For the singing, humour and general feel-good production, Midlife Cowboy certainly ticks all the right boxes.
Absolutely superb’: A TASTE OF HONEY – Touring ★★★★
The National Theatre does not disappoint with A Taste of Honey. The production is absolutely superb, with some of the cleverest staging imaginable.
‘A useful reminder of how we got here & what’s required to fix it’: THE PERMANENT WAY – The Vaults
If the devil is in the detail, David Hare’s old polemic against rail privatisation, Permanent Way, is a satanic ejaculation.
‘Who knew a song about the delights of Swindon could be so entertaining?’: MIDLIFE COWBOY – Pleasance Theatre
Midlife Cowboy is infectious and entertaining, with a brilliant soundtrack to boot. With a little work it could be a hit.
‘Atmospheric & hugely entertaining’: HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES – Abney Park Cemetery
The Hound of the Baskervilles is packed full of so many wonderful little touches that work together to create a truly entertaining night out.
‘A masterpiece in theatrical storytelling’: WAR HORSE – Touring
The National Theatre production of Michael Morpurgo’s novel War Horse is both the most visceral depiction of war I’ve seen on stage and a masterpiece in theatrical storytelling.
‘The nasty aftertaste negates the positives’: BIG THE MUSICAL – West End
Though the design is superb, the kids are both adorable and excellent performers, and McGuiness’s work is solid, the appalling storyline of Big and its tone-deafness can get in the bin.
‘Superb reimagining’: A DOLL’S HOUSE – Lyric Hammersmith
Tanika Gupta’s superb reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s modern classic A Doll’s House is both entertaining and deep.
‘Filled with warmth, emotion & delightful British humour’: THE LIFE I LEAD – West End ★★★★
Written by James Kettle, The Life I Lead (named after Mr Banks’ song in Mary Poppins) tells the story of David Tomlinson’s life and details his extraordinary highs and lows.
From Oklahoma! via Cats to Falsettos: My Stagey Week
It’s been another crazy busy Stagey week. I moved flats, travelled to Chichester, Kilworth, and Dartford, saw five shows, two cabarets, interviewed nine people and had a very early start on Sunday for a day’s filming.
’True testament to the power of music & storytelling’: WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF – Soho Theatre ★★★★★
Loud, bold & full of heart, What Girls Are Made Of is full of dynamic performances – a true testament to the power of music & storytelling.
‘Bizarre & beautifully poetic’: ANNA BELLA EEMA – Arcola Theatre ★★★★
As the cast take on different characters in each other’s dreams and memories, their versatility shines and all three excel in their hauntingly comic performances. Anna Bella Eema is bizarre and beautifully poetic – a must-see show.
‘Out of step & time’: BIG THE MUSICAL – West End
Big, the film, holds a special place in everyone’s hearts but this musical version is out of step and time.
‘Eerily compelling soundscape’: ANNA BELLA EEMA – Arcola Theatre
The strange but spellbinding Anna Bella Eema makes for an intriguing trip to the Arcola Theatre.
‘Visually spectacular, thrilling entertainment’: BIG THE MUSICAL – West End ★★★★
Big is smashing fun if you can cope with the fact that at the heart of it is a power-relationship dynamic raising slightly awkward questions. But not in a Big way.
‘Challenging to say the least’: AMSTERDAM – Orange Tree Theatre ★★★
Maya Arad Yasur’s Amsterdam had already had an illustrious reception before it hit Paul Miller’s pocket dynamo Orange Tree, Richmond.
‘Indulges entirely in cinematic nostalgia’: BIG THE MUSICAL – West End
Big doesn’t always mean better, size does matter, it’s not how big it is it’s what you do with it – whatever the pun, Big the Musical is a severe disappointment at the Dominion Theatre.
‘Provides some moments of genuine theatrical magnetism’: SOLARIS – Edinburgh ★★★★
Dealing with troubling questions about human interaction, the Lyceum’s adaptation of Solaris is – like all the best science fiction – not really about alien planets but about our own world.
‘It shows its age’: FAME THE MUSICAL – West End
“Fame!” – we all know the infamous song. The lyrics, “I’m gonna live forever, I’m gonna learn how to fly, HIGH” are not well known just because of the original 1980 film, but because of the subsequent television series, film remake and musicals that followed.
‘Master craftsman at work’: Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation – Royal Court Theatre ★★★★
Total immediate collective imminent terrestrial salvation. Quite a handful of a title to get hold of. But unlike much printed on the front of the bottle these days, it is what it says. It is a total immediate collective imminent terrestrial salvation – of sorts.