Mike Bartlett is very prolific, but this Restoration-style satire on society at London’s Lyric Hammersmith is sadly timid and predictable.
‘Flawed but mainly fabulous & deeply endearing’: SCANDALTOWN – Lyric Hammersmith ★★★★
We knew Mike Bartlett was brilliant, but with this third piece to come to a major London venue in 2022, he displays yet another facet to his virtuosity while staking a claim to be as prolific as Alan Ayckbourn.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Love Love Love at the Lyric Hammersmith
We round up the reviews for Mike Bartlett’s play Love Love Love, running at the Lyric Hammersmith until 4 April 2020.
‘Jaded view of a Britain that has lost its way’: PLENTY – Chichester ★★★
Ultimately, all eyes are on Rachael Stirling in Plenty and she stylishly carries this story of disillusionment to its inevitable, if uncertain, conclusion.
‘An impressive cast but lacks direction’: PLENTY – Chichester
We’re told Plenty is viewed as a modern classic. For the life of me I have no idea why and the sterling work of this excellent cast can do nothing to dissuade me.
NEWS: John Simm, Dervla Kirwan Hugh Bonneville, James Nesbitt & Sheila Hancock all feature in Chichester Festival Theatre’s new season
Chichester Festival Theatre’s Festival 2019 has been announced by artistic director Daniel Evans. It includes John Simm & Dervla Kirwan in Macbeth, Hugh Bonneville in Shadowlands & Tim Firth’s first solo musical starring James Nesbitt.
LABOUR OF LOVE – West End ★★★★
James Graham is on an electoral roll: There’s certainly a surfeit of election nights in Labour of Love and Martin Freeman’s bright boy Blairite David Lyons
LABOUR OF LOVE – West End
Comedy about Labour Party history is starry, but politically reactionary and tediously overblown.
NEWS: Tamsin Greig takes over from Sarah Lancashire in Labour of Love, opening postponed
Olivier Award-winning actress Tamsin Greig will now play Jean Whittaker opposite Martin Freeman as David Lyons in the world premiere of James Graham’s Labour of Love.
Round-up of news & interesting titbits: Ian wins an award, Harry Potter stars hit Broadway
I’m not one to blow my trumpet too much, honestly, but it was nice to discover that my blog has been named one of Feedspot’s Top 50 Drama Blogs and Websites.
NEWS: Rachael Stirling joins James Graham’s Labour of Love, Full cast
Rachael Stirling joins Martin Freeman and Sarah Lancashire in the world premiere of James Graham’s Labour of Love. Full cast is announced today.
Year in Review: Ian Foster’s Best Supporting Actress in a Play & in a Musical
In addition to lists of top productions, Mates contributor Ian Foster reviews his reviews from the past year to award his personal prizes for the best performances for Best Actor and Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress in both plays and musicals…