REVIEWS Archives - Page 334 of 571

17Jun

By Jennifer LaishleyNo Comments

London

The Crucible – Gielgud Theatre

The National Theatre’s version of The Crucible is a play that is not to be missed. Both new audiences and fans of the original Arthur Miller play will enjoy. This talented cast use every moment to create drama and suspense and keep the audience entertained. The Crucible has recently transferred to the Gielgud Theatre after a successful run at the National Theatre last year. The show uses Arthur Miller’s original script under the direction of Lyndsey Turner. The story follows the town of Salem as they start to accuse the women of witchcraft. Singing is used throughout the play to add dramatic suspense. At the beginning this takes the form of haunting humming and by the end of the show this transforms into a haunted chorus of singing, showing that the girls have taken control. Photo...

17Jun

By Oliver GigginsNo Comments

Scotland

Into The Woods – Edinburgh College

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, using the beginning of Rapunzel, in which the theft of some plants from a witch's garden by a desperate man (Oliver Payn) forces him into a deal with the witch, as the main link. In the musical, the couple's son, a baker (Darren Walls) and his wife (Justyne Snyder) make their own deal with the witch (Maaike Hillen) in order to have a child, a deal which will lead him to interact with characters and events from "Little Red Riding Hood" (Missy Hingley, with Andrew Lodge as the Wolf / Lucinda and Bo Gourley as Granny / Narrator), “Cinderella” (Fiona Dawson, with Joe Gill as the Prince, Heather Richardson as the Stepmother, Shannon Scott as Florinda and Aric Hanscomb Ryr...

17Jun

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Kind Complex – Traverse Theatre

Established in 2009, Edinburgh’s Strange Town Youth Theatre has developed into something of an institution for theatrical experimentation in the City and is known for pushing the boundaries of what young people are capable of. With no less than three separate plays kicking off at the Traverse this week, tonight is the turn for Tuesday night’s 14-18 year olds to show what they could do, and they certainly did not disappoint. The talented acting of this magnificent bunch, I counted twenty, combined with Isla Cowan’s thought-provoking futuristic script and Catherine Ward-Stoddart’s crisp direction, is certainly a very watchable combination. Although there is no choreographer or MD mentioned in the programme, the movement and music selection are excellent throughout, from the straight lines...

The Return of Benjamin Lay – Finborough Theatre

16Jun

By Gonzalo SentanaNo Comments

London

The Return of Benjamin Lay – Finborough Theatre

Can one make a statement and beg to be brought back to the fold, renouncing all principles? Can one's desire to be accepted be stronger than one's principles? The Return of Benjamin Lay, written in collaboration between Naomi Wallace and Marcus Rediker, under the direction of Ron Daniels, and with acting by Mark Povinelli as Benjamin Lay, is a striking piece about a very interesting historical character. The treatment Povinelli gives the character is on its own, remarkable, and hits all the right nerves. The stage of the Finborough Theatre is made almost bare, with the windows letting in the noise and images of the cars from outside, and from the place where this reviewer was sitting, the sun was hitting in the faces of the audience. The set design, by Riccardo Hernandez and Isobel N...

16Jun

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Over The Waves – Traverse Theatre

Established in 2009, Edinburgh’s Strange Town Youth Theatre has developed into something of an institution for theatrical experimentation in the City and is known for pushing the boundaries of what young people are capable of. And like all experiments, perhaps not every project works or turns out exactly as planned. There is a feeling, in this hour long show of a great idea which has not been fully realised, and yet should nevertheless be applauded for its vision and its scale and its courage. The stage is set within the steeply banked Traverse 1 with a central great grey monolith carved with lists of faded names, reminiscent of a war memorial. At the front apron of the stage a chalk outline of a body suggests a recent murder. Around the stage buzz five characters questioning each ot...

