REVIEWS Archives - Page 19 of 548

17Oct

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Private Lives – Rose Theatre Kingston

What a life of ruse, where “Love and Chaos Collide” in Noel Coward’s Private Lives. It is evident that some knowledge of Noel Coward,his character as a playwright, composer and director, would stand you in good stead to appreciate this play. Coward was a distinguished actor flamboyant full of wit and charm using the English language like a tool to convey drama, comedy in a unique style that became his trademark. Private Lives a 1930 Coward’s comedy classic has seen many revivals in the past and this new production directed by Tanuja Amarasuriya has a sleek “modern connection” to the original. Written about the lives of a couple separated by divorce only to meet again on their honeymoon night with their new spouses. Their eyes meet on the hotel balcony, the chemistry reignites, and rekin...

The Flowers of Srebrenica – Jacksons Lane Theatre

17Oct

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

The Flowers of Srebrenica – Jacksons Lane Theatre

The novel The Flowers of Srebrenica was written in 2022 by Aidan Hehir. In her director's notes Lara Parmiani states that this play is not intended to be an adaptation, but rather the spark for its conception. As a result, the play has a feeling of being devised in a theatre workshop rather than following a prewritten script. It is highly visual with a slight narrative and is performed by actors from three countries that have experienced recent civil wars. The play is performed in English, although some of the diction was not always clear. It tells the story of Aidan, an Irish lecturer, visiting Bosnia to expand his knowledge of the conflicts about which he teaches. He is driven to Srebrenica by Mohammed, who turns out to have been much involved in the conflicts, and who leads Aidan to ...

17Oct

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

North West

Young Frankenstein – Hope Mill Theatre

Mel Brooks’ musical adaptation of the 1974 black and white horror comedy Young Frankenstein made its UK debut in Newcastle back in 2017, before taking the West End by storm. Now, in celebration of Hope Mill’s 10th anniversary, this spine-tingling spoof has been reanimated for the spooky season. When esteemed neurosurgeon Dr Frederick Frankenstein learns that he has inherited his infamous grandfather’s estate, a trip to Transylvania soon entices him into revisiting Victor’s outrageous experiments. Slick direction from Nick Winston ensures an excellent blend of sci-fi and silliness transfers from screen to stage; from flouting horror film tropes to dancing with double meanings, one scene effortlessly flows into the next as Dr Frederick and co descend into chaos. This remains both a sat...

16Oct

By Dan GrimesNo Comments

North West

1984 – Harlequin Theatre, Northwich

I have never visited the Harlequin Theatre in Northwich before and, my goodness, what a little gem it is! Unprepossessing from the outside, this 96-seater black box theatre is tucked away amidst cul-de-sacs and industrial units on the outskirts of Northwich town centre. It’s an intimate venue, which the Harlequin Players are clearly very adept at using to its full potential (it has been their home for forty-one years now). It proved to be the perfect space for their latest production, an in-house adaptation of George Orwell’s seminal dystopian novel, 1984. The narrative of the play centres on Winston Smith, an Ingsoc Party worker in the Ministry of Truth, and his conflict, both internal and external, with the regime, of which he is part. Set in a horrific near-future where totalitar...

16Oct

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Maids – Unity Theatre

Inspired by the late Graeme Phillips, finessed by director Elinor Randle, and produced by Peter Ward, That Theatre Group CIC’s production of Jean Genet’s The Maids, translated by David Rudkin, is a masterly tour de force and a fitting tribute to a man who did so much for theatre in Liverpool. With their mistress (Jane Hogarth) away, two male maids, Solange (Samuel Perez Duran) and Claire (Cameron McKendrick) plunge into their darkest fantasies, in a twisted game, simmering with sexual tension, unravelling questions of modern slavery, gender identity, and power. The result is an absurd world where boundaries between reality and performance dissolve. Genet’s play was written in 1946 and, drawing upon a real-life murder case, critiqued the social and sexual hierarchies of the time t...

Dancing at Lughnasa – Royal Exchange Theatre

16Oct

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Dancing at Lughnasa – Royal Exchange Theatre

Writer Brian Friel is universally regarded as one of the leading figures in English language drama, a reputation which seems to grow with every passing year since he died in 2015. The style of his work, examining the transitional culture and politics in Irish society in the 20th Century, has drawn serious comparisons with Miller, Williams and especially Anton Chekhov. This Autumn, in a continuation of their recent return to form, the Royal Exchange has teamed up with The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield to produce a spellbinding production of ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’, Friel’s exploration of his memories of growing up in rural 1930s Ireland. The comparisons of Friel with Chekhov are a serious one; both writers work is set in communities on the cusp of radical change from rural to industrial ec...

Top Hat the Musical – New Wimbledon Theatre

15Oct

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Top Hat the Musical – New Wimbledon Theatre

Top Hat, a musical genre from bygone days comes to the New Wimbledon Theatre with style and grace. What is striking from the outset is Peter Mckintosh set designs which spin round and glide on and off stage to create the perfect scenic backdrop for this timeless performance. Together with Yvonne Milnes their costume design was exquisite and transports you right back into the grandeur of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, this did not disappoint. This 1935 crazy comedy with quirky storylines and ‘goofy’ mishaps is reflected very well in this version of Top Hat. A catalogue of mistaken identity, love and romance sees Jerry Travers played by Phillip Attmore shine with his toe tapping dance moves, sublime and joyous to watch. Complimented by Lindsay Atherton as Dale Tremont. In this perf...

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Sheffield Lyceum

15Oct

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Sheffield Lyceum

Triumphant and sublime masterclass of theatrical storytelling – Enchanting! Selectively based on C.S Lewis’ novel of the same name and the first and best known of seven in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Direct from the West End, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe takes its audience on a magical and majestic journey through the wardrobe into Narnia. Written in 1950, the story tells of four siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy who are evacuated in wartime to the home of an eccentric Professor, they discover an old wardrobe in a spare room and upon entering it are transported to the mystical land of Narnia. Can the two sons of Adam and the two daughters of Eve aid both the animals and the returning saviour Aslan, the Lion, to rid Narnia of the White Witch and restore Narnia to its seaso...

15Oct

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

The Seagull – Royal Lyceum

The Seagull is the complete package thanks to James Brining's direction. The casting is perfect; the set sumptuous; the costumes tip-top and the adapted script a true delight. Mike Poulton, the witty script adaptor, praises The Lyceum as “a theatre and a company Chekhov would have loved.” The cast of eleven certainly warm your heart, being consistently strong across the board. There is humour, tenderness, spite and selfishness aplenty. The Seagull offers a study in human folly, with each of us striving for originality and acknowledgement in a world where our relationships and the perspective of “the other” tarnishes and corrupts our pure intentions. The human experience is presented with simplicity. The tragedy of despised love and our willingness to accept crumbs, or nothing at a...

Marina Abramović: Balkan Erotic Epic – Aviva Studios

15Oct

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Marina Abramović: Balkan Erotic Epic – Aviva Studios

Artist and director Marina Abramović presents her most ambitious work yet with this stunning four-hour immersive experience that draws upon her Slavic roots and culture to explore the eroticism, spirituality and traditions of her homeland. A brass band leads us up into the hall where we witness a funeral lament for Josip Broz Tito, former Communist leader of Yugoslavia, before a further twelve visceral scenes are revealed around us, with audiences free to choose their own path. Photo: Marco Anell Magic Potions questions what is myth and what is history whilst Fucking the Ground/Fertility Rites and Scaring the Gods to Stop the Rain both explore ancient ritual performances designed to pre-empt crop failure. Ancestor’s Dance presents a typical winter scene where performers in trad...