REVIEWS Archives - Page 177 of 545

1Aug

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

The Grapes Of Wrath – National Theatre

For a novel written almost 100 years ago, the parallels with today are striking. A family of overcrowded refugees trying to make their way to safety, to employment and a home. Yet along the way people won’t even recognise them as human and are happy to cheat them, underpay them and generally take advantage of them. The systemic exploitation of the desperate hasn’t changed from the 1930s until today. Inevitably adaptations sacrifice depth for brevity. Frank Galati’s 1990 adaptation making its London debut under director Carrie Cracknell suffers from this, particularly in character development leading to less impact when some characters don’t make it to the end of the long drive. We are told about Tom’s great relationship with his grandpa but spend so little time in it that it does n...

Burning Down The Horse – Pleasance Dome, Queen Dome

1Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

Burning Down The Horse – Pleasance Dome, Queen Dome

If you haven’t heard of the Trojan Horse before then this will be an eye opening and hilarious introduction. As Greek leader Odysseus leads his men (and in this case women too) to war in a giant wooden horse the soldiers are starting to have second thoughts about how safe their plan is. They are also beginning to have doubts about their leader. Will the attack go to plan or is there a fair few limitations to storming a city in a giant flammable wooden horse? Fishing4Chips have put together a brilliantly well-rounded historical comedy centering around the famous Greek mythology. This highly immersive show is sure to make you laugh as well as to incite the “power of the people” into you. We as an audience are the soldiers, we are being marched to battle and we are being yelled at to stay ...

1Aug

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Mixed Omens – Etcetera Theatre

Mixed Omens is literally one of a kind. Performed by narrative improv group, The Improvised Play, their previous productions have focused on the works of Tennessee Williams and Caryl Churchill. Here, they take the works of Neil Gaiman, looking at the interface between real life and myth and the creatures that inhabit those spaces. Demons and gods (like Gaiman's interpretation of Aziraphale and Crowley) mix with humans with varying success and outcomes. An evil father who wants to spread his darkness across the world is searching for his wayward daughter who has escaped to the human world to seek out her half-sister rather than following in his dark footsteps. Essentially a struggle between good and evil, the show is Good Omens meets Long Lost Family, with secret sib...

1Aug

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

The Wizard of Oz – Wolverhampton Grand

“There’s no place like Wolves!” Well, there certainly isn’t as Dorothy Gale and her little dog, too, land their wooden house on the stage of the Grand Theatre which they’re calling no place like home for the next few days. “The Wizard of Oz” is, undoubtedly, an iconic, kaleidoscopic, psychedelic trip into the mad and inventive mind of L. Frank Baum who, eager to create a new style fairy tale for a new, burgeoning nation, let his eyes drift to his library index cards one day where the letters O-Z jumped out and he was off down his yellow brick road to literary success. His unstoppable quill knocked out a dozen or so Oz titles within a few years with further volumes being penned by other authors. Baum, being no slack capitalist, exploited his work in all media - books, stage and film. Way...

1Aug

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

101 Dalmatians – Palace Theatre

Another Disney classic has been brought to the stage; and 101 Dalmatians - The Musical is a delightful reimagining of the beloved classic, bringing together a talented cast and a visually captivating production. The show blends the timeless story with fresh energy and charm and is currently at Manchester Palace Theatre as part of its UK Tour starring Kym Marsh as the iconic Cruella De Vil. Kym Marsh delivers a standout performance as Cruella, embodying the villain with a perfect mix of menace and camp. Her presence on stage is both commanding and entertaining, adding a unique flair to the role. Samuel Thomas as Tom and Jessie Elland as Danielle bring warmth and earnestness to their roles, making the audience root for the beloved dalmatians’ safe return. The show shines in its comedic...

