REVIEWS Archives - Page 101 of 548

22Mar

By Johanna RobertsNo Comments

North West

Erocia – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

‘Dazzling’ was the first word that came to mind as Veronika Eberle played Beethoven’s violin concerto with the RLPO last night, but others, such as ‘breathtaking’ and extraordinary’ were not far behind. Despite an initially poor reception at its premiere in 1806, Beethoven’s concerto has since been acknowledged as one of the greatest pieces for the instrument. The orchestra, under Hindoyan’s direction, from the delicacy of the first five beats of the timpani to the final dramatic conclusion moved seamlessly from the tension of the rising scales to filigree lightness in the quieter sections, highlighting the relationship between orchestra and soloist. Eberle more than does justice to the music’s melodic lyricism with a tone that is both pure and warm and a virtuosity that, while demonstrati...

A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson or God Whoever Reads It First – Soho Theatre

22Mar

By Ralph JeffreysNo Comments

London

A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson or God Whoever Reads It First – Soho Theatre

A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson is a brilliant piece of physical storytelling, at times funny, thought-provoking, and touching. It follows two boys, Ace (Natasha Roland) and Grasshopper (Xhloe Rice), who are scouts at the time of the Vietnam War. Through child-like inventions we see the world through their eyes, with the lines between playing soldiers at home and being soldiers at war are blurred. Photo: Morgan McDowell The strength of this show comes through its roots in physical theatre and clowning. Xhloe Rice and Natasha Roland, performers and co-creators, use this to evoke the child-like world of their characters. The extent of the ‘set’ is one large, black rubber tyre, but through clowning the two are able to produce so much from this one item: a piece of cover under enemy fire, t...

Murder, She Didn’t Write – Floral Pavilion

22Mar

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

North West

Murder, She Didn’t Write – Floral Pavilion

We embark on this evening with a little bit of a mystery of our own: do we have press tickets? Fortunately, we did, although not a press night. But no programme so that’s where I could slip up, getting the characters’ names wrong; just have to colour them in. For that matter, when is a review not a review? When a play is not a play. As this hilarious show is based on improvisation, it’ll be totally different every time, so we’ll just try and give you a taste of it. And for it. But while we’re nitpicking, the staging is rather odd; it may be intended to be versatile, a setting for no matter what venue, because that is chosen at random by the audience, along with various props (and choosing a card to pinpoint victim and villain), but it resembles an unsuccessful antique emporium, or a...

22Mar

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Death of a Salesman – Festival Theatre

Arthur Miller’s iconic treatise on the American Dream, often studied, but rarely performed, is brought to glorious life tonight on the Scotland’s biggest stage in front of a packed and almost reverential audience. It is a simple enough tale of an ordinary man, Willie Loman, who has worked all his life to live up to his, and America’s, idea of what a man should be; strong, dependable, financially stable and unexceptional – an automaton – A Salesman. We enter Willie’s world just as he seriously begins to question his life and whether it has been a success. He has begun to have lapses of concentration which might point towards the onset of dementia, which are now even affecting his ability to drive safely and ultimately be able to continue working. A life insurance policy of $20,000 feels ...

21Mar

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Raven – Liverpool Playhouse Studio

The raven is often associated with loss and ill-omen and there’s plenty of that in Abigail McKenzie’s debut play as, inspired by her own lived experiences with addiction, homelessness, children’s services, and domestic abuse, the piece delves into themes of addiction, isolation, and the far-reaching consequences on maternal relationships. Staged on a raised platform with the audience on three sides, Raven presents the challenges of a mother, Elis (McKenzie), trying to reconnect with her young daughter who has been taken into care, with an unravelling back story hinting as to how she has got to this position. The play touches upon a range of sensitive and challenging issues, which most audience members will not have direct experience of, so as an adject, I must note that I have worked...

21Mar

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Toxic – Playhouse Theatre, Sheffield

Warning – Age guidance 18+ containing scenes of an adult nature that some may find distressing. A Powerful and evocative laying bare of relationships and individuals facing a world of stigma. A Dibby Theatre Production - Toxic written Nathaniel J Hall gives the audience a powerhouse portrayal of extreme emotions rather than pure toxicity in this tale of two queer and damaged individuals whose lives entwine. A stark and beautiful tale, Toxic is explosively semi-autobiographical and is Hall’s second instalment as a playwright, after the successful and award winning ‘First Time’ - the show about staying positive in a negative world. Toxic in the words of Hall is ‘the story of how we met, fell in love and f**ked up!’ It’s 2017 and in Manchester, two damaged 30 somethings set up a m...

21Mar

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

Dear England – National Theatre

Dear England, written by James Graham, tells the story of the ‘New’ England football team and centres on the origin story of Gareth Southgate as Manager of the England team between 2016 and 2024. Gareth is determined to bring life and heart back to the squad and we are immersed in his journey, striving for solidarity and a better England. The lighting, sound and projection work of this production is exceptional, as is the set by Es Devlin. As the audience enters, they see a circular stage with a semi-circle above it lit up, representing a football stadium. There is a low hum of the crowd that can be heard which builds anticipation. The semi-circle becomes a space for powerful projection which aids the progression of the show. The revolving stage is used throughout the performance, never...

21Mar

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Mixed Sex – Lion & Unicorn Theatre

Mixed Sex, written and starring Samuel Normington, takes audiences on a nostalgic trip back to the 1990s—a time when Eternals dominated the charts and the Spice Girls were just making their debut. This coming-of-age comedy follows a group of 10-year-olds as they begin to explore their identities, interests, and the awkward, often hilarious, moments of growing up. The play captures the era brilliantly, evoking memories of football-obsessed boys, a fixation on “tits,” and girls who idolized Care Bears and danced to Eternals. The humour is sharp, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and well-timed gags that keep the energy high throughout the performance. The writing cleverly taps into the awkwardness of childhood friendships and early discoveries about self and attraction, making for...

21Mar

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Sisyphean Quick Fix – Riverside Studios

Few plays handle the quiet complexities of family duty with as much tenderness as ‘Sisyphean Quick Fix’, Bettina Paris’ semi-autobiographical debut now playing at Riverside Studios. Set between London and Malta, the story follows two sisters, Krista and Pip, forced to confront the worsening alcoholism of their father, a man whose reckless behaviour has long been their shared burden. Paris plays Krista, a struggling actor in London juggling auditions and bar shifts, while Tina Rizzo’s character, Pip remains in Malta, holding down a steady job and a seemingly more conventional life. What unfolds is a careful dissection of how physical distance can breed resentment, as the sisters wrestle with uneven responsibilities, and the question of what anyone truly owes a parent who repeatedly hits ...

21Mar

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Retrograde – Apollo Theatre

Sidney Poitier was one of the greats of Hollywood, whose influence went well beyond the world of film. The tributes to him at the time of his death in 2022, reproduced in the programme, demonstrate this. On transfer from the Kiln Theatre, this play deals with events early in Poitier's life, when he was on the verge of a major breakthrough into the world of film. He came to the attention of McCarthy's Un-American Activities Committee and was put under extreme pressure to sign a document implicating some of his friends as communists and repudiating his sincerely held views on the civil rights movement. This play is thus essentially about the conflict which he personally faced at this crucial juncture in his professional life but also reflects on the malign influence of the political thought-...