As a plus-sized critic myself, I’m not limited in the shows I review; so why should an actor be limited in the roles they’re invited to play?
’Possibly the best show I have seen in my whole theatre-going career’: MAME – Manchester ★★★★★
Beg, borrow or steal to get a ticket to this show in this beautiful gem of theatre. Mame at the Hope Mill Theatre is well worth a trip to Manchester.
CD Review: Company 2018 London cast / Follies 2018 National Theatre cast
We should celebrate the fact that within the space of a year London has played host to stagings of not one but two Sondheim masterpieces that have all but redefined them in theatrical terms: Company and Follies.
‘As perfect a piece of musical theatre as I could hope for’: FOLLIES – National Theatre
Just a quickie for this revisit to Follies, which remains as perfect a piece of musical theatre as I could hope for. I loved it then but I really love it now.
‘A simply outstanding piece of musical theatre’: FOLLIES – National Theatre
The Olivier Award-winning Follies returns to the National Theatre in richer, deeper, more resonant form and just blows me away.
‘Scoring top marks across the board’: FOLLIES – National Theatre ★★★★★
Eighteen months on and with a couple of well-placed casting changes Stephen Sondheim’s Follies returns to the National Theatre with the excellence of this devastating musical a breath of fresh air amidst a slew of disappointing recent openings in the capital.
‘It’s worth a visit to see how theatre should be done’: FOLLIES – National Theatre ★★★★
After its sold out run in 2017, Follies is back in true glamorous style as it follows a group of dancers reminiscing and reliving their youth.
Mark Shenton previews what theatre he is looking forward to in 2019: From London to Broadway
We’ve said goodbye to 2018 — including a look back at some of the year’s highlights and lowlights. Now it’s time to look ahead to 2019 — and offer my picks of the year so far announced.
‘A fun night at the theatre’: RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL – Arts Theatre ★★★
Ruthless! The Musical has been impressively cast, with a company whose voices and performances are well suited to the style.
The musical will be best savoured with a large gin alongside a generous pinch of salt. Excellently performed, it makes for a fun night at the theatre.
‘Performances are as broad as they come in some surprisingly luxurious casting’: RUTHLESS – Arts Theatre
Ruthless? Charging up to over £70 for a show at the Arts. Ruthless? Advertising yourselves as an all-female musical when you’ve a man in the cast. Ruthless? Putting said man above the title because he’s a talent show judge. Ruthless indeed.
NEWS: Hamilton cast open Olivier Awards 2018, Ceremony performances & broadcast revealed
The cast of Hamilton, which has a record-breaking 13 Olivier Award nominations – the most in Oliviers history – will open the ceremony on Sunday 8 April 2018 with opening track ‘Alexander Hamilton’.
NEWS: Hamilton cast open Olivier Awards 2018, Ceremony performances & broadcast revealed
The cast of Hamilton, which has a record-breaking 13 Olivier Award nominations – the most in Oliviers history – will open the ceremony on Sunday 8 April 2018 with opening track ‘Alexander Hamilton’.
‘Although predictable, it is entertaining’: RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL – Arts Theatre ★★
Ruthless isn’t a masterpiece, but while I wasn’t the biggest fan, I know others who will lap it up. There’s certainly a market for this over the top, zany, crude show and I can see it doing well.
‘When misguided concept meets slapdash production’: RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL – Arts Theatre ★
Ruthless! The Musical is a self-styled camp cult event in which the musical theatre genre, and several popular musicals, are spoofed. That they are ancient camp favourites such as Mame and Gypsy points even more, er, pointedly to the audience for which this is designed.
INTERVIEW: Spotlight On… Ruthless! The Musical’s Kim Maresca
Kim Maresca spoke to Love London Love Culture about the upcoming production of Ruthless! The Musical, playing at the Arts Theatre from the 16 March to 23 June 2018.
NEWS: Tracie Bennett & Harriet Thorpe join London cast for Ruthless premiere, TICKETS ONSALE
Jason Gardiner, Lara Denning, Kim Maresca, Harriet Thorpe and Tracie Bennett join the company of Joel Paley and Marvin Laird’s award-winning all-female character camp killer cult classic Ruthless! The Musical for its 14-week run at the Arts Theatre.
FosterIAN Awards for Best Supporting Actress
Thinking about this most well-received of plays, it is the role of Aunt Maggie Faraway who lingers most in my mind, the elegiac beauty of her speeches an elegant way of folding in traditions of Irish storytelling and emphasising the deep bonds of family.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Follies at the National Theatre
The National Theatre brings Stephen Sondheim’s classic Broadway musical to its stage for the first time, directed by Dominic Cooke. Here’s Love London Love Culture’s round up of the reviews so far.
FOLLIES – National Theatre ★★★★
It’s been 30 years since a fully staged production of Follies has been seen on a London stage so there’s been a huge buzz surrounding the current production at the National Theatre, which boasts a stellar cast.
FOLLIES – National Theatre ★★★★★
It’s been a while since the National Theatre last revived a great song and dance extravaganza and a Sondheim one at that. But with Dominic Cooke’s production of Follies, the NT’s reputation as one of the nation’s finest creators of musical theatre is restored.