Well, it’s not as frightening as the motion picture (and given that both are based on a Stephen King novel, I don’t have a problem with that). Carrie the Musical, despite its title, tells the story from the perspective of Sue Snell (Ellie McWilliam), who is being questioned, apparently repeatedly, over the events that transpired on the night of the school prom. It’s a curious choice for a musical, as there isn’t a happy ending, to say the least. The end of the first half is rather … [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.
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The Osmonds – A New Musical at Theatre Royal Brighton
This ‘juke box’ musical offers highly polished, undemanding, feel-good entertainment, showcasing, as it does, 30 songs dating from the 1960s to the 2000s in superbly choreographed (Bill Deamer) copies of the originals: the predominantly female audience at Brighton were clearly entranced by the show from the opening number. The Osmonds - A New Musical purports to be the true story of the highly successful American family singing group from the point of view of Jay Osmond, so it may be … [Read more...]
Singin’ in the Rain at New Wimbledon Theatre
I have no hesitation in saying that the 1952 movie “Singin’ in the Rain” and its 1985 stage version is one of the greatest musicals of all time, winning many awards over the years. It is one of the few musicals that not only has many first-rate songs (Nacio Herb Brown / Arthur Freed) but an intelligent, very witty, book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Also, because it is set in the late 1920s, at the time of the first “talkies” and just before the Great Depression, it has a timeless … [Read more...]
Legally Blonde at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
The background stays largely the same throughout the performance, and appears to resemble the hairstyle of Elle Woods (Courtney Bowman). Regardless, the unchanging backdrop makes Woods’ bedroom looks much the same as a lecture theatre, a hairdressing salon and a courthouse (amongst other places). It is only when the action shifts to a bathroom (minus any pants down demonstrations of what would reasonably be expected to occur in a bathroom) that there is a significant change of colour scheme. … [Read more...]
My Fair Lady at London Coliseum
It’s a show of its time. Well, it isn’t really – it’s a show first produced in the 1950s, with this production placing the action in 1913. The set changes seem more colossal than they are, perhaps because of the pedestrian pace in which they occur, and the lush orchestrations, ably supplied by the English National Opera Orchestra – conducted by Alex Parker at the performance I attended (the programme lists the musical director/conductor as Gareth Valentine) – play their part in ensuring the … [Read more...]
Chicago The Musical at New Wimbledon Theatre | Review
In June 1988, Bob Dylan set off on what has become known as “The Never-Ending Tour” and apart from a break due to the pandemic, it’s still going 34 years later. Well, that title could also be applied to the Kander & Ebb musical Chicago which seems to have been on tour in the UK forever and now post-covid, it’s off on its travels again taking in something like 11 theatres between now and July and it all started last night at the New Theatre Wimbledon. Based on a 1926 play by Maureen … [Read more...]
Zorro the Musical at Charing Cross Theatre | Review
The problem with this production of Zorro the Musical isn’t that it’s largely very silly and won’t appeal to everyone’s sense of humour. The problem is that some of the performances aren’t as hammy as they ought to be to maximise the extravagant flair with which certain scenes are almost crying out to be performed. Some of the lyrics weren’t wholly decipherable either, which didn’t help. Set as it is in Spain and Los Angeles in 1805, the cast adopt Spanish accents, some of which are more … [Read more...]