Jermyn Street Theatre, London ****
www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk
Review: of perf seen January 17, 2020:
© Robert Workman, James Hayes in Krapp’s Last Tape, recalling a moment of bliss on a tape thirty years ago…another haunting…
Krapp’s Last Tape…
Best of the Blogs: Snowflake, Swive, Curtains & more
In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 5 January 2020), including Aleks Sierz’s mixed feelings about Snowflake at the Kiln Theatre.
‘Simply delicious’: SWIVE – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★★
Natalie Abrahami makes Ella Hickson’s text and Elizabeth’s story pulsate with the sound of a young woman for whom insecurity runs in every fibre of her being.
‘It is Shaw at his mischievous, provocative best’: CANDIDA – Orange Tree Theatre ★★★★
The intimacy of the Orange Tree gives Candida the perfect setting for a discussion of moral, spiritual and political ethics.
‘It takes some guts’: FAIRVIEW – Young Vic Theatre ★★★★
In Jackie Sibblies Drury’s case, Fairview is very much tied up with the method, the form. She blows the traditional form sky high, introducing repetition, caricature and a final twist.
Best of the Blogs: Dear Evan Hansen, & Juliet, Land Without Dreams & more
In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre including Ben Dowell (for theatreCat) giving his verdict on the much-anticipated arrival of Dear Evan Hansen at the Noel Coward Theatre.
‘Unusual & exceptional’: LAND WITHOUT DREAMS – Gate Theatre ★★★★
Land Without Dreams may be difficult, irritating, sometimes alarmingly ‘obvious’ but they also manage to dig further into what it is to be human, coming at us as it were from left-field.
Best of the Blogs: Mary Poppins, Touching The Void, La Clique & more
In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 17 November 2019) including Ian Foster’s delight at the arrival of Mary Poppins to its original West End home.
‘Rhys Ifans is simply mesmeric’: ON BEAR RIDGE – Royal Court Theatre ★★★★
In a mere 90 minutes On Bear Ridge creates a theatrical metaphor of unforgettable power and impact.
‘Driven by explosive characterisation & dialogue’: SHOOK – Touring ★★★★
Spectators will go away wiser and sadder from this encounter with Shook, but most of all they will go away remembering Samuel Bailey’s dialogue and Josh Finan’s barnstormer of a performance as Cain.
‘A triumph in so many ways’: [BLANK] – Donmar Warehouse ★★★★
Jemima Rooper, Kate O’Flynn, Zainab Hasan and Joanna Horton carry a lion’s share delivering the vitriol, pain and helplessness of struggling women in [Blank].
‘Delicious, clever & delectable confection’: THE WATSONS – Menier Chocolate Factory ★★★★★
Like characters in a book who never die, Laura Wade’s The Watsons at the Menier Chocolate Factory deserves to last forever.
‘A definitive production for many years to come’: BLOOD WEDDING – Young Vic Theatre ★★★★
Now, in a daring and radical re-imagining, Marina Carr and Yaël Farber have transported Lorca’s Andalusian tragedy Blood Wedding to a deeply Celtic, Irish setting.
‘Measured, haunting production’: UNTIL THE FLOOD – Arcola Theatre ★★★★
A great memorial, an unforgettable, nuanced testimony, we have to pay attention to what Until the Flood tells us. Listen, feel, and learn. Do see.
Best of the Blogs: The Mates give their verdicts on Big, A Dolls’ House, Shida, The Eyes Of The Night & more
Best of the Blogs: The Mates give their verdicts on Big, A Dolls’s House, Shida & The Eyes Of The Night.
‘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.
‘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.
‘A thoroughly plausible, engrossing update’: HEDDA TESMAN – Chichester ★★★★
Cordelia Lynn’s Hedda Tesman renews Ibsen’s play in the light of today without in any way losing sight of the original. In this age of radical reinterpretations, that’s quite some achievement.
Best of the Blogs: The Mates give their verdicts on Appropriate, The Doctor, Cabaret & more
Best of the Blogs: The Mates give their verdicts on Appropriate, The Doctor, Cabaret & more.
‘Fascinating stuff’: APPROPRIATE – Donmar Warehouse ★★★
Donmar Warehouse, London ***
Box office: 020 3282 3808 (No booking fees, £1 postage fee may apply) Telephone Mon-Sat 10am-6pm …