In our continuing series, editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 23 February 2020), ranging from Aleks Sierz’s thoughts on the Bridge Theatre’s timely revival of Caryl Churchill’s 2002 play A Number to a unique and entertaining production of fan favourite Be More Chill at The Other Palace, according to Kirsty Herrington at London Theatre Reviews.
Plus find out what the Mates think of La Cage aux Folles [The Play], Netflix & Chill and Jekyll & Hyde.
A Number – Bridge Theatre
Aleks Sierz: “If this intimate play feels a bit lost in the vast space of the Bridge, the performances are big enough to give it the required punch.”
Be More Chill – The Other Palace ★★★★
Kirsty Herrington: “What’s so appealing about the show is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Be More Chill is fresh and fun, but with a lot of heart. With an infectious soundtrack, bags of energy and a brilliant cast, this is a unique and entertaining production.”
La Cage aux Folles [The Play] – Park Theatre
Shanine Salmon: “Based on Simon Callow’s English translation, this version of La Cage aux Folles stays true to the original French text. Callow’s edits and new dialogue has given us a fresh interpretation which is arch and bubbling with hilariously sharp one-liners.”
Jekyll & Hyde – Vault Festival
Zahid Fayyaz: “Once you have enough clues solved, you get to make a choice as to what your next steps will be, multiple-choice style, to determine your characteristics. I won’t spoil what the locations and clues are, but some of them are particularly fiendish.”
Netflix & Chill – Drayton Arms Theatre
Liz Dyer: “It’s encouraging to hear the important message that now comes through loud and clear about male mental health and the responsibility we all have to encourage frank and open conversation.”
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.
