REVIEW: The Miser, Garrick Theatre ✭✭✭✭
The laughs come thick and fast through the ensuing chaos, and with some stand out comedic performances, it seems like there’s still plenty of life in Molière’s old Miser yet.
Sean Foley
REVIEW: The Dresser, Duke Of York’s Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭
Sean Foley’s production of The Dresser is simply extraordinary. Ken Stott and Reece Shearsmith are outstanding as ‘Sir’ and Norman, whilst the supporting cast, and Harriet Thorpe’s ‘Her Ladyship’ in particular, are truly excellent. It is a thought-provoking, funny and poignant piece, which not only does full justice to Sir Ronald Harwood’s wonderful script, but the acclaimed productions that preceded it.
REVIEW: The Painkiller, Garrick Theatre ✭✭✭✭
Kenneth Branagh puts in a surprising masterclass in physical comedy as Ralph, getting big laughs despite spending most of the play unable to speak. He is, as expected, excellent at playing the silky smooth secret agent but his movement and timing is also exceptional and he deploys razor sharp comic timing.
Branagh, Brydon and Blakley in comedy The Painkiller
Kenneth Branagh, Rob Brydon, Claudie Blakley, Marcus Fraser, Mark Hadfield and Alex Macqueen make up the cast of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s new comedy The Painkiller. Directed and adapted by Sean Foley, The Painkiller will be the fifth production in the Plays at the Garrick season and will play from 5 March until 30 April 2016. Foley directs his “dark, yet hilarious” adaptation of Francis Veber’s classic French farce, while Kenneth Branagh and Rob Brydon reprise the roles they played to great acclaim at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre inaugural season. Foley said: “I’m delighted to have the chance to further develop this comedy with the remarkable double act of Kenneth Branagh and Rob Brydon, who, together with the brilliant Mark Hadfield, were a joy to direct in the first production. “I know that they are excited as I am to also be welcoming to our cast the extraordinary talents of Claudie … Read more
REVIEW: A Mad World My Masters, Barbican Theatre ✭✭
It has everything: dirty, jazzy songs sung lustily; knob jokes; fake brawls; knickers tossed to the audience; knob jokes; sex scenes of all kinds; an altercation with a garbage bin; knob jokes; liquids tossed or splurged onto the audience; dress ups; knob jokes; raunchy scene changes; prostitutes masquerading as Nuns; knob jokes; big items being removed from small, dark places despite security measures including the penis on a small statue of David; fart jokes; and characters called Master Whopping Prospect, Penitent Brothel, Dick Follywit and Mr Littledick. Did I mention there were knob jokes?
