REVIEW: A Steady Rain, Arcola Theatre ✭✭✭✭
Wrought with gun violence, this leaves you long pondering not only the effects of police power but their predicament long after the play is over. Sterling stuff.
Reviews
REVIEW: Julie Atherton, Crazy Coqs ✭✭✭✭
Julie Atherton is a true musical talent and this cabaret evening provides a brilliant opportunity for her to demonstrate this. It’s running for a few more days, and is guaranteed to deliver a laid-back and entertaining evening.
REVIEW: Hand To God, Vaudevile Theatre ✭✭✭✭
Hand to God is a soul-cleansing experience – gleefully unburdening its audience of their suppressed hysteria, and leaving them to guiltily head for confession (or the theatre bar) to wash away their sins.
REVIEW: Whistleblower, Waterloo East Theatre ✭✭✭
Whistleblower is often a flawed production, but gives an educational and exciting look at the life of one of the 21st century’s most controversial figures. The biggest compliment I can give it is that it had me thinking, debating and researching for hours afterwards; and isn’t that what theatre is all about?
REVIEW: Nell Gwynn, Apollo Theatre ✭✭✭
If you don’t mind it light, hammy and reminiscent of a drunk uncle, Nell Gwynn is fabulously entertaining. There’s a natty onstage band, snappy songs and even a lesson in the art of fan flirtation.
REVIEW: Road Show, Union Theatre ✭✭✭
Stephen Sondheim is, without question, one of the greatest living lyricists, and his contributions to musical theatre will be revered for decades to come. Sadly, Road Show is not one of his finer efforts, although The Union Theatre’s inventive and solidly performed production makes for an enjoyable night at the theatre, if you leave your disbelief at the door.
REVIEW: The End Of Longing, Playhouse Theatre ✭✭✭
The End of Longing Playhouse Theatre 3 Stars BOOK TICKETS Imagine an episode of Friends. Except they’re all now in their 30s and 40s, and are plagued by their addictions and neuroses (insert joke about the upcoming Friends reunion here). That’s the basic premise of The End of Longing; a coming of age story for those who are already of a certain age. And to top it off, its star and writer is Matthew Perry, best known for playing wisecracking Chandler Bing in the much loved American sitcom. The play follows four hopeless singletons in the city as they seek to make sense of their questionable life choices and ticking biological clocks. There’s Jack (an alcoholic, played by Perry) Stephanie, (a prostitute), Stevie (needy and neurotic) and Joseph (nice but dim). Naturally, being a romantic comedy, they all improbably bump into each other and then start pairing up. Jack and … Read more
REVIEW: Red Velvet, Garrick Theatre ✭✭✭
Red Velvet touches on a number of very difficult subjects regarding race, and does so in a compelling and thoughtful manner. The play is generally well written – with a number of excellent touches – and this production contains a host of fine performances, not least Adrian Lester as Ira Aldridge. Nevertheless, Aldridge is an incomplete protagonist, and too many aspects of his life are told to us, rather than shown. This means that, in spite of the play’s many strong qualities, it cannot achieve its full dramatic potential.
