Stray Dogs is a new three-handed full-length play by first-time playwright Olivia Olsen, and as such is a very creditable piece of writing, for a ‘student’ work. It concerns the relationship that the Ukrainian poet Anna Akhmatova supposedly had both with the Russian British philosopher Isaiah Berlin and with Joseph Stalin, and, according to the production flyer, takes place in 1940, when in fact it clearly begins earlier and ends later. Both Anna’s legal and common law husbands (she also had … [Read more...]
Review of Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre
Mary Poppins is an unashamedly old-fashioned, feel-good musical, at times very pantomimic in style - ideal family Christmas-time entertainment for children of all ages, especially in Cameron Mackintosh’s lavish production at the Prince Edward Theatre, where it was first seen in 2004. There can be few who do not know the Sherman Brothers songs, most of which are heard in the first act, or who have never seen the Disney movie on which the stage show is based (or who have even read the books by … [Read more...]
Sydney & The Old Girl at Park Theatre | Review
Eugene O’Hare’s second full length play, Sydney and the Old Girl is a wickedly funny, black comedy, showcasing Miriam Margolyes’ talents to the full, whilst also providing meaty roles for the other two actors in this three-handed play. Sydney Stock has lived for over fifty years cooped up with his mother Nell in her grubby East End home. Their only reason for living seems to be because they loathe each other and need to cause each other as much pain as possible, perhaps because of what … [Read more...]
As You Like It – Royal Shakespeare Company – The Barbican Theatre
Kimberley Sykes’ bright and breezy, very physical, production of As You Like It has opened the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Autumn season at the Barbican. The full width and depth of the expansive stage is imaginatively used by designer Stephen Brimson Lewis, the single set gradually seeming to grow over time so that it is always not only interesting to look at but also imaginatively portrays the various locations, giving many opportunities of varying stage pictures at different levels, from the … [Read more...]
Afterglow at Waterloo East Theatre | Review
This beautifully written, moving play was seen earlier in 2019 at Southwark Playhouse. For this new production the script has been tightened and it is now one of the best ‘first’ plays by any playwright that I have seen. Josh and Alex are a gay married couple, awaiting the arrival of their first baby, when they invite masseur Darius to share their bed for one night, with far reaching consequences for them all. S. Asher Gelman based his play on his own experiences of an extramarital … [Read more...]