Category Archives: Review

Review

Viva Forever – Piccadilly Theatre – Review

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I’ll be brief and to the point, I’ve wasted 75 minutes of my life watching the first half of this show and I don’t intend to waste much more writing about it;
It is the worst show I’ve ever seen. Everyone from producers to cast and creatives should be thoroughly ashamed.

Instead listen to the original songs or watch the Spiceworld movie (which is better than this show, and that’s saying something!)

Do not waste your precious life and money on this piece of theatrical tat. Let’s hope it closes soon, there was a very poor turnout tonight,
so here’s hoping.

It’ll not “spice up your life” it’ll simply waste it.

STARS : not even worthy of 1 star.

Ps. For the record, I actually like the Spice Girls and their music, I even own 2 of their albums!

The Winslow Boy – The Old Vic – Review

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twb

The Winslow Boy is to my mind one of the greatest “well made plays”. Written with a craftmanship that is lacking in so much modern writing. The “Rattigan revival” continues unabated I’m pleased to say with this outstanding production.

Lindsay Posner’s tight direction gives this story of injustice and battling against the establishment pace. He also allows the humour to shine through in places that were new to me. I assure you this is no dreary and dull period play. It had me laughing out loud and tugged my heartstrings throughout.

It was wonderful to see and hear an audience that didn’t know the play reacting to its twists and turns and the emotional journey the Winslow boy and his family embark upon. I was also pleased to see such a wide age range  present (literally 9 – 90). All being captivated by Rattigan’s masterful story telling.

If you’ve never seen a Rattigan play, this would make an excellent introduction to his outstanding writing.

Charlie Rowe as the eponymous boy gives a compelling and touching performance as does Henry Goodman his supportive father. They are finely supported by the rest of the cast.

Peter Sullivan as Sir Robert Morton

For me though I really think it’s worth going to see, just to witness Peter Sullivan  and his splendid portrayal of Sir Robert Morton it is tremendous.

With so many productions on in London and in a time where we’re all needing to think about what we spend our hard-earned pounds on. A superbly written play, that the director brings to life in new ways and acted by a stellar cast gets my vote for great value for money and a great theatrical experience.

★ ★ ★ ★

Once will not be enough. Once – Phoenix Theatre London – Review

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Once Title

I had few preconceptions or expectations as I made my way to The Phoenix Theatre to see Once last night, I only found out it was based on a film at the weekend when a friend told me! All I knew was that it had won a slew of Tony Awards on Broadway and it was set in Dublin. A city I fell in love with when I visited it in 2011.

Once is a musical that is so emotionally, musically and theatrically different to anything else on a West End stage at present. Since leaving the theatre its melodies, emotions, images and thoughts have lingered like few productions do.

The cast are actor/musicians each playing a part and various instruments. The playing is superb and invokes the emotions the main characters Guy and Girl go through, whilst telling the story of the book.  It really is  an ensemble piece, each person has their own story which you’re drawn into. The ensemble stay onstage throughout and accompany the songs as applicable.

Declan Bennett as Guy and Zrinka Citesic as Girl

Declan Bennett as Guy and Zrinka Citesic as Girl

This is a  lyrical show and has a more relaxed pace in keeping with the people and setting. This was a refreshing change. It was lovely to sit back and be charmed by this gentle tale.

Bob Crowley’s set is one of the most simple, yet creative and clever I’ve seen. An effective use of mirrors and lighting takes us through various locations even though the set is a fixed Dublin bar. A nice touch is the bar is open for business before the show and during the interval if you fancy a drink onstage!

The pre-show onstage bar with cast playing for us, a brilliant idea.

The pre-show onstage bar with cast playing for us, a brilliant idea.

For me though, I finally feel like there has been a musical written for me,  about people, and emotions that are relevant to me, a youngish man in a city with his own hopes and dreams. I must also highlight that any men out there who say “I don’t like musicals” fear not if your other half suggests a trip to Once. It’s more like a shindig at your local with an emotional punch than a “jazz hands” musical you may have been dragged along to in the past.

