REVIEWS Archives - Page 516 of 551

2May

By Kiefer WilliamsNo Comments

REVIEWS

Rocky Road – stream.theatre

Having been a long admirer of Shaun McKenna’s writing for both theatre and radio I looked forward to seeing his latest thriller from Stream Theatre and I wasn’t disappointed. Filmed at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London, Rocky Road is a dark and quite intense thriller that has revenge as its central theme. Basically McKenna’s play is a powerful two-hander that explores not only revenge but the power of grief and the inability to move forward. Zoe (Kirstin Foster) moves into a new apartment and meets up with the buildings young caretaker Danny (Tyger Drew-Honey) and at first everything seems normal enough except (as we all know in any great thriller) things are not what they seem and soon we come realise the terrible crime that has brought Zoe and Danny to this place. To reveal an...

30Apr

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

REVIEWS

Money – Southwark Playhouse

Money. It makes the world go round. We all need it to live. But where does it come from, and does its source really matter? That’s the question at the heart of ‘Money’ by Isla van Tricht, a digital co-production with Southwark Playhouse. The Nyoni Youth and Community Project does great charitable work to help local people, but the pandemic has decimated its finances. Enter the Anders Corporation who have offered a large donation. Not only will it help the struggling charity and so many worthwhile causes, it will enable the charity to thrive – helping more and more people. But is it worth it? What cost does this money have? What are the implications of accepting such a large donation? How do the Anders Corporation make their money and is it ethical? The questions are real...

28Apr

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Cells – Metta Theatre

Produced entirely during lockdown, Metta Theatre brings seven-part episodic musical Cells to the small screen, with all donations supporting the recovery of the Royal & Derngate Northampton, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough. The piece follows the reserved chemistry fresher JoJo (Lem Knights) and outgoing university lab technician Neil (Clive Rowe), two strangers contemplating the next chapters in their lives as their paths look set to cross. P Burton-Morgan’s script lacks originality and only provides a surface-level insight into the pair’s social struggles in the thirty-minute run time. Some of the narrative’s happenings are contrived to the point of being completely unrealistic: the function of a soiled napkin sends the plot spinning into rid...

26Apr

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Winter’s Tale – RSC Online

According to the Washington Post President Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims during his four years in office. At the time of writing this review the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of acting dishonestly in a number of different scandals. Shakespeare knew that those in charge are not always honest and truthful. In this play he examines the consequences when an all-powerful man fails to act with honour. The shadow of Henry VIII and his treatment of Elizabeth I’s mother Anne Boleyn hangs over the drama. The play is all about honesty, integrity, honour and trust. It is at base a moral fable where purity is rewarded and sin is punished. King Leontes, a jealous tyrant believes his pregnant wife Hermione is having an affair with his boyhood friend, the king...

I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical – King’s Head Theatre

26Apr

By Coral MourantNo Comments

REVIEWS

I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical – King’s Head Theatre

A stage, four performers and a pianist is all it takes to put on this witty love letter to the stage. This clever parody piece pokes fun at the musical theatre art form, with just the right number of big notes and jazz hands. The show consists of stand-alone songs, some duets and small inputs from the performers to keep it moving along. The first song parodies traditional opening numbers of popular shows, with slick choreography (also by the director, Chris Whittaker) and complex four-part harmonies. Alexander S. Bermange’s writing is brilliantly satirical and an absolute treat for musical theatre fans. The writing does not shy away from the ridiculousness of the genre either. It takes multiple digs at the dramatics involved, and has whole songs dedicated to divas and unworthy star c...

