Close To You is a stunning recording that takes me back to what for me was a very special night in the theatre. I daresay it will be played with frightening regularity here, and I hope that many of you will get a copy and have a listen to Kyle Riabko’s wonderous reimagining of one of the greatest songwriter’s of our time. Bravo!
Matthew Cullum’s direction allows imaginations to run wild, a shopping trolley becomes a horse, a spade a fish, a bugle a pistol, without ever sacrificing the story- the key to this production’s success is in its story telling. The Mercury may now have a tradition on its hands with its summer shows.
Despite its moments of clumsiness, this is a well-designed and finely acted production, and is worth a trip for the atmospheric venue alone. An interesting adaption, while The Collector doesn’t quite ensnare its audience, it certainly unnerves them.
Exposure is so bland that ultimately it won’t make the list of great flops, you know those shows that lurch from briliance to being dire. There’s just nothing to recommend this effort at all.
So what did UK theatre critics and theatre bloggers think of Aladdin at London’s Prince Edward Theatre. Douglas Mayo, BritishTheatre.com ✭✭✭✭ Whilst the pantomime comparison is inevitable, this production of Aladdin, is a big hit show that is perfectly at home in London’s West End. It’s a fast paced, energetic and supremely satisfying night at the theatre, and I daresay one that people will want to return to such is the joy that it brings. Michael Billington, The Guardian ✭✭✭✭ Imagine a Christmas panto minus the dame and with a budget of zillions and you get some idea of this musical extravaganza. At first, I resisted the corporate zeal that has taken the 1992 Disney animated feature and turned it into a live show, but I gradually found myself won over by the blend of spectacle, illusion and a greater supply of corn than you will find in the Kansas … Read more
Nothing is conclusive in Rotterdam, but then again nothing is constant either. In this port city, where everyone is either arriving or leaving, the audience is simply given an insight into four people’s lives. Four people who don’t exactly want to change the whole world – just their little part of it. Hilarious and heartbreaking in turns, Rotterdam is a strong and highly enjoyable piece of theatre.
Yesterday, at London’s Palace Theatre, I experienced something quite magical, and that was just watching the audience. Harry Potter And The Cursed Child had finally arrived, and what was going on up on stage was simply extraordinary.
Jesus Christ Superstar Regent Park Open Air Theatre 21 July 2016 3 stars Book Now In the midst of a summer of variably air conditioned theatres, what a relief to bask in the midsummer night at Regent Park Open Air Theatre. The third of a quartet of summer plays, Jesus Christ Superstar makes its first return to London since the arena-rock version at the O2 in 2012. The combination of the remarkable venue, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s infectious riffs and Tim Rice’s sharp lyrics means that production was never going to be a flop. As you might expect in an outdoor show this was a fairly stripped back affair, with simpler costumes and minimal props. It is a sparkly production in many senses; not only does it have an ‘X Factor’ sheen throughout but glitter is used in place of blood. The bright spot of this production is Tyrone Huntley as … Read more