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova’s songs are gorgeous. I purchased the soundtrack straight after seeing the show, I was so keen to hear it again. On my way to work today listening to it in the car I was again blown away by the beauty of the melodies and lyrics. Being set it Dublin there are also a few that get your toes tapping too. The songs  If You Want Me and Falling Slowly have stayed with me like few melodies do after a musical.

This is a musical with soul. No superficiality, no glitz, no, this is an emotional tale told with raw heartfelt gusto. Just what the West End has been crying out for.

It’s a show about love and I’m head over heels for it. Once will not be enough for me I’ll be back soon to take it all in again.

STARS : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Tickets can be bought from : Shows In London

Wicked – The Apollo Victoria Theatre – Review

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Wicked

I saw Wicked when it originally opened way back in 2006. I thoroughly enjoyed it and so the opportunity to revisit it all these years later was something I was keen to do.

How has it weathered these last 6 years?

Well it was a Tuesday night and the place was packed, with a hugely diverse bunch; tourists, families, couples, young, old and me the critic! The Apollo Victoria is a large theatre to still be packing the crowds into, the fact that this show is still doing that is testament to the quality of the show. Overhearing a few conversations during the interval also revealed a great many around me were on their second viewing (like me) or had been 3/4 times already. What keeps drawing people back for more?

Firstly it’s a well structured musical, it has a constant climb culminating in the jaw dropping Defying Gravity that closes  Act 1. This is then continued through Act 2. The story is a very clever take/prequel on the Wizard of Oz. Which appeals to young and old alike. It has a moral to the tale, but it’s cleverly woven into the text and never feels preachy. I’d also forgotten how much humour there is in the show, some genuine laugh out load moments. It’s always argued that a musical needs a great story first and foremost, Wicked certainly does.

Musically it is a superb score, again I’d forgotten how good the songs are AND how witty and clever the lyrics are as well. I was reminded why this show caused such a stir when it arrived in London back in 2006, finally we had a new musical that wasn’t a rehash of some old pop songs. The songs cover the whole gamut of emotions from comical to tear-jerker to songs that just blow you away.

Normally I buy a programme before I take my seat, when I go to a show. Last night I thought “no need, got one from last time.” Yet the moment Act 1 was over I rushed out to foyer to purchase one as I HAD to know who this phenomenal cast was and especially who was playing Elphaba and Glinda.

One of the greatest Musical Theatre performances I've ever seen - Hayley Gallivan as Elphaba.

One of the greatest Musical Theatre performances I’ve ever seen – Hayley Gallivan as Elphaba.

Hayley Gallivan was Elphaba, in what is one of the best musical theatre performances I’ve ever seen, outstanding vocals, that literally had the hairs on the back of my neck raised as she sang, especially Defying Gravity. She commanded the stage as the “wicked” witch and communicated the journey this complicated character makes with skill and sensitivity.

Michelle Francis was the “good” witch Glinda in what was another sublime performance. Her interactions with Elphaba were superb and in her songs she got to show her fantastical musical talents.

The show is really all about those two characters, and rightly so, but the rest of the cast gave their all, to me that’s what I was most impressed with, the cast came out from first second and gave their all to this show and didn’t stop until the curtain fell at the end, to standing ovations and rapturous applause, whoops, cheers and me crying out “BRAVO!”

So what more could you want? Great score, clever lyrics, a story that’ll make you laugh and think, a cast going at full throttle , stunning costumes, a set that is magical and 2 of the best performances on the London stage. I certainly won’t be leaving it another 6 years before I return to be caught up in the magic of the witches that is Wicked.

STARS : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

For great deals on tickets for Wicked go to Shows In London.co.uk

Burn the Floor – More of a Warm Glow with the Odd Spark and Crackle – Shaftesbury Theatre

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Burn the floor

Press night at Burn the Floor last night was more akin to a Strictly Come Dancing reunion as previous contestants, dancers and judges all came along to support Kristina Rihanoff, Robin Windsor and Karen Hauer.

Let me declare straight up I love Strictly Come Dancing. So the chance to see some of the action live wasn’t to be missed.

I must say though, Burn the Floor didn’t singe me or remove the bitter cold that we’re experiencing in the UK at present. It’s more a warm glow of a show with the odd spark and crackle.

