Tag: 2 Star Review

GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT – REVIEW – SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE

27th November 2023

Drawing heavily from the classic canon of the British supernatural, HighTide’s trio of contemporary Gothic narratives uses traditional storytelling formats to address contemporary themes. Directed by Elayce Ismail, reverent musical interludes accompany tales of apparitions and nighttime conjurings that speak of women from the East of England. Unfortunately, the effect is less chilling and more … More GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT – REVIEW – SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE

TREASON THE MUSICAL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE

10th November 2023

Creating musical theatre around historic events has become an increasingly popular thing to do within the last few years, following on from the international successes of Hamilton and Six. However, it doesn’t always work, and unfortunately, that is the case with Treason the Musical. Treason began its life as a 5 track EP in 2020, … More TREASON THE MUSICAL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE

SEIZE THE CHEESE! – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE

7th November 2023

Cheese seizing is a beloved tradition held on the spring bank holiday, when a 7 to 9-pound Double Gloucester is rolled down Cooper’s Hill for participants to follow. Good fun! When I saw Seize the Cheese! being presented at a Wine and Cheese tasting event earlier this year, I got excited, but unfortunately, this cheese was not … More SEIZE THE CHEESE! – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE

SPUTNIK SWEETHEART – REVIEW – ARCOLA THEATRE

1st November 2023

Although familiar with Haruki Murakami, I have not read his 1999 novel of identity, Sputnik Sweetheart. Bryony Lavery’s adaptation, premiering at the Arcola Theatre, certainly made me want to. The story of best friends Sumire and K, the latter of whom is hopelessly in love with the former, navigating the new world of adulthood; as … More SPUTNIK SWEETHEART – REVIEW – ARCOLA THEATRE

SHREK THE MUSICAL – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE

27th September 2023

A solid family favourite since the movie premiered in 2001, the musical adaptation soon followed, premiering on Broadway in 2008. Currently on a tour of the UK, stopping off in Wimbledon this week, whilst this production of Shrek The Musical may transport the younger members of the audience to a land Far Far Away, there’s … More SHREK THE MUSICAL – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE

BATTERSEA BARDOT – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON STUDIO

19th September 2023

One-person musicals are rare; Tell Me on a Sunday is perhaps the only well-known example of a commercially successful one-woman musical, and that is only one act. Ewen Moore’s new musical, Battersea Bardot, is thus ambitious; it is a one-woman musical in two acts, chronicling the life of troubled British actor Carol White. White first … More BATTERSEA BARDOT – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON STUDIO

THE GREAT GATSBY – REVIEW – ACTORS CHURCH

19th August 2023

As part of its open-air theatre tour, Tethered Wits bring their retelling of The Great Gatsby to the stunning Actors Church in London. This reimagined version attempts to focus on the unattainable American dream, and how each character is limited in some way whether that’s through social origins, gender, or privilege. This is emphasised numerous … More THE GREAT GATSBY – REVIEW – ACTORS CHURCH

WAITING FOR A TRAIN AT THE BUS STOP – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

18th August 2023

“How lucky am I to have all these men in my life telling me how to be a woman”. Waiting for a Train at the Bus Stop follows aspiring poet Chilufya (Yaisa); meaning ‘the lost one’, as she struggles with her sense of self, falling into an abusive relationship. The dark comedy explores themes of … More WAITING FOR A TRAIN AT THE BUS STOP – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

QUITTING COMEDY – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

17th August 2023

Quitting Comedy attempts to pull back the curtain on the inner workings of the comedy world, offering a satirical take on the challenges within the industry. While the execution may not always hit the mark, there are glimpses of promise amidst the uneven delivery. The blend of strong writing and attempts at humour often waver … More QUITTING COMEDY – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

SKIES IN THE CLOUD – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

17th August 2023

When Zee (Ruby Woods) was a child she saw an ‘undiscovered existence where people were living; they didn’t live on the clouds but rather what makes up the clouds’. When she meets Wren (Loie Milne), a ‘particle person’, she discovers this to be true. We see their relationship unfold before us as they learn about … More SKIES IN THE CLOUD – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

DIANA: THE UNTOLD AND UNTRUE STORY – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

16th August 2023

The People’s Princess gets a superficial fangirl treatment in this tidy, camp celebration of her ‘iconic’ status. It’s a great idea for a show, combining a well-known royal scandal with nostalgia and a lightweight drag performance. Linus Karp plays Lady Spencer with poise and pursed lips, retelling her classic narrative of a fairytale wedding gone … More DIANA: THE UNTOLD AND UNTRUE STORY – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

HELLO KITTY MUST DIE – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

16th August 2023

Based on the novel by Kate Kamen (formally Angela S. Choi), Hello Kitty Must Die is a new dark comedy musical, premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe. The show centres around a nearly 30-year-old, Chinese-American lawyer, Fiona Yu (Sami Ma). Although she lives in a Western country, she’s held to the cultural traditions of marriage by … More HELLO KITTY MUST DIE – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

LITTLE WARD OF HORRORS – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

9th August 2023

Little Ward of Horrors is a medical sketch comedy show created by Malignant Humours – St George’s Revue Society. This 50-minute show, unfortunately, falls flat, as most of its sketches are either not linked to healthcare at all – or that link is incredibly tenuous. With sketches about language lines to translate Scottish accents – … More LITTLE WARD OF HORRORS – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

BED: THE MUSICAL – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE

6th August 2023

BED: The Musical is a rom-com set after the ending of a rom-com. Showing married life, adapting to parenthood, and everything that happens after the ‘happy ending’. Ben (Drew Elston) and Alice (Madeleine MacMahon) are newlyweds that buy a brand new bed, the show is centred around this – if you hadn’t guessed from the … More BED: THE MUSICAL – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE