Alex Sutton’s production brings a strong cast together and tells an intense story on mental health and self-deprecation. Written and orchestrated by Dave Malloy (recently known for multiple Tony-nominated show 'Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812'), Preludes tells the story of Sergei Rachmaninoff. Rachmaninoff, a renowned composer from a young age and now … [Read more...]
London Musical Reviews for West End and Off West End
If you are planning to visit London to see a musical on stage at one of the West End theatres, or a musical in one of the many Off West End or Fringe venues, then maybe our London musical reviews section can be of help? Read one of the latest reviews or use the search button to find and view one of our previous reviews. We use a star rating system on our site.
Six: ‘something about the feistiness, the sassiness, the riotousness of it all’
There’s a good mix of musical styles amongst the ten musical numbers, though most of the melodies are firmly in the style of what I call ‘minicab music’ – the sort of chart music tunes I would only listen to if I were being driven home and the driver just so happened to have the radio on. But there’s something about the feistiness, the sassiness, the riotousness of it all. I liked the music so much I bought the cast recording on the way out. It only leaves me to wish Six a long and glorious reign.
Read the full review...
Review of Falsettos at The Other Palace
Originally written as the two one-act shows ‘March of the Falsettos’ and ‘Falsettoland’, themselves written as sequels to ‘In Trousers’, Falsettos is one of the premier works of veteran composer William Finn, and his long-term collaborator James Lapine. The show tells the story of Marvin, a middle-aged Jewish man as he explores his latent homosexuality, all the … [Read more...]
As You Like It at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch | Review
There’s a delicate balance to be struck and maintained with a production of this nature. Some in the audience may never have seen a Shakespeare play before, while others will have seen dozens or even hundreds. It needs to be accessible - and this one is, in more ways than one - a somewhat simplified storyline to accommodate an interval-less performance combines with … [Read more...]
The National Youth Music Theatre – Anything Goes
The indispensable National Youth Music Theatre (established in 1976) provides a pathway from Bradford to Broadway for our most talented young people. It works. Jude Law and Sheridan Smith to name but two are both NYMT people. After open nationwide auditions, the most promising are brought together to put on live shows hosted by Andrew Lloyd Webber at The Other Palace … [Read more...]
Review of Queen of the Mist at Charing Cross Theatre
Queen of the Mist is a new musical by the five-time Tony Award nominee Michael John La Chiusa, currently receiving its London premiere at Charing Cross Theatre. The true story of the first person to negotiate Niagara Falls in a barrel may not seem the most obvious for musical treatment, but, as the copious programme notes say, La Chiusa ‘isn’t a dramatist who shies … [Read more...]
Evita at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre | Review
If the rain held off at the Open Air Theatre performance of Evita that I attended until the very second the bows ended, it was otherwise raining anyway with confetti as the production felt it necessary to give Eva Perón (1919-1952) (Samantha Pauly) ticker tape parades galore. One of those fully sung-through musicals, the show’s title is (as I learned from a fellow … [Read more...]
Shrek The Musical – A Creative Learning Summer Youth Production
I’m a believer in the power of theatre to inspire youth and a quick trip to the Churchill Theatre in Bromley reinforced my thoughts as the curtain was raised on the Summer Youth Production of Jeanine Tesori & David Lindsay-Abaire’s Shrek the Musical. In a swamp in a forest lives an ogre by the name of Shrek (Daniel Pratten, Benedict King and Ben Salter). He … [Read more...]
Parade by The National Youth Music Theatre at The Other Palace
The National Youth Music Theatre have been training and inspiring young people in that discipline for over forty years. Their alumni include Idris Elba, Kerry Ellis, Michael Jibson and Jasper Britton. These are big boots to fill but the class of 2019 are doing them proud as they showcase their talents in Parade at The Other Palace. First performed on Broadway in … [Read more...]
My Son Pinocchio Jr. at Southwark Playhouse | Review
In My Son Pinocchio Jr, the classic tale of toymaker Geppetto’s little wooden puppet is given new life. The musical, which retells the classic story from Geppetto’s perspective, features the beloved immortal songs “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “I’ve Got No Strings” from the 1940 Disney animated classic Pinocchio, alongside a number of new songs by Oscar and Grammy … [Read more...]