Realism At Its Best

If you have a short attention span and quite like "The Street" then this the show for you and I mean that in the best possible way. This is an example of Churchill's writing at its best it is funny, moving and so real it feels like watching CCTV in better quality.

I am officially Paul Ready's biggest fan, his acting style is understated, endearing and a delight to watch, he is on usual top form as Pete. Hattie Morahan's goldfish, open mouthed gawping is growing old, there was a time when I found her endearing and unique and now she has quickly become dull. Her character of Dawn had a maximum of about 10 lines and a suicide cry for help however I felt little concern for her well-being. Ian Hart and Lindsey Coulson opened the show beautifully and had the wonderful talent for talking over each other without losing a single joke.

Overall there was little wrong with this production, it was a shame that I could see the Phrede set looming behind the smaller set designed by Naomi Dawson, it occasionaly reminded me of my previous boredom but the hard working cast quickly won my attention back again.

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=50111&dspl=castcreds

Should you dance?

There was a time when I would hold my breath during the end of "Billy Elliot" waiting for the beautifully arched final leap of the elder Billy, played by Adam Cooper. Cooper (pictured) seems to have lost the intensity and passion that he could once have portrayed in a single leap.

Director, Choreographer and Star Adam Cooper's new show "Shall We Dance" fails to deliver any type of plot or concept. The show is a 2 hour rag-taggle collection of dances loosely based on the idea that Cooper's character travels around the world falling in love with various girls always missing the right one.

Cooper's talent as a choreographer is hit and miss. Act 1 is heavy-handed, awkward and quite dull, Lorraine Stewart shines amongst the painfully clumsy dance routines, bring grace and beauty to the Viennese Waltz scene.

Act 2 certainly picks up the pace and an element of fun is added to the show. The bright, colourful and fun dance scenes set in Asia and Texas are simple, elegant and enjoyable. The final "slaughterhouse scene" is a bit odd but Sarah Wildor's performance lifts the bizzare scene.

Overall I was left feeling a bit non-plussed, the show didn't seem to effect me at all which in retrospect is really quite sad, I would have preferred hating it than feeling nothing.

http://www.sadlerswells.com/show/Adam-Coopers-Shall-We-Dance

Holler!

It is just as difficult to write a competent review about a show that you fell in love with as a show that you hated. However I will try to write a good review without just typing "OH MY GOD GO SEE IT"!

Firstly the atmosphere at the Globe is wonderful, the experience alone is fun, warm and really quite beautiful. Everyone should try it out, it is infectious, even a stickler for theatre etiquette like myself found myself whooping and clapping in the middle of scenes, I cringe now to remember my desire to just shout out at the performers things like "YEAH!", its embarrassing.

All the performances are top notch there is not a weak link among the cast, but the real stars are Laura Rodgers as Celia and Dominic Rowan as Touchstone. There are also so many memorable moments and wonderful scenes, look sorry I thought I could be thoughtful and insightful but I can't....

"OH MY GOD GO SEE IT"

http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/theatre/annualtheatreseason/asyoulikeit/

"A cock in a frock on a rock"

I have a bizarre relationship with West End Musicals, I grew up with them but now feel that they have become business obsessed, tacky, condescending and shallow. HOWEVER.....

Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical (title's a bit long) is absolutely fantastically camp, colourful fun. The songs are well known, the costumes are amazing, the humour is obvious and the insults are bitchy:

"You know, there are two things I don't like about you, Felicia... your face. So how 'bout shutting both of them?"

"Fred: Come and fuck me. Come on. Fuck me.
[Bernadette knees Frank in the groin]
Bernadette: There, now you're fucked!"

"Now listen here, you mullet. Why don't you just light your tampon, and blow your box apart? Because it's the only bang you're ever gonna get, sweetheart!"

"Is it true when you were born the doctor turned around and slapped your mother?"

"What did she used do for kicks? Put a bucket on your head and swing off the handle?"

BASICALLY ITS SO MUCH FUN!

http://www.priscillathemusical.com/

Bias in Seven Dials

There are two major reasons why I cannot write a worthy review of "A Streetcar Named Desire" at the Donmar.

1. I hate Tennessee Williams with a passion, I find his writing predictable and dull, admittedly I am alone in this view, but I find it hard to engage with a writer who seems to whine his way through the issues he is discussing.

2. I didn't really pay full attention during the 3 hours because I was completely in awe of Elliot Cowan's physique, the man is a modern day god (a slight hyperbole).

Anyway there were parts I enjoyed despite the writing/paid attention to; Christopher Oram came up trumps on set and costume design (seriously was he momentarily blind when he worked on Twelfth Night) and Ruth Wilson as Stella was hypnotic in her portrayal of a woman torn between a passion stronger than anything she's ever known and her duty.

Overall most people should see "Streetcar" there is something in it for everyone and Rachel Weisz add some Hollywood Glamour to this production and made an impressive return to the West End stage.

http://www.donmarwarehouse.com/pl102.html

Nap Time at the National Theatre

OH DEAR LORD WAS I BORED WHILE WATCHING PHEDRE!

The characters lack any kind of emotional link with the audience, the plot seems over-the-top (like the acting style of Mirren and Tyzack) and its 2hrs long which is about an an hour and a half too long. It makes me quite sad to have to say that Nick Hynter's latest play is so dreadfully dull but everyone has bad days. There are a couple of re-deeming features, which are;

1. Ruth Negga as Aricia is sublime to watch and moves with a beautiful elegance and grace, I really enjoyed her performance it was a shame that she was on so little.

2. For the shallow viewer, Dominic Cooper is on top muscular form and his performance is enjoyable, he has improved and matured since "The History Boys" days.

3. Helen Mirren's death scene is surprisingly moving after all her annoying whinging, I'm still unclear on whether I disliked her acting or the character of Phedre.

4. Bob Crowley's set is absouletly gorgeous.

Overall about a 5/10 and 4 of those points go to Ruth Negga, for a glimpse of what she can do check out PA's on the BBC.

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/45269/productions/phegravedre.html

I apologise

Okay so I realise I haven't updated in forever, but A-levels are a bummer, so....

1. DERREN BROWN IS A GENIUS, EVERYONE SEE HIS SHOW - http://www.derrenbrown.co.uk/tour

2. "All's Well That Ends Well" has the wonderful Michelle Terry in it, who looks an awful lot like Sally Hawkins. Its enjoyable and sort of creates a warm happy feeling, even though really the play is quite depressing! - http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/45523/productions/alls-well-that-ends-well.html

3. The Dolls House at the Donmar is wonderful - http://www.donmarwarehouse.com/pl96.html

Next up is a proper review of Phrede at the National, I'll be much better behaved from now on!