The current tour of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which started at Salford in September, has now taken up residence at Theatre Royal Brighton for four weeks. It is an impressive production, mainly because it is in every way the equal of the West End one. It has been strongly cast and directed (Matt Ryan and Cameron Johnson), the set (Anna Fleischle) looking as if it were designed especially for Brighton with a natural, not over-amplified, sound design by Paul Groothuis. For those who … [Read more...]
Chicago The Musical at Churchill Theatre, Bromley
Kander and Ebb’s 1975 musical has just opened an extended tour at Churchill Theatre, Bromley, ending July 2022 in Llandudno, and visiting most parts of the UK in between The 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins about judicial corruption in 1926 USA now seems irrelevant, most members of last night’s audience seeming to be far more interested in the music and dancing. The 'star' of the show is undoubtedly the superb ten-piece band set centre stage, under the direction of Andrew Hilton and … [Read more...]
LA CLIQUE at The Leicester Square Spiegeltent
La Clique was created by David Bates in the Spiegel “Mirror” Tent at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2004 “redefining variety for the 21st Century... using a small round, central stage, in a cabaret setting”. The show has landed in central London for Christmas and New Year in the middle of Leicester Square and is at its best when showcasing some superb circus acts. Top of the very strong bill is American Heather Halliday as an amazing sword swallower and fire eater. Next, there is LJ … [Read more...]
The Play That Goes Wrong at Theatre Royal Brighton
You have to feel sorry for Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society. They have now been touring “Murder at Haversham Manor” since 2014. When I first saw it, and every time they perform it the same things go wrong! The fact that all these things are very, very, funny is beside the point! You would never guess that this ‘play’ has been continuously playing in the West End, in regional theatres and on Broadway for so long as it certainly does not look tired and comes up fresh as a coat of new … [Read more...]
Bluebeard’s Castle, at Stone Nest in Soho, London
Bartok composed Bluebeard’s Castle, a 60-minute opera for two performers, in the “expressionist” style in 1911 for a competition which it did not win and had to wait until 1918 for its first performance. It was not seen in the UK until 1957. It is a darkly symbolic work with a rich, sensuous and superlatively orchestrated score. In the original staging, Bluebeard brings his new wife, Judith, home to his castle which has seven doors and no windows. Wishing to dispel the darkness, Judith … [Read more...]