Spare, visceral and gripping, this is an extraordinarily wonderful production of an important and difficult new play, which shines a light onto forgotten events and examines them in an entirely satisfying theatrical way. It leaves you desperate to see what happens next.
The Scottsboro Boys relies on the skills of its acting company, giving them chairs and tambourines and a few costumes, as their only tools and the show becomes all the more powerful as a result. This is an unbeatable, incredible ensemble of performers who manage to inject incredible humour into a story that by its very nature inspires indignation.
Set firmly in the present, this version lacks languid notions about the past, does not spend too much time on the intricacies of character and prefers shock and blatant slapstick to more gentle ways of making points. There is little sense of old versus new Russia, little sense of the changing of traditions and times and less complexity about everything. But it is radiantly bleak, full of brittle, awful people leading duplicitous and untruthful lives. In that way, it is a compelling re-imagining of Chekhov’s masterpiece.
It’s a mystery why Lindsay Lohan chose this play as her world stage debut. Perhaps she knew she would be the best thing about it? That would seem the only rational explanation. Especially as she was correct.
As Calhoun, Killian Donnelly is a revelation…His mania, energy and sheer talent explodes off the stage driven by some of the finest rock vocals that I have ever heard in musical theatre.
This is a phenomenally effective and ambitious revival of a masterpiece. It restores one’s faith in the power and magic of theatre and shows, in a very clear way, how casting actors who can act is the key to successful theatre. It makes your heart and spirit soar, although you may shed some tears along the way. Powerful. Engrossing. Unforgettable. An Our Town for our time.
The best aspect of this production is the musicianship on display from the gifted Dean Austin and the four members of his band who, with piano, accordion, guitar, bass and percussion, create the gorgeous soundscape for Brel’s work. Austin sings as well, and each time he does a sense of truth and a stylish understanding of the fabric of the music accentuates whatever is occurring, makes it better, more delicious.
What Play should you see first in London’s West End? We have compiled this list to save you the trouble of working it out! It’s just our view – and everyone has one – based on our Reviewers’ thoughts. We will update the list regularly so new productions get on your radar and when original casts change that is factored in. Plays which have been running for more than three years are not included – this is a list for new or relatively new productions running in the West End. So go see them! 1. King Charles III ✭✭✭✭✭ 2. Electra ✭✭✭✭✭ 3. Shakespeare in Love ✭✭✭✭✭ 4. Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night ✭✭✭✭✭ 5. Wolf From The Door ✭✭✭✭ 6. Fully Committed ✭✭✭ 7. East is East ✭✭✭ 8. The Play That Goes Wrong ✭✭✭ 9. Great Britain ✭✭ 10. The Internet Is Serious Business ✭✭
