In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 15 December 2019), ranging from Love London Love Culture’s delight at watching Jamie Lloyd’s razor sharp West End production of Cyrano de Bergerac starring James McAvoy, to Maryam Philpott’s discovery that the National Theatre staging of A Taste Of Honey, now transferred to the Trafalgar Studios, is a relevant as it ever was. Plus find out what the Mates think of A Kind Of People, The Boy Friend and Guys and Dolls.
Cyrano de Bergerac – Playhouse Theatre
Emma Clarendon: “Jamie Lloyd’s stripped back but immensely enjoyable production highlights the power of language thanks to Martin Crimp’s engaging adaptation.” ★★★★
A Kind of People – Royal Court Theatre
Aleks Sierz: “The main problem with this story is that, told at a brisk 95 minutes, there is not enough time to satisfyingly explore the central relationship between Gary and Nicky, and most of the other characters are underwritten.”
A Taste of Honey – Trafalgar Studios
Maryam Philpott: “Delaney’s play feels as prescient as ever and with its comment on the burden of expectation placed on women, class struggle, race and sexuality, more than six decades on it’s lost none of its bite.”
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The Boy Friend – Menier Chocolate Factory
Hannah Crouch: “This is an ideal show to lighten these dark winter days, providing a healthy dose of escapism and pure joyousness for all.” ★★★★
Guys & Dolls – Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Lottie Davis-Browne: “Each year I always think Sheffield Theatres can’t excel the previous Christmas production, but once again I was proved wrong.” ★★★★★
An editor, writer and critic, Lisa Martland is the founder of Vuelio top-ranked website Musical Theatre Review which she set up in 2013. She has largely single-handedly developed it into one of the UK’s must-read sites for professionals and expert followers of the sector. In 2018, Lisa also joined the Terri Paddock Group, taking on the role of editor for both MyTheatreMates and our sister musical theatre site Stage Faves. Formerly, she was deputy editor at The Stage Newspaper.
