REVIEWS Archives - Page 371 of 417

14Jul

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

The Invisible Hand – Kiln Theatre

Written by Ayad Akhtar and presented by The Kiln Theatre The Invisible Hand by Ayad Akhtar is a thrilling exploration of capitalism, Wall Street and geopolitics set in the backdrop of rural Pakistan. Directed by Artistic Director of the Kiln Theatre Indhu Rubasingham, this revival of Akhtar’s 2014 play is deliciously exciting and thought-provoking, combining the frenetic pace of the financial world with the growing disillusionment of Pakistan’s working class against interference by Western nations. The story centres around the unlawful detention of American banker Nick Bright (played by Daniel Lapaine) who is being held ransom by a local Imam (played by Tony Jayawardena) in a rural village in Pakistan. Supporting the Imam’s mission is the fiery Bashir (played by Scott Kar...

12Jul

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

The Comeback – Noel Coward Theatre

Is it a play? Is it a series of sketches? Is it stand-up comedy? The answer in the case of Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen's new play now resumed at the Noel Coward Theatre following the Covid interruption is…. Yes…. to all of them. The storyline which runs through the piece is of two aspiring comics, Ben and Alex, starting out as the warmup tour for an ageing well known duo, Sid and Jimmy, who are trying to re-establish their former glory in a production in the mythical town of Diddington. Both comic pairs are played by Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen who have established their name as comics on the BBC radio series The PIn. Their debut play demonstrates them as accomplished live performers. They set up an immediate rapport with the audience, many of whom appeared to b...

12Jul

By Johanna RobertsNo Comments

North West

Under the Mask – Liverpool Playhouse

With the possibility of restrictions being lifted and mask wearing no longer being compulsory, Under the Mask is a timely and poignant reminder of the situation 18 months ago when Covid first hit our shores and our health service. An audio play by Shaan Sahota, herself a doctor, it tracks the first days of newly qualified doctor, Jaskaran (Aysha Kala), as she tries to navigate her way around a new job, a new hospital, and a new virus combining an almost documentary, prosaic tone with personal stories. If judged by conventional standards, it is by no means perfect, but as an experience reflecting a current social crisis that has affected us all, it is an important piece of theatre. As a theatrical experience, it differs from simply listening to a play on the radio. The audience ...

11Jul

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Magic Mike Live – Hippodrome Casino

For those of you that are familiar with the brand, the two Magic Mike films reinvigorated the art of the male strip tease that had not really been seen in the mainstream since the famous Chippendales thrust around world stages in the 80’s and 90’s. The reimagined movie concept was loosely based on the experiences of star Channing Tatum, who was an 18-year-old stripper in Tampa, Florida and now Tatum completes what he is previously billed as a “trilogy” with a live action stage show that he not only created, but also directs alongside Alison Faulk in London’s historical the Hippodrome. For 120 years the Hippodrome has pushed the boundaries of how London entertains, and Magic Mike Live is no exception. From the opening scene, as the dancers begin their first number, with hip thrusts and p...

Black Is The Color Of My Voice – Stream.Theatre

11Jul

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

REVIEWS

Black Is The Color Of My Voice – Stream.Theatre

The tragic murder of George Floyd last year in Minneapolis brought race back to the centre of the stage of American politics. It gave rise to the Black Lives Matter campaign, a movement echoing the civil rights protests of the 1960s led by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Nina Simone, the inspiration for this wonderful one woman play, was part of that civil rights movement writing Mississippi Goddam in response to the murder of Medgar Evers in 1963 and the bombing of a church that killed four young black girls. She spoke at rallies and marches demanding change. Frustrated by Dr King’s non-violent approach she felt the movement should violently retaliate instead. This skilfully handled monologue is no polemic though, concentrating mainly on the relationship between the singer and her father....

8Jul

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Ellen & Rigby – Royal Court

I always get excited when I’m reviewing at the Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre because the experience is always second to none. This time was no exception. Ellen & Rigby by Gerry Linford the show synopsis is as follows “Lucky in life, unlucky in love, Ellen has been looking for a man. Now, thanks to the organisational power of the NHS, Joe Rigby has been dropped in her lap! A rock star who nearly made it in 1985, Joe has been living alone for so long that he didn’t realise that he was unhappy so it’s a good job Ellen arrived to let him know. He needs taking in hand (not like that, you dirty ticket) and Ellen is quite the catch. She was Miss Old Swan in 1991 and that kind of beauty doesn’t fade away no matter how many years are heaped on top of it. After 12 months alone, the...

Something about Simon – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

8Jul

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Something about Simon – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

“Hello darkness, my old friend” Never was a refrain such a perfect welcome to a show, as audiences slowly start to return to theatres. As the house lights go down, an unassuming figure strolls out, picks up his guitar and brings the full attention of the audience centre-stage, as he plucks out the iconic strains of ‘Sound of Silence’. In this one-man show, singer-songwriter Gary Edward Jones takes the audience on a journey through the catalogue and life story of Paul Simon, known to the majority as one half of folk megastars, Simon and Garfunkel, as well as in his own right as a solo artist. In just shy of 90 minutes, we are treated to some of the biggest songs of a generation, allowing the audience to rediscover much loved classics, as well as some hidden gems from the star troub...

7Jul

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

London

Shoes to Fill – Iris Theatre

Part of the Iris Theatre’s Summer Festival at the Actor’s Church, Fair Play Production’s Shoes to Fill is a story of celebration, exploring mixed-race identity and the coming together of two different cultures. Written and performed by Tanya Bridgeman and directed by Alex Miller, the one-woman play mixes elements of spoken word, music, and multi-rolling in a lyrical journey of self-discovery and realisations. Despite the unfortunate weather that plagued the outdoor setting, Bridgeman was able to truly command attention with her high-energy performance as ‘Granddaughter’, a young woman struggling to find herself. Flitting between her Bajan grandmother’s memories of Barbados, her present inner conflict with her growing self-doubt and her Irish grandmother’s advice, Bridgeman’s performance...

Heathers the Musical – Theatre Royal Haymarket

6Jul

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Heathers the Musical – Theatre Royal Haymarket

You know when you wake up the next day singing the songs that you have seen a good musical. Those little ear worms working away overnight, doing what they do best and making sure the tunes continuously occupy our minds long into the next day and beyond. A great musical connects with its audience, involves them, allows them to care about the characters they are seeing and to become invested in what is happening to them regardless of the subject matter. THAT is exactly what ‘Heathers the Musical’ does. As a result, its high energy music, and quirky, easily memorable, witty book are fast developing a cult following. Produced by Bill Kenwright and Paul Taylor-Mills, this high-octane black-comedy rock musical, based on one of the greatest cult teen films of all time, starring Winona Ryder an...

5Jul

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

Idlib by Storm in the North

Idlib, from new production company Storm in the North, is a transient piece in so many ways. Written and directed by Kevin Dyer, it started as a piece of prose as a prelude for a play that morphed into a short story before becoming the script for this monologue. As a halfway step on its journey to becoming a full-length stage play, the parallel to its content couldn’t be more complete. Commissioned by Chester Bandstand, performed by Paislie Reid, and based on the story of a Syrian baker who wanted to go home and real interviews with Syrian refugees and escapees across Europe, it tells the story of a woman who has hope. There’s a normality to Reid’s delivery that is comforting and almost invites you to step into the picture she paints, but it isn’t a scene that most of us would recogn...