Reviews Archives | Page 182 of 280

REVIEW: Jekyll & Hyde and Nerve (Double Bill), Greenwich Theatre ✭✭✭

Julian Eaves13th October 2016 Off West End, Reviews, Touring

Brilliantly well-written dialogue is always great to hear, especially when delivered with cut-glass panache as by this super quartet: in addition to the author, we have Lee Comley, Jack Govan and Kate Novak making up the set. These well-observed stories of contemporary urban life, unified by dozens of parallels, feature sequences of extremely confidently constructed situations, voiced economically and brightly with the argot, idioms, banter and attitudes of today, yet given heightened and bizarre intensity through their dramatic compression of extreme situations.

REVIEW: Code 2021: Autumn Secret Theatre Project, Bethnal Green ✭

Julian Eaves13th October 2016 Off West End, Reviews

It was a HUGE relief when it was all over. Not least for the accused, perhaps, who – like the rest of the cast – had had the almost impossible task of putting across one of the worst written courtroom scripts it has ever been their misfortune to have to master.

REVIEW: Much Ado About Nothing, Mercury Theatre Colchester ✭✭

Paul T Davies9th October 20169th October 2016 Regional, Reviews

Much Ado About Nothing Mercury Theatre Colchester

The Only Way is Shakespeare? Staged in contemporary Essex in a garrison town, (not very subtly hinting that it takes place in Colchester), this production manages to misfire on just about every level.

REVIEW: As You Like It, St Martins Church, Colchester ✭✭✭✭

Paul T Davies9th October 2016 Regional, Reviews

Nicely abridged, with the tiresome Touchstone being eliminated, this is a very entertaining production.

REVIEW: Murder Ballad, Arts Theatre ✭✭✭✭

Alexa Terry10th October 20168th October 2016 Reviews, West End

Book tickets for Murder Ballad at the Arts Theatre

for me, ‘Murder Ballad’ is all about the exciting score which doesn’t depend on the screaming tenor, but on the sultry bass and an amalgamation of sexed up jazz/pop, with thirst-quenching rock belts (which are, of course, gratefully received). With their music and lyrics, Jordan and Nash blow the dust from the spine of a told tale.

REVIEW: Confessional, Southwark Playhouse ✭✭✭

Julian Eaves17th June 20178th October 2016 Off West End, Reviews

Book tickets for Confessional at Southwark Playhouse

Silver takes Williams’ American milieu and shifts it deftly – without changing a single word of the text – into the seedy, East-End-by-the-seaside, down-at-heel and take-us-as-you-find-us ambience of Southend-on-sea.

REVIEW: Getting Better Slowly, New Diorama Theatre ✭✭✭✭

Sophie Adnitt8th October 20167th October 2016 Off West End, Reviews, Touring

Getting Better Slowly at the New Diorama Theatre

Overall, Getting Better Slowly’s main strengths lie in its performers and the sheer amount of heart in its story. It takes place in a small world, but ultimately one that is perfectly formed and we can all recognise a place we would take in it. As for Pownall’s goal to raise awareness of Guillain-Barre – it is thoroughly fulfilled. And he’s created a remarkable show along the way.

REVIEW: The Boys In The Band, Park Theatre ✭✭✭✭

Paul T Davies6th October 2016 Off West End, Reviews, Touring

Book tickets for The Boys In The Band Uk Tour

All credit to director Adam Penford and the terrific cast for restoring the play back to the canon, and, in the intimacy of the Park Theatre, it now looks like an honest portrait of gay life and a period of time, when being in the closet was the only option many gay men saw as a means of survival.