Month: June 2015

REVIEW: Second Soprano, King’s Head ✭✭✭✭✭

Off West End, Reviews
Second Soprano at The King's Head Theatre

In this theatre season where commemoration and remembrance of the outbreak of the First World War are much to the fore, many of the most successful dramatic ventures are small-scale. In some ways this fine double-act, written by Martha Shrimpton and Ellie Routledge, and performed by Shrimpton and Olivia Hirst, is the mirror-image of Stony Broke in No Man’s Land, which I reviewed here recently. Both are virtuosic displays of actorly craft, using multiple genres, creating manifold roles, and mixing mood and manner, music and words to create an ineffable and individual blend of humour and pathos. As a result the act of commemoration is made more complex and ultimately, I would say, more moving, than a simple, full-on narrative or historical approach.

REVIEW: I Went To A Fabulous Party, Kings Head ✭✭

Off West End, Reviews
I Went To A Fabulous Party at the King's Head Theatre

The King’s Head has a notable tradition in supporting contemporary drama on gay themes, but sadly as things stand this new 65-minute play by And Davies does not add very many leaves to those laurels. It is not by any means without potential and with a longish run ahead in Edinburgh in August there is scope for development and refinement of both the text and the depth and authenticity of the acting.

REVIEW: The Merchant Of Venice, Royal Shakespeare Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭

Regional, Reviews
RSC Merchant Of Venice

Findlay’s production of The Merchant Of Venice, like all great productions of Shakespeare, is brimming with ideas, spoken with assurance and intelligence, and illuminates the text insightfully and vigorously. Refreshing and fascinating. Findlay breathes complexity and assuredness into Shakespeare’s play by focussing on sex and greed. But there is no shortage of hatred either.

REVIEW: The Picture Of Dorian Gray, St James Studio ✭✭✭✭✭

Off West End, Reviews
The Picture Of Dorian Gray at the St James Studio Theatre

Sadly this fine adaptation has a very brief run – I do hope another theatre can be persuaded to allow us to experience this play with this cast once more – and soon…..It deserves to be seen for its own qualities, for the fresh insights it brings to a work we think we know all too well, and for what it tells us of Wilde as well. It showcases in exemplary fashion the jostling, unstable and ultimately tragic combination of talents and aspirations that comprise Wilde’s unique persona. As usual, he perceived the truth ahead of all the critics: ‘Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry is what the world thinks me: Dorian is what I would like to be – in other ages, perhaps.’

I Sing Comes To Drayton Arms

News, Off West End
ISing at Drayton Arms Theatre

I Sing, is a five person musical about coming of age in New York City, a hilarious, honest and heart warming musical that centres around five people learning about who they are, love, loss, sex and friendship. There’s the supposed happy couple, the best friend with a secret crush, the fun loving single city girl and her gay best friend questioning his sexuality. It’s Friends and Will & Grace meets the contemporary musical stylings of The Last 5 Years, Ordinary Days and Avenue Q. Filled with comedy songs, power ballads, amazing harmonies and goose bump inducing emotion. The cast of I Sing includes Malindi Freeman, Eleanor Sandars, Steffan Lloyd-Evans, Louie Westwood and Daniel Mack Shand. I Sing has music by Eli Bolin, Lyrics by Sam Forman, Book by Eli Bolin, Sam Forman and Benjamin Salka. I Sing will be directed by Glenn Gaunt, with musical direction by Daniel Jarvis and … Read more

Shakespeare With A Jazzy Heart

News, Off West End
A Midsummer Night's Dream in New Orleans at the Arts Theatre

Shakespeare has been re-imagined in many locations over the year and now the Bard’s Midsummer Night’s Dream will find itself set in New Orleans in a new production being staged by Ruby In The Dust. This unique version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream will have a jazz infused feel with music played live by the cast including material by Dr John, Louis Armstrong, Randy Newman and Professor Longhair, amongst others. This ‘Dream’ is adapted and edited by Linnie Reedman stays faithful to the original text, whilst exploring the rich culture of New Orleans and the influences of Voodoo. Oberon and Titania are portrayed as “The Night Tripper” and Voodoo Queen respectively, while the ‘Mechanicals’ form one of the earliest New Orleans jazz bands. ‘The play within a play’ evolves into a Mardis Gras style jam session. On Friday and Saturday evenings any musically minded audience members are also invited to … Read more