In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 6 October 2019), ranging from Libby Purves’ childhood reminiscences associated with Master Harold and the Boys at the National to Abba-fest Mamma Mia! The Party and reviews of new plays The Open, Two Ladies, The Watsons and more. Enjoy.
Text of the Day: Two Ladies
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘From intriguing beginnings, promise is squandered’: TWO LADIES – Bridge Theatre
A pleasure to see Zoë Wanamaker and Zrinka Cvitešić onstage but they deserve a much better play than Two Ladies at the Bridge Theatre.
‘A crazy delight’: TWO LADIES – Bridge Theatre
There’s excellent acting in Two Ladies, a play that tickles the senses and the intellect by playfully morphing from one genre to another.
‘A Tardis of a play, bigger than its size’: TWO LADIES – Bridge Theatre ★★★★★
In a tight 90 minutes Nancy Harris’ new play Two Ladies moves from a sharp, occasionally funny observation of this wifely condition into a meditation on politics both gender and global:
It’s been a summer of Shakespeare Dreams
“What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?” A plethora of productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, that’s what.
Best of the Blogs: From Brexit via Plenty to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Amidst editor Lisa Martland’s seven Top Picks from the last week of theatre are Libby Purves’ description of her blissful time at Nicholas Hytner’s immersive production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre and Aleks Sierz’s thoughts on the Kiln Theatre’s new opening, Samuel Adamson’s take on A Doll’s House in Wife.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for the Bridge Theatre’s latest immersive Shakespeare production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
‘This sets the (trapeze) bar very high indeed’: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – Bridge Theatre
Nicholas Hytner gives us an utterly inspired take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre, with Gwendoline Christie in stupendous form.
‘A delicious modern twist to the play’: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – Bridge Theatre ★★★★
Don’t leave it to the last minute to get into the auditorium for the Bridge Theatre immersive, promenade production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream because there is stuff going on before the play officially starts.
‘Brings a fresh, more contemporary feel’: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – Bridge Theatre
It is the slight rearrangement of the text and its implication for the female characters that is Nicholas Hytner’s most notable achievement here in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre.
‘Elevated to realms of unexpected glee’: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – Bridge Theatre ★★★★★
A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre is a dream of a Dream. One expected fun from the combination of Nicholas Hytner, a roiling mass of promenaders in the pit and a Bunny Christie design which makes the most of this fresh big theatre’s technical tricks.
NEWS: Zoë Wanamaker & Zrinka Cvitešić will star in world premiere of Nancy Harris’ Two Ladies at the Bridge Theatre
Zoë Wanamaker and Zrinka Cvitešić will play Hélène and Sophia respectively in Two Ladies, a new play by Nancy Harris to be directed by Nicholas Hytner for the London Theatre Company at the Bridge Theatre.
NEWS: London Theatre Company announces plans for a second theatre located in King’s Cross
London Theatre Company and King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership (KCCLP) have announced their joint venture for a brand new 600 theatre in King’s Cross.
Text of the Day: A German Life
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘The play is equally worthy of attention’: A GERMAN LIFE – Bridge Theatre ★★★★★
When Maggie Smith heads to the stage it is undoubtedly a big draw but I think the play, A German Life, is equally worthy of the attention, subtly asking important questions about culpability and responsibility.
Best of the Blogs: Toast, A German Life, Tony’s Last Tape, Top Girls & Queen of the Mist
Carrying on her new series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out five of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (8-14 April 2019).
REVIEW ROUND-UP: A German Life at the Bridge Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for Jonathan Kent’s production of A German Life starring Maggie Smith.
‘Without doubt, this is the theatre event of the year’: A GERMAN LIFE – Bridge Theatre
Maggie Smith is absolutely triumphant in this memoir of a Berlin secretary in the Nazi era, A German Life at the Bridge Theatre.
‘The play’s eye is pitilessly sharp’: ALYS, ALWAYS – Bridge Theatre ★★★★
Couldn’t miss Nicholas Hytner’s bit of mischief: after his years of being being alternately feted and rubbished in print, he displays directorial glee in sending up the noisome denizens of a broadsheet arts desk thanks to Lucinda Coxon’s black-hearted comedy of modern media manners, Alys, Always at the Bridge Theatre.