The show has been going  14 years and so the casting of three Strictly dancers is a canny way to breath new life into this show. The biggest disappointment is how little Kristina and Robin dance and in fact they’re upstaged by the other dancers repeatedly, especially Karen Hauer who shines.

This is very much Karen’s show, she has the best dances including what is an astoundingly beautiful rumba set to Burn for You. It’s the stand out dance of the night for me and worth going to the show to see that, it’s emotive, dazzling and incredible.

Star of the show for me - Karen Hauer

Star of the show for me – Karen Hauer

The dances segue nicely into each other, the pace is fast, perhaps a little too fast as I’d like have seen some of the dances extended and developed rather than this machine gun approach. They’re accompanied by a great band and an amazing singer in Vonzell Solomon, Peter Saul Blewden was not in the same league as her though.

Act 2 certainly has more panache and power to it. Overall though this show was a pleasant diversion for a couple of hours but nothing more. The dancers give their all, but as I said for a show that bills Kristina and Robin they really should be doing more. The show gives no scope for their personalities to transcend to the audience, they’re lost in the crowd too many times.

A few times I was annoyed with the low-level lighting, it’s a dance show so I’d like to be able to see the dancers feet. The use of synthesisers on a few of the pieces, especially the Paso Doble gave a cheesy element which was a shame, this is a West End show and these elements exposed the shows provincial roots.

The ballroom dances for me were my favourite part including a gorgeous dance where two couples mirrored each other effortlessly. It’s a shame there were not more moments like this.

If you’re a Strictly fan you’ll enjoy this, Karen’s performances are definitely a must see. For me though it lacked the wow factor I was expecting. If I was a Strictly judge Robin and Kristina would get a “seven” (said in style of Len Goodman). Whereas Karen gets the ten.

STARS : ★ ★ ★

Tickets can be bought from Shows in London

The Mousetrap – St. Martin’s Theatre – Review

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25125 that's ALOT of nights

25125 that’s A LOT of performances

It’s been running for 60 years and so I thought it was time that I made the pilgrimage to see the world’s longest running play. Especially as I’ve just been in the Tom Stoppard spoof if it, The Real Inspector Hound.

MT 60 yrs

It is very much a play of its time (1952), but there is a certain charm and nostalgia in seeing a play that is assured of its place in theatrical history and isn’t trying to be anything but true to itself.

The cast give solid performances and make sure they don’t veer into the melodramatic or caricatures that it would be so easy for them to fall into. Stephen Yeo as the eccentric Christopher Wren and Zara Plessard as the tortured Mollie Ralston were the stand out performances for me. Whilst Michael Fenner gave a fine performance as the mysterious Mr Paravicini.

Due to the fact of its record-breaking run, it’s really something that anyone that is a theatre aficionado has to go and see. I’m glad I’ve gone to see it, it was nice to go along to a play which is a whodunit and exercise my mental faculties in working out who the murderer was. In many ways that’s what I enjoyed the most, it was refreshing to go to the theatre and see a play that is very different to what else is on, simply by the fact that it is a play from the past and a genre that is seldom written for the stage now. It was like being in a perpetual time capsule from the 50′s.

If like me you’ve had it on your list of “things I must get round to seeing”, I heartedly recommend you make the effort and go and see a piece of theatrical history in its diamond anniversary.

STARS : * * *

My Expectations were Exceeded – Great Expectations – Vaudeville Theatre – Review

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Great-Expectations.jpg

This highly stylised and imposing production brings Dickens’ tale of shattered dreams and suffering to life in a fresh and spirited way.

The atmospheric music playing as we took our seats helped to create the right melancholy mood. It’s gothic style and inventive staging ensure this play is not a reproduction of Victoriana or a boring retelling of the novel.

The older Pip (played superbly by Paul Nivison)is onstage throughout, watching and reacting to the life of his younger self (an astounding performance by Taylor Jay-Davis). This helped as it made us focus on Pip and his journey and not get side tracked into the other characters who are all a vital part of the tale, but it’s their interactions with young Pip that we concentrate on. This means the story has a tightness adaptations sometimes lack. Dickens can be so vast the central thread gets missed. This production is to be applauded that it never looses sight of whose story and expectations we are to follow.