In Pieces – Future Spotlight Productions

26Apr

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

REVIEWS

In Pieces – Future Spotlight Productions

Originally presented at the Lincoln Center, Joey Contreras’ new musical In Pieces explores love and relationships in the heart of New York City. Directed by Louis Rayneau, the musical film features a talented cast with stars including Jordan Luke Gage as Grey, Amy Di Bartolomeo as Alex, Danielle Steers as River and Ross Harmon as Charlie. The production pieces together the romantic stories of eight individuals, merging musical theatre with pop music to create a versatile soundtrack reflecting the trials and tribulations of different types of relationships. From the upbeat opening number ‘You Never Know’ focusing on love as a journey and taking that leap rather than the anxieties it can cause, to the emotional finale ‘The Fork in the Road’ exploring the struggle of making our own choices...

The London Climate Festival ‘Songs for Nature’ – Sky Arts

23Apr

By Angela KellyNo Comments

REVIEWS

The London Climate Festival ‘Songs for Nature’ – Sky Arts

The London Climate Festivals ‘Songs for Nature’ was filmed at the stunning London Coliseum, the largest theatre in the West End and surrounding areas over three days with the crucial intention of raising awareness of climate change. It was free to watch on Sky Arts on 22nd April or ‘Earth Day’. Directed by Dominic Dromgoole and Bill Buckhurst, it featured an eclectic array of acts, from comedian Rob Brydon to Nathan Evans (of the recent Sea Shanty fame). It also included dance and orchestra and of course an essential thread of activists throughout, with contributions from the likes of Cool Earths Dr Hannah Peck and also Born Frees Youth Ambassador, a very passionate Bella Lack. The concert opened to an introduction by David Suchet. In some ways he almost looked lost as he stood alone...

Soft Sessions Live In Concert – stream.theatre

23Apr

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Soft Sessions Live In Concert – stream.theatre

Together at Woolwich Warehouse, a line-up of West End regulars swap their usual, familiar stages for a more intimate venue where they perform a series of gentle acoustic covers. The six singers all lend their idyllic voices to the songs, and they blend wondrously in the duets. Grace Mouat and Courtney Stapleton harmonise with each other particularly well, soothing any listening ear in their rendition of ‘Teach You’. Eloise Davies and Martha Kirby’s mellifluous collaboration on ‘Don’t Make It Harder on Me’ is another highlight, and it looks like the pair are having genuine fun as they simultaneously hit their notes. Similarly, Danielle Flamanya and Jake Halsey-Jones have great vocal chemistry in ‘Never Too Much’, and their animated performances show them both getting caught up in the ...

21Apr

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

REVIEWS

Hymn – Sky Arts at Almeida Theatre

Lolita Chakrabarti’s thoughtful new play ‘Hymn’ was conceived with a live audience in mind. However, Blanche McIntyre’s recent production filmed under COVID-safe, socially distanced conditions at the Almeida Theatre, initially live-streamed and then shown this weekend on Sky Arts works perfectly in communicating the relationship between two men, Gill (Adrian Lister) and Benny (Danny Sapani). The play centres only on Gill and Benny, and opens with the funeral of Gill’s Father, Gus. Gill delivers the eulogy. Benny is also at the funeral. The two men meet, not at all by chance, and even though they are from vastly different social backgrounds, with different education and different prospects, this opens a course of events that draw the two into what becomes a powerful and emotionally charg...

The Importance of Being Earnest – Lawrence Batley Theatre & The Dukes

20Apr

By Kiefer WilliamsNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Importance of Being Earnest – Lawrence Batley Theatre & The Dukes

Oscar Wilde’s wonderfully adroit and sharply observed comedy involving romantic mischief and the pursuit of love is reimagined and adapted by writer Yasmeen Khan. This digital co-production between the Laurence Batley Theatre Huddersfield and The Dukes Lancaster uses some film and video techniques throughout and the results are both slick and well-paced. Using the basic narrative of the original play, Khan, cleverly transfers the action of the story to modern day. Largely set in the world of the sitcom and social media, we follow the romantic misadventures of struggling actor Jamil/Earnest played by Gurjett Singh, Algy played by Tom Dixon, Gul played by Nikki Patel and Safina played by Zoe Iqbal. I must say that all four actors give tremendously energetic performances throughout a...