theatre | Review
The novel Little Women, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869 respectively, has historically been popular, progressive as it was in its time in its portrayal of women as being able to take the lead in managing the various affairs of a household, far beyond the traditional life of domesticity. Through contemporary lenses, the book and this musical adaptation, are still too reliant on the male species - the benevolence of Mr Laurence (Brian Protheroe) donating his late wife’s piano … [Read more...]
Charity Case: a new play by Jeff Page at Drayton Arms Theatre
In 2021, the Foreign Office decided it would “not consider any new funding to Oxfam” until an investigation into abuses of power, including bullying and sexual misconduct, were investigated. In 2015, a charity called Kids Company ceased operations after the Government decided it would no longer fund its activities, whatever they may or may not have been. The (fictitious) charity portrayed in this production, called Number 93, was set up by Karen Keane (Louise Devlin) and Paula Campbell (Laura … [Read more...]
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Charing Cross Theatre
“Beware the Ides of March,” announces Cassandra (Sara Powell), though Sonia (Rebecca Lacey) reminds her it is August. The warnings about this, that and the other keep coming in a play that doesn’t do things by halves. But only some of these warnings have any meaning by the curtain call, and frankly, the play could have dispensed without them altogether without affecting the overall outcome. Set in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the play explores similar themes to the plays of Anton Chekhov … [Read more...]
Maddie by Josh Merritt at The Arcola Theatre | Review
Maddie (Evlyne Oyedokun) is on a journey. But aren’t quite a few plays out there about characters going on journeys of one kind or another? This one, however, is as physical as it is metaphorical - and it hardly takes a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist to work this out, given that the play starts with a train announcement. Oddly, for a train going from the south coast to London Victoria, there’s no apology for the delay to the service and any inconvenience caused. That, of course, is … [Read more...]