It is a sad tale, with many a shattered life on display, the struggles they face and the triumphs and twists that life throws at them mean my attention was kept throughout.

The entire cast gives strong performances. Josh Elwell as Joe Gargery was especially touching and he had some wonderful comic moments in Act 2 as the servant. Jack Ellis as Jaggers, was dark and imposing yet his revelation at the end of his broken dreams was a real metaphorical punch to the solar plexus.

Great-Expectations-Vaudeville

James Vaughan as Wemmick and Jack Ellis as Jaggers

Substantial female performances came from Paula Wilcox as the mentally unstable Miss Haversham and Grace Rowe as the loveless Estella gave memorably dark performances.

Grace Rowe as Estella and Paula Wilcox as Miss Haversham

Grace Rowe as Estella and Paula Wilcox as Miss Haversham

As I mentioned this is a heavily stylised production, the costumes are amazing and the use of cobwebs on them to denote that what we’re watching is in the past was a cunning touch.

I didn’t have many expectations on going to see this, I was expecting a dry and frankly boring retelling of Dickens tale. It did take a little while to pick up its pace but once it had I was treated to one of the most creative and exciting productions I’ve seen in a while. Go to  http://www.showsinlondon.co.uk/show/great-expectations-0 for tickets.

STARS : * * * *

Playing Cards 1 : SPADES – Robert Lepage – The Roundhouse

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SPADES

The last play I saw by Robert Lepage (The Blue Dragon) I described as “theatrical perfection” . So my expectations were running high. I was especially intrigued by the idea of a series of plays based on the suits of cards, as I’ve been a professional conjurer for the last 10 years and I was keen to see a play drawing on my 52 friends for inspiration.

This series has been commissioned by the 360° Network ( a worldwide group of 360° theatrical spaces)  and so we are treated to a 360° viewing of the Lepage magic.

Yet despite all its technical wizardry and moments that did touch me, this play felt clunky and contrived on too many occasions. The anti-war characters felt bolted on rather than an organic part of the story.

360° version of a Vegas gaming room

2 characters/stories stood out for me; the gambling addict – his scene at Gamblers Anonymous was extremely powerful. As was the illegal immigrant house maid’s dilemma at needing to find a doctor.

Ironically these two scenes required no fancy staging, yet the rest of play is a dazzling whirligig of theatrical tricks and illusions, which for me detracted from the stories being told. A few musical numbers linked with Vegas /cards just didn’t work and to my mind were obviously added so the central stage area could be set. I expect better from the master of theatrical magic and segues.

Now a “bad” Lepage play is still better than other theatrical work out there. So if you’ve never seen any of Lepage’s work it’s worth going to see, just to see his style, but be aware this is nowhere near the pinnacles he can reach.

Maybe he’s finding his feet with the 360° concept. I look forward to the next suit in the pack and hope it relies less on the whistles and bells and keeps us connected via the humanity on stage.

At the end there were more technicians on stage being applauded than actors, therein lies the problem with this piece for me.

STARS : * *

Gandini Juggling – Smashed – Royal Opera House Linbury Studio – Review

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9 clever jugglers - no idea how many apples were used, I lost count!

9 clever jugglers – no idea how many apples were used, I lost count!

What a great start to my theatrical year, in this sublime, witty, skillful and above all fun show Smashed.

The show sees the 9 jugglers perform highly choreographed routines to various pieces of music. Some are strikingly beautiful, others emotive, and some just riotous fun.  One of the routines, saw one of the group with a rolled up newspaper hellbent on disrupting the rest of the group who were juggling 5/6 apples each. His techniques and ruses became more and more elaborate  - he succeeded in his objective to stop everyone, juggling, but I was amazed how long they kept going – not sure I could juggle three apples, let alone 5 or 6 whilst being “thwacked” over the head repeatedly!

Smashed pic2

This was part of the London International Mime Festival, and was the only show of it I could get to this year unfortunately, but I’ll be back next year, as the performers they get, always expand my theatrical experience and expectations, one word for me sums up this show – joyous.

STARS : * * * *