As a result of the past year of ongoing social disruption, my 8-year-old twins now readily grasp the difference between live in-person theatre, live-via-Zoom theatre, and asynchronous digital entertainment (that may or may not remind them of live theatrical performances). Children’s theatre - perhaps because it already embraces a level of audience participation - has been a source of great innovation via the digital platforms we’ve been forced to adopt as part of the continuing pandemic. … [Read more...]
About Mary Beer
FROSTBITE – Who Pinched My Muff? | Garden Theatre at Eagle London
What is the essence of Panto with its cross-dressing, double entendres, broad campy characters and more-is-more costuming, makeup and theatrics? If you want to find out, get down to the Garden Theatre at Vauxhall’s Eagle Pub for what is quite possibly one of the funniest and purest Pantos you’ll ever experience - for grown-ups! I’ve seen the big-budget productions at the Palladium with Julian Clary, Nigel Havers and Dawn French and Stephen Fry’s and Sandi Tosvig’s show at the Old Vic as well … [Read more...]
The Gruffalo’s Child at Alexandra Palace Theatre | Review
I am finding the pressures to make this Christmas the most-Christmassy-ever daunting to the point of unbearable (seeing as we shall soon receive special temporary release from public health regulations as if tinsel were a viral prophylaxis). However, despite my exhaustion and seasonal cynicism, I couldn’t help but be charmed by the whole experience of a trip to Ally Pally to see a revival of The Gruffalo’s Child in the North London venue’s capacious theatre. If you have children between the ages … [Read more...]
Pippin at the Open-Air Garden Theatre | Review
Any live theatrical experience in the autumn of 2020 is going to be tinged with a profound sense of gratitude. That we have managed to gather and be entertained - thanks to producers, creatives and cast who bring new depth to the term ‘trouper’ with all its ‘show-must-go-on’ notions of persistence and ingenuity - is still something of a wonder. Whilst the Bridge Theatre is leading the way indoors by bringing big names to monologue performances with deliberate partial capacity, the Garden Theatre … [Read more...]
The Maltings Theatre’s The Merry Wives of Windsor | Review
Adam Nichols’ 90-minute adaptation of The Merry Wives of Windsor is an absolute belter of bawdiness and the perfect pick-me-up for a pandemic. Shakespeare’s comic spin-off from the Henry histories was written as a vehicle to return the deliciously obese and lecherous Falstaff, who provided comic relief in the more seriously-toned Henry IV historical dramas, and is now the animating force and butt of jokes in this full-throated comedy. Nichols has chosen to set the action in the 1980s which works … [Read more...]