Tag Archive

‘Why you should not leave in the interval’: MONOGAMY – Park Theatre ★★★

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews by Libby Purves14th June 2018Leave a Comment

So many characters – and their troublesome characteristics – have piled in, manic sitcom style, with bursts of backstory and downright bafflement, that it seems a problem beyond solution in a final hour. That is why you should not leave in the interval.

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‘It is hard to see why Stenham would need to borrow the classic’: JULIE – National Theatre ★★★

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Libby Purves9th June 2018Leave a Comment

Polly Stenham joins the endless line of adaptors and updaters of August Strindberg’s toughly nasty, misogynistic Miss Julie: a play soaked in such fin-de-siecle Nordic hopelessness that it makes Ibsen look like PG Wodehouse.

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‘It you have a taste for forensic emotional autobiography, it’s top of the genre’: MY NAME IS LUCY BARTON – Bridge Theatre ★★★

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews, Sticky by Libby Purves7th June 2018Leave a Comment

I would pay a lot to see the wonderful Laura Linney, in a space and production like this, telling any number of other stories. But maybe not this Elizabeth Strout one. But it’s a class act, and could well be absolutely for you.

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‘Once everyone accepted it as just a very well-executed panto, things clicked’: PETER PAN – Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park ★★★

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews, Ticket recommendations by Libby Purves25th May 2018Leave a Comment

Directors Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel have melded World War One and circus in Peter Pan at the Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park.

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‘I call this leading from the front’: HAMLET – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews by Libby Purves19th May 2018Leave a Comment

This production of Hamlet is a key moment in Michelle Terry’s new role as artistic director of the Globe, after the less than happy departure of Emma Rice. And power to her:

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‘Prepare for a retro, schlock-horror mystery psycho bamboozle’: MINDGAME – West End ★★★

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews, Ticket recommendations by Libby Purves17th May 2018Leave a Comment

Mindgame has been touring for years in bursts, having just delighted the Isle of Wight: so tell the cast of three they’re coming ‘Up West’ for a couple of weeks, keep the tickets well under the 50 mark, set up bargain packages and hope for thrilled bums-on-seats.

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‘The second half is properly full-on funny’: PRESENT LAUGHTER – Chichester Festival Theatre ★★★

In Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews by Libby Purves28th April 2018Leave a Comment

What begins as a comedy of manners in Present Laugher does turn gradually into true farce: wrong people behind doors, disastrous revelations of affairs, panic. And in this area director Sean Foley is wholly reliable.

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‘Performances are fine, nuanced & credible’: GUESTHOUSE – Touring ★★★

In Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews, Touring by Libby Purves26th April 2018Leave a Comment

Nicola Werenowska has certainly found fertile ground for the setting of her play: the decline of English seaside towns (in this case Clacton) from the first flashback to 1963 up to today.

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‘Considerable physical & verbal agility’: GOOD GIRL – Trafalgar Studios ★★★

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Libby Purves24th March 2018Leave a Comment

Naomi Sheldon’s solo, semi-autobiographical Good Girl comes from Edinburgh crowned with plaudits, though cunningly in the programme she does an “alternative poster” of rude things people have said about it.

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‘Double, double, toil & – yes – trouble’: MACBETH – Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford upon Avon ★★★

In Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews by Libby Purves21st March 2018Leave a Comment

Directors stop being scared of the Scottish Play and return to more reflective and respectful renderings. Meanwhile, the unfortunate A level set-book class of 2018 are at risk of associating it only with concrete, gaffer-tape, plastic dollies and carpet-sweepers.

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