REVIEWS Archives - Page 29 of 563

1Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Matilda – Alhambra Bradford

Many parents would have brought their precious ones along tonight expecting a jolly night out, but Matilda is based on a Roald Dahl classic so there’s a welcome darkness to this mega hit musical they might not have been expecting. It’s a tale of five-year-old child genius Matilda Wormwood who not only ends up in the family from hell, but then comes under the tutelage of monstrous headmistress Miss Trunchbull before using her formidable powers to take the tyrant down. Matilda is a subtly challenging but always entertaining piece that works for young minds, and for big kids like me who were huge Dahl fans back in the day, who can appreciate themes like how abuse impacts adult life like for Matilda’s teacher, the saintly Miss Honey. Dennis Kelly’s intelligent and funny adaptation kee...

31Oct

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

I Screamed a Scream – Phoenix Arts Club

Halloween season is the perfect time to celebrate all things wicked, and I Screamed a Scream embraces that spirit with devilish delight. This cabaret brings together a collection of songs from some of theatre and film’s most iconic villains, alongside a few surprising choices that make you question what really defines a villain in the first place. One of the most unexpected moments of the evening came with the inclusion of Bop to the Top from High School Musical. It’s a fun, upbeat number, but it does make you pause to wonder: are Ryan and Sharpay truly villainous enough to earn their place among such notorious company? Whether or not you think they fit the bill, the song’s addition brought a burst of nostalgia and humour to the night, and that playful unpredictability was part of t...

31Oct

By Holly SewellNo Comments

London

The Line of Beauty – Almeida Theatre

Alan Hollinghurst’s 2004 novel The Line of Beauty takes its title from William Hogarth’s work on the empirical analysis of aesthetics. Its protagonist, Nick Guest, is obsessed with this idea of beauty; he drifts from gorgeous lover to gorgeous lover, coming alive only for sex and conversations about Henry James; he is enticed by the lifestyle of the wealthy, but doesn’t quite belong in their world. The Almeida's adaptation of the novel grapples with Nick’s struggle between his aesthete sensibilities and impossibility of life as a young gay man during Thatcherism and the AIDS crisis. Michael Grandage’s production captures the ‘80s zeitgeist deliciously. There’s ‘80s pop anthems throughout, booming from the radio onstage and smoothing over scene transitions; and, conversely, there’s the e...

30Oct

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

The Producers – Zodiac Theatre Group

Opening Night, It’s Opening Night. Zodiac Theatre Group have brought the hilarious Mel Brooks musical, The Producers, to the Hammond in Chester this week. A new venue for the company but the space was used extremely well. Directed by Neil Silcock, there were nods from the 2005 film mixed with some fresh and hilarious moments, with lots of physical comedy made possible by the brilliant cast who threw themselves, sometimes literally, into the roles to bring this hilarious musical to life. Gareth Earl leads the company as doomed theatre producer Max Bialystock and lead he does. Earl delivers a fantastic Bialystock, with absolute top notch acting, plenty of physical comedy and some incredible vocals, especially during Betrayed where he recaps most of the story at top speed, including an ...

Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts – Sheffield Lyceum

30Oct

By Tracey BellNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts – Sheffield Lyceum

Billed as a ‘thrilling murder mystery featuring the iconic Inspector Morse’, House of Ghosts arrives in Sheffield to fulfil the gap the much missed TV Series left, 25 years ago. Based on Colin Dexter’s characters and written by Morse scriptwriter Alma Cullen the production goes some way towards filling the void Jon Thaw left and is a must experience for bereft Morse fans. The house of Ghosts refers to Morse’s past rather than the ghoulish variety as we are transported back to 1987 to the City of Oxford. The play opens as a play within a play, as we are greeted with a rather amateur stage version of Hamlet (Spin Glancy) and it is as Ophelia (Eliza Teale) enters the scene we witness her stutter, raise her hand to her mouth as blood falls onto her white gown and within seconds she is dead....

Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical – New Wimbledon Theatre

30Oct

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical – New Wimbledon Theatre

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical offers a fresh, musical twist on the beloved Percy Jackson books. It tells the nostalgic story of a boy born a half-blood: half human, half god, as he begins to uncover his identity and the challenges that come with it. As Percy searches for the truth about his father, a war between the gods breaks out, and he is faced with the task of proving his innocence in the theft of Zeus’ lightning bolt. The storyline of the musical is fast paced; however, each setback Percy faces seems to be resolved too quickly. There is rarely a sense of real danger, as every problem finds a convenient solution, from his mother’s sudden return to life, to the ease with which Percy and his friends reach the Underworld. These elements make the production feel som...

Moominvalley in November – Upstairs at the Gatehouse

30Oct

By Charles PipeNo Comments

London

Moominvalley in November – Upstairs at the Gatehouse

Moominvalley in November is a new musical adaptation of Tove Jansson’s book of the same name – the final book in the Moomin series. The first thing that stands out is the wonderful production design. The audience arrive to see gorgeous set (designed by Lu Herbert), with beautifully painted trees and fallen leaves, a lovely painted river and – in the centre – the Moominhouse. Warm shades of red, orange, and brown effortless evoke autumn, while the soft blue of the house stands out. Once the show begins, the costumes (also by Lu Herbert) are just as delightful as the set design. Even if you only have a passing familiarity with Moomins, you’ll recognise Snufkin’s iconic getup, which has been lovingly adapted. The designs do not attempt to perfectly imitate the original illustrations,...

RSC’s Wendy & Peter Pan – The Barbican Centre

30Oct

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

RSC’s Wendy & Peter Pan – The Barbican Centre

‘Peter Pan’ or ‘The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up’ was dreamed up by Scottish author, J M Barrie and released in 1904 as a play, and then later written as the novel ‘Peter and Wendy’. The story about the much-loved mischievous boy who did not grow up, was turned into a magical children’s Disney favourite in 1953, which was based upon the play. The new script has been a labour of love for director Jonathan Mundy, and writer Ella Hickson, re-imagining this classic story into a modernised view of equal roles for women, with Wendy taking on a more vocal role dealing with the loss of her brother, and becoming the healer of wounds in Neverland, and at home with her parents. Since the Disney movie was produced, the role of the woman has changed in society, with many more women bei...

30Oct

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Top Hat – Liverpool Empire

Glitz, glamour, sophistication and flair, Irving Berlin's Top Hat takes to the stage to reinvigorate and regenerate the musicals of times gone by. A magical reminder of the sheer talent and romance of the theatre. Adapted for stage by authors Matthew White and Howard Jacques and based on RKO's motion picture. Directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall. Get your toes tapping from the moment the curtain is raised and watch in awe of the perfectly timed and varied choreography (Richard Pitt, Carol Lee Meadows and Kathleen Marshall) as the dancers showcase some iconic footwork from the soft shoe shuffle to an exciting crescendo for the end of act 1 of precision dancing in a revolution of the stage as a company. The staging (Peter Mckintosh) was grand and took you straight back in ti...

30Oct

By Charles PipeNo Comments

London

Kindling – Park Theatre

Per the final wishes of a dead mutual friend, five very different perimenopausal women come together for a camping trip in Wales. The set design by Abi Groves goes a long way to make the play really feel like an authentic camping trip. The entire floor of the stage is covered with plant litter and woodland detritus. As the actors move around, they kick up leaves and twigs, creating realistic sound. The stage quickly becomes cluttered with tents, camping chairs, rucksacks, Ikea bags, and Tupperware, all haphazardly scattered around. The design immediately and evocatively captures the essence of a camping trip with friends. Not everything is as effective as the set design; some issue with the script and direction hold the play back in the earlier scenes. Some characters are presented a...