1Aug

By Phoebe Olivia Sian HobsonNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Grease – Alhambra, Bradford

Grease is most definitely the word on everyone’s lips after attending last nights show at the Alhambra, as it’s fair to say the withdrawals from the thrill and excitement have well and truly kicked in. There are always high expectations for beloved productions such as Grease, and the performance by the cast and crew exceeded all of them, inviting in younger audiences by bringing fresh new ideas but also reminding those maturer fans of their favourite scenes and songs. The show was impressively enticing, horny and funny with the entertaining representations of the burger bar boys and the pink ladies, the cast hit the nail on the head while capturing these characters, whether it was on their best or worst behaviour the teen groups had the audience in stitches. The show invites you in l...

31Jul

By Anna Ní DhúillNo Comments

North West

In The Sick of It – Unity Theatre

‘In the Sick of It’, at the Unity Theatre in Liverpool, was an evening of highly enjoyable verbatim theatre and top-notch storytelling. Devised and acted by Adam McGuigan and Antonia Kemi Coker of Wake the Beast Theatre Company, Liverpool was treated to an intimate preview before the company head to Edinburgh for a hefty Fringe run. ‘In the Sick of It’ is a compilation of stories from NHS and healthcare workers who worked tirelessly through COVID and continue to work post-pandemic. Wake the Beast have been working on this show for four years, with the intention of bringing it to care homes and hospitals as an offering of catharsis for those working in healthcare. While I imagine it was a huge success in those specific sites, I’m so glad the company have decided to share this brilliant w...

Constellations & The Sociable Plover – Frinton Summer Theatre

31Jul

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

Constellations & The Sociable Plover – Frinton Summer Theatre

Double billings at Frinton Summer Theatre are rare, so it is a real treat to watch two plays in one evening. Forget about ‘shrinkflation’, this really is a case of getting two for the price of one – such is the quality and innovation of these plays which would usually be more at home in a London fringe theatre. ‘The Sociable Plover’ by Tim Whitnall is a dark - very dark – comedy drama, with a twist. The action is centred in a bird hide. Roy Tunt (Christopher Howell) is a keen birdwatcher (twitcher) on a mission to sight the Sociable Plover, the last on his list before ornithological fame awaits him in the record books. Dave John (Jon Scott Clark) is a besuited thug who looks like he means trouble – and he has the attitude to boot. In an awkward, and often funny exchange, the pair’s char...

A Caravan Named Desire – Shakespeare North Playhouse

31Jul

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

A Caravan Named Desire – Shakespeare North Playhouse

I am an avid SNP goer and am always intrigued by the unique plays that are on shown there whether in the main ‘globe like’ arena, the upstairs small studio or the outside ‘Sir Ken Dodd’ space, each performance is memorable, worth my 12-mile journey to see ‘what’s on offer’. I am never disappointed. I was hoping that tonight was no exception. Tonight, I entered the intimate studio to a scene that showed a messy area of clothes, tippled-over chairs and strewn bottles of water. A couple were in the space looking frantic and tense and the woman was constantly checking her phone. The couple were arguing about whether the show should go ahead as the main female cast member had not attended. The man stated that the female had to step in and although she initially refused, she played the ...

Yoga and sex (for Women over 40) – The Peer Hat

31Jul

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Yoga and sex (for Women over 40) – The Peer Hat

There are probably very few circumstances where a woman will sit watching her husband kneeling on a yoga mat with another woman’s bottom thrusting towards his face, whilst discussing the physics of positions in the Kama Sutra, and her reaction be hysterical laughter. But that’s where we find ourselves, in the company of spunky Aussie yoga instructor Kath (aka Kathryn Haywood) who may still be trying to find the perfect ‘Brangelina’ word- combo for the sex lecture (‘Slex-ture?’) that she is here to deliver. Clutching three yoga-based self-help manuals from the 1960s, Kath whooshes us through reflections on dating, staying young and, naturally, mastery of basic yoga. And it’s an absolute riot. Despite the slightly saucy audience participation (which, wonderfully, people are happy to...