The music, big choruses and goodnatured showbiz of elegant ensemble scene-changes in Michael Fentiman’s production of Amelie somehow makes the tale of the sweet-natured waitress (who interferes in everyone’s life while blind to her own needs) genuinely work.
Mates blogger: Libby Purves
Libby Purves is one of over 45 theatre bloggers who are part of the MyTheatreMates collective. This page features Libby's posts on MyTheatreMates. Take a look at our full list of theatre bloggers and our aggregated feed of all our Mates' posts. We’re always looking for new theatre bloggers. Could that be you? Learn about how to join us.
Libby Purves was theatre critic for The Times from 2010 to 2013. Determined to continue her theatre commentary after losing that job, she set up her own site www.theatrecat.com in October 2013. She personally reviews all major London openings, usually with on-the-night publication, and also gives voice to a new generation of critics with occasional guest 'theatrekittens'. In addition to her theatre writing and myriad other credits, Libby has been a presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Midweek for over 30 years. She is also the author of a dozen novels, and numerous non-fiction titles. In 1999, Libby was appointed an OBE for services to journalism.
The latest from Libby on MyTheatreMates
‘It’s all delightfully over the top’: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★★
Sean Holmes’ cheerful romp of a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare’s Globe will do to kick off a season which, if theatres know what they’re doing, will major on merriment not ‘issues’.
‘It made me think’: WALDEN – Harold Pinter Theatre ★★★★★
Amy Berryman’s Walden at the Harold Pinter Theatre is 90 minutes of proper stimulus, at times intensely moving, still haunting.
‘Kids will laugh it to life’: AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS – Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds ★★★★
The recovery season at Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds kicks off with a sprightly bit of reimagined Victoriana, a family show (ideal for half term, parents: there are actual facts in it about time zones).
‘The applause was loud & real’: A CHRISTMAS CAROL – Bury St Edmunds
Why, if you’ve any Dickensian jollity in your spirit you think of something else. You set up an 11-night run of A Christmas Carol, cast of six plus one intrepid stiltwalker, and do two shows a night at an hour each. That’s what Bury St Edmunds’ Theatre Royal is doing.
‘Provokes both sorrow & rage’: FLIGHT – Bridge Theatre ★★★★
Flight feels like proper theatre as we, alone in our tiny lonely booths, look out on a harsh world, transported with pity and terror.
‘We’ll keep the blue gags flying here!’: PANTOLAND – London Palladium
Not for the very youngest probably, but for the rest of us over-7s and our inner child Pantoland at the London Palladium is a proper, silly, defiant showbiz shot in the arm.
‘A miniature theatrical perfection’: A CHRISTMAS CAROL – Bridge Theatre ★★★★★
A Scrooge to remember, A Christmas Carol at the Bridge Theatre is a 90-minute familiar Victoriana for today, catching and passing on both Dickens’ fury and his unquenchable jollity.
‘Welcome home Dan & Jeff’: POTTED PANTO – Garrick Theatre ★★★★
They’re at it again. And in this dour year, crowned with the financially reckless renaissance of West End theatre, Dan and Jeff – Daniel Clarkson and Jeff Turner – are welcome home to the daytime West End with Potted Panto.
‘It feels classy’: HOWERD’S END – Golden Goose Theatre ★★★★
As a tribute to the many invisible lovers of famous men, Howerd’s End at the Golden Goose Theatre is painfully moving.
‘Atmospheric & gripping & done with panache’: LONE FLYER – Watermill Theatre, Newbury ★★★★
Those who know Amy Johnson’s history well will be happy with Lone Flyer as a grippingly impressionistic portrait of a remarkable woman.
‘I left very happy’: PLAYING SANDWICHES / LADY OF LETTERS – Bridge Theatre
With the West End dark and real fear for theatre’s survival, trips to the – unsubsidised, gallant – Bridge Theatre to see productions like Alan Bennett’s Playing Sandwiches and Lady Of Letters are sustaining.
‘It’s ingeniously beautiful’: THE LAST FIVE YEARS – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★★
The Last Five Years at the Southwark Playhouse is the most joyously exuberant, emotionally rackety return imaginable for the valiant London Fringe.
‘Absorbing & thrilling & touching’: THE SHRINE / BED AMONG THE LENTILS – Bridge Theatre ★★★★★
The Talking Heads monologues The Shrine and Bed Among the Lentils are absorbing and thrilling and touching and – here is the surprise – amid Alan Bennett’s wry pathos the playlets are often enormously funny.
‘It’s all true & refreshing & beautifully made’: BEAT THE DEVIL – Bridge Theatre ★★★★
Covid-19 must have its say to start with, so off goes the season with Ralph Fiennes directed by Nicholas Hytner and delivering Beat The Devil, a monologue by David Hare.
‘Dreamy, festive, fast & intelligent’: TWELFTH NIGHT – Red Rose Chain (Online review)
What the tiny Ipswich company Red Rose Chain, has achieved with Twelfth Night in the time of social-distancing is oddly brilliant, you’re unlikely to find a more uplifting show in this strange, frustrating summer.
‘Will make your heart leap’: A CHRISTMAS CAROL – The Old Vic
This freshened-up and first-rate production of A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic sees Paterson Joseph giving one of the performances of his life, his humanity simply erupting onto the stage.
‘It is all rather fabulous’: THE LION THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE – Bridge Theatre ★★★★
Everything is both spectacular and, importantly, also feels like something you could play at home with tablecloths and cardboard in The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. If you can’t borrow any children to take, haul your own inner-child along.
‘It works very nicely’: DEAR EVAN HANSEN – West End ★★★★
Dear Evan Hansen is a taut and original work, garlanded work which scrutinises the problems of basic human narcissism colliding with the fact that social platforms allow everyone to be heroes of their own narratives these days.
‘A riot of good cheer & some quite breathtaking stagecraft’: MARY POPPINS – West End ★★★★★
Mary Poppins is as supercalifragilisticexpialidocious as one can hope, a riot of good cheer, fun, excellent signing and some quite breathtaking stagecraft.