Stephen Sondheim’s dark musical Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street has transferred to the Adelphi Theatre after a sell-out season at the Chichester Festival Theatre. The new production is certainly not for the faint-hearted, with bloody scenes interspersed throughout the musical along with the dark and twisted humour expressed by Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett. Set in the nineteenth century in the poverty-stricken streets of London, the production follows a skilled barber who after years of false imprisonment in Australia changes his name to Sweeney Todd and begins a quest for justice. Having served his time in … more »
Category: Reviews
Shrek The Musical Review
Shrek the Musical is a delightful, colourful, heartwarming extravaganza. This production which features all new songs, a magical set, fantastic costumes, and a talented cast who take us on Shrek’s adventure that was made so famous by the Oscar winning DreamWorks animation film. However before the character Shrek was seen in a musical or a movie, he had in fact started life as a storybook character created by New York cartoonist William Steig. Shrek has even been awarded his own star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame”. Shrek is on a mission to rescue Princess Fiona from her dreary … more »
The Houdini Experience Review Peacock Theatre
Are you ready, London? Last night, sat in the Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre, I was nervous for two reasons. One, because I was on a third date, and two – because I adore magic. When a show is titled ‘The Houdini Experience’ you are, naturally, filled with high expectations. Houdini is still considered the greatest. Nothing about the theatre particularly screamed ‘magic show’ but I suppose that is where the magic really begins and it represented, instantly, the element of surprise. Hans Klok, from Holland, is the magician leading this show. Entering the venue, we see cheesy posters everywhere, … more »
Singin’ In The Rain Review The Palace Theatre
Singin’ In The Rain The Palace Theatre Don Lockwood – Adam Cooper Cosmo Brown – Daniel Crossley Kathy Selden – Scarlett Strallen Lina Lamont – Katherine Kinglsey Based on the popular 1952 MGM film, Singin’ In The Rain is a title that is synonymous with Gene Kelly and the style of the era. Before the curtain even rose, as an audience member, I already had my own preconceptions of how the show should appear based on my knowledge of the film, and I expect the majority of the audience had the same inclination. For some productions, this prior knowledge … more »
Hay Fever Review Noel Coward Theatre
A Noel Coward play in the Noel Coward Theatre Sitting in the buzzing auditorium of the renamed Noel Coward Theatre last night, I couldn’t help but get an overwhelming rush of joy. Here we are, on a rainy Wednesday evening in a theatre that is packed. Not an empty seat seen. With the success of jukebox musicals and other tourist attraction shows, how magnificent that a play, probably unheard of by the non-theatre world, in the middle of the week no less, is full to the brim with an audience who know they’re about to see something special – … more »
REVIEW: The Wizard of Oz – cast change
Since opening at the London Palladium in March 2011 the stage musical of The Wizard of Oz has become one of the West End’s most popular shows. It has earned a spate of theatrical awards, including Best Musical Revival just three days ago at the 2012 Whatsonstage.com Awards and its two stars Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford, who led the cast as Dorothy and The Wizard respectively, quickly became fan favourites – with them both departing in the WOZ cast change at the start of this month, I went along to the Palladium to see how their replacements are … more »
Oliver! UK Tour at Manchester – Review
First time I’ve ever been to a Sunday matinee… and The Palace Theatre on Manchester’s Oxford Road is a suitably impressive place to start. This is the venue for the current leg of the Oliver! UK Tour, and there seems to be a real sense of excitement and anticipation in the packed foyer pre-show. It’s easy to understand why – this show is a an absolute classic, much loved by young and old, and mostly anyone in between. So how does the latest incarnation of Lionel Bart’s masterpiece stack up? Programme, brochure, pocket watch, key-ring and furry Bullseye secured, … more »
Review of Jackie Mason Fearless at Wyndhams Theatre
Jackie Mason Fearless “You can’t please everyone all of the time” says Mason. Given that he’s been making people laugh for the better part of 50 years, he’s done pretty well. The self-named “Ultimate Jew” started by saying that if he stank, he’s not coming back! However, Fearless marks the final British tour of his career, so he was already on the winning foot. As someone who loves stand-up, I have of course heard of Jackie Mason, seen a few sketches on shows, but never live. He is a comic who knows his audience and his fans – in that respect … more »
Pippin Review Menier Chocolate Factory
We usually try to get to see a show early in its run but a very busy schedule over the past few weeks meant that our visit to see Pippin came fairly late. The show concludes on 25th February, 2012. In some ways I wish we had seen it sooner, as we may have gone to see it again; but close to the end of the run, the cast are likely to be at their peak, so all is good! Pippin first hit Broadway in 1972 and the West End in 1973, so it has been around for quite … more »
The Three Phantoms Festival Theatre Chichester
Having taken a very well deserved winter break, Three Phantoms stormed back to Chichester for a final three shows before bidding farewell until the next concert in 2013. Set in the beautiful Oaklands Park, Chichester Festival Theatre is a modern venue (well, 1960s still counts as modern, right?) with a rather interesting geometric layout in which the seating is arranged around the stage. “The Opera Ghost really existed…” In the last year, Three Phantoms have played to an incredible 16,000 people across 11 venues. Opening the show with the compelling ‘This is the Moment’, from Frank Wildhorn’s Jekyll and … more »
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