15Jun

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

I, Daniel Blake – Birmingham Rep

There’s a palpable, visceral fury coursing through the core of “I, Daniel Blake” which makes for compelling drama and infuriating truth. For those of us who first came across the story in its cinematic incarnation it’s good to see it has lost none of its bite, bile and bitterness. And, though the theatre version loses some of the reportage and cinéma vérité authenticity in its imagery, it more than makes up for it in heart and soul driven home by some startling and sincere performances. It’s the story of a good, honest man. Not a hero, not special. Just straight and centred ensnared in the obscene and labyrinthine benefits system inflicted on this country by Tory administrations. The tweets and voice grabs of living, breathing politicians expounding the virtues of their cruel system whi...

15Jun

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

42nd Street – Sadler’s Wells

Sadler’s Wells was in full swing for the opening night of 42nd Street. Red carpet, paparazzi and velvet ropes graced Roseberry Avenue, adding a giddy razzmatazz to this high-kicking comeback. The show was created in 1980, based on the 1933 movie of the same name. The Broadway production won Tony Awards for Best Musical and Choreography, becoming a long-running hit. It wowed London in 1984 (winning the Olivier Award for Best Musical), launching the career of a teenage Catharine Zeta-Jones. In a mirror to the plot of 42nd Street, Zeta-Jones was elevated from chorus girl to West End legend when both the lead actress AND her understudy fell ill. Jones stepped up and a star was born. In a cynical era of irony, apathy and algorithms, are people really in the mood for a cheery homage to old sc...

15Jun

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

North West

Vernons Girls – Liverpool’s Royal Court

What could be better on a hot Summer’s night than a feel good show celebrating 50’s red hot property, the Vernon Girls? Hot – weather that is: were this horror, the hairs on your neck would be too plastered down to stand up. Horror? Well, although a cheerful, intriguing blend of music and history, it is horrific, judging by the gasps from the audience at some points. On the one hand, a bunch of talented teenagers whose dreams come true, from company choir to showbiz glamour, on the other – the iron fist, barely clad in a velvet glove, their big bosses, manipulative (the usual platitudes about being one big happy family) and exploitative, don’t see their actions as such. It’s just the way it is. And what an easy way to make lots of money, for them. When Equity points out the girls are ...

School Girls or The African Mean Girls – Lyric Theatre Hammersmith

15Jun

By Zara OdetundeNo Comments

London

School Girls or The African Mean Girls – Lyric Theatre Hammersmith

This show wows with sharp witted remarks and a hilarity that surpasses cultural barriers. The London premiere of Jocelyn Bioh’s 2017 comedy is a commentary of female friendship and feeling of isolations in school, dealing with bullies and hierarchy is set against the backdrop of Aburi Girls Boarding School in 1986 Ghana. Paulina is the queen bee, the most popular girl in school who picks girls up out of obscurity and makes them feel special. That is until her status starts to be questioned upon the arrival of new transfer student Ericka. The main group of girls attend the best Girls school in Ghana and are awaiting the arrival of a recruiter for the Miss Ghana pageant. Paulina (Tara Tijani) is the group leader and believes she is the only choice for the pageant but Ericka’s (Anna Sha...

Much Ado About Nothing – Shakespeare North Playhouse

15Jun

By Jan MellorNo Comments

North West

Much Ado About Nothing – Shakespeare North Playhouse

So, for those that do not know what Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing (and many do ask!) the story is a comedic play by William Shakespeare about misunderstandings, love and deception. Benedick, Claudio and Don Pedro arrive at Leonato's house in Messina. Beatrice and Benedick bicker with each other and Claudio, a soldier, falls in love with Leonato's daughter, Hero. Don John, who is Don Pedro's evil half-brother, tricks Claudio into believing that he has seen Hero being unfaithful. Meanwhile, Don Pedro and others plot to bring Benedick and Beatrice together. Claudio accuses Hero of infidelity and refuses to marry her. Leonato is persuaded to pretend that she is dead. Hero's innocence is proven, and Claudio repents. He agrees to accept Antonio's daughter in marriage, and she turns...