Writer/director Jack McNamara’s clever play The Boss Of It All remorselessly targets the ineptitude of the governing classes and, along the way, takes some delightful pot shots at the pretensions of a certain type of actor.
‘A haunting & spellbinding play’: FAITH HEALER – Old Vic (Online review)
The third of the Old Vic’s ‘In Camera’ live streamed performances is Brian Friel’s 1979 play Faith Healer, often described as his masterpiece.
‘There is no doubt that Branagh’s performance is a bravura one’: LOOK BACK IN ANGER (Online review)
This version of Look Back in Anger is from 30 odd years later and was mounted by Renaissance Theatre, then a relatively new company formed by a young Kenneth Branagh. The play was directed by Judi Dench, his is a made for television re-creation from 1989.
‘Hytner has envisaged both stories with considerable care’: THE SHRINE / BED AMONG THE LENTILS – Bridge Theatre
The Bridge Theatre’s most savvy decision is in teaming The Shrine with Bed Among the Lentils, placing together two of our finest actors who effortless and regularly transition between stage and screen – Monica Dolan and Lesley Manville.
‘Maureen Lipman gives a magnificent performance’: ROSE – Hope Mill Theatre (Online review)
Magnificently played and realised by Maureen Lipman, Martin Sherman and Scott Le Crass, Rose is well worth viewing.
‘A play we are sure to see again & again’: THREE KINGS – Old Vic (Online review)
Good things come to those who wait, an axiom that applies in duplicate to Stephen Beresford’s latest play Three Kings screened via the Old Vic’s innovative In Camera series for just five performances.
‘An effortless watch’: SHIELDERS / THREE KINGS (Online review)
John Chapman ties up a few loose ends by catching up with short play/film Shielders as part of the Traverse Theatre Festival and the live stream of Stephen Beresford’s play Three Kings, starring Andrew Scott and streamed from The Old Vic.
‘The real deal’: For Quality Purposes / The Ockenden Witch (Online review)
Two one act plays – For Quality Purposes and The Ockenden Witch – have a great deal to say about modern life – even if one is set in 1564!
‘Hare allows much more of his own personality to emerge’: BEAT THE DEVIL – Bridge Theatre
The first short play is Beat the Devil in which David Hare stakes first claim to what will surely be a new genre or at least a familiar theme in the coming months – the Covid monologue.
‘First & foremost a theatrical piece’: THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING (Online review)
Daniel Bye’s The Price Of Everything is first and foremost a theatrical piece which examines the function of narrative and makes us question the veracity of what we hear.
Visual & audio treats from the Traverse Festival
There is some very promising writing talent on show in the Traverse Festival, and it is done justice both by the standard of performance and production from the venue.
‘Aaron Monaghan fulfils his brief wonderfully’: THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD – Druid Theatre Company (Online review)
Though the Playboy of The Western World may have been written in 1907 it still has clear resonances for the world today.
‘Absolutely ripe for comparisons’: At Home With The Brontës / Wasted (Online review)
Both At Home With The Brontës and Wasted have their plus points and it is interesting to see how the same subject matter can be treated in radically different ways.
Further outings to the virtual Edinburgh Fringe
For my first Edinburgh Festival “visit” last week, I found myself following a theme (more by accident than design) but this week I thought I’d freeform it a bit more. After all that’s what the Fringe is all about, isn’t it? Picking stuff at random, seeing what takes your fancy, taking a punt on something new. Except it didn’t quite work out like that….
‘Small Truth Theatre are to be congratulated’: DIGITAL CARAVAN THEATRE (Online review)
Small Truth Theatre have reimagined their unique site as an online digital space and are currently presenting a season of three audio dramas of around 15 minutes each under the general title of Digital Caravan Theatre.
‘You will find much to make you think about’: ALBION – Almeida Theatre (Online review)
If anything, the resonances in Mike Bartlett’s Albion have grown and strengthened as countrywide divisions have hardened.
‘There is not a dud piece in the pack’: THE GREATEST WEALTH – Old Vic (Online review)
The series of monologues under the collective title The Greatest Wealth was first performed at The Old Vic Theatre in 2018 as part of the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the NHS.
’An exhilarating return to live performance’: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR: THE CONCERT – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre may say concert on the poster but there is singing, dancing, performing and storytelling nine shows a week.
‘I’m planning another “trip” soon’: Exploring the Edinburgh Fringe online-style
While an online Edinburgh Festival Fringe can hardly claim to have anything like the same degree of atmosphere, various organisers are to be congratulated with getting a variety of material online.
’As vivid as anything you saw on stage 5 months ago’: BLINDNESS – Donmar Warehouse
Ben and Max Ringham’s work for Blindness is a masterpiece, a 70-minute performance that layers story, sound effects, music and lighting design to immerse the audience in a pandemic experience.