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Reviews
The Addams Family Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, music & lyrics by Andrew Lippa. In concert 12/13 February 2024 at the Palladium, Argyle Street, London. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: William Russell.
“High camp and black humour as the Addams Family return to the stage.”
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith
Songs for a New World by Jason Robert Brown, Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate, London 06 February to 03 March 2024. 4****: William Russell.
“Robert Jason Brown’s music gloriously sung and played.”
Photo Credit: Film Free Photography.
Bronco Billy - book by Dennis Hackin, Music and Lyrics by Chip Rosenbloom &John Torres. Charing Cross Theatre, Villiers Street, London WC2 until 7 April 2024. 2**: William Russell.
“A musical that is truly terrible to behold”
Photo Credit: The Other Richard.
No Surrender – Paul Bogaev for one night only. Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate Village, London N1. 29 January 2024. 4****: William Russell
“Bogaev proves to be a blast.”
Photo credit: Paul Bogaev.
Disney’s Aladdin, Theatre Royal, until 11 February 2024, 5✩✩✩✩✩. Review: Cormac Richards.
“Sparklingly Brilliant Family Entertainment!”
Photo: Courtesy of Theatre Royal, Plymouth.
Cruel Intentions created by Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin & Roger Kumble based on Kumble’s 199 film. The Other Palace, 12 Palace Street, London SW1E to 14 April 2024. 4****: William Russell.
“Great songs, a dazzling leading lady – a good night out of its kind.”
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith.
Your’re a Good Man,Charlie Brown. Book, Music & Lyrics by Clark Gesner. Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate Village, London to 14 January 2024. 3***: William Russell.
“Snoopy steals the show.”
Photo Credit : Simon Jackson.
High Society – Music & Lyrics by Cole Porter. Book by Arthur Kopit. The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye, Reading RG4 to 20 January 2024. 3***: William Russell.
“Musical fare for Christmas more Turkey than Plum Pudding.”
Photo Credit : Andreas Lambos.
Pacific Overtures. Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by John Weidman. The Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, London SE1 to 24 February 2024. 4****: William Russell.
“A superb revival of a difficult Sondheim musical - not to be missed.”
Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan.
I Should Be So Lucky - Theatre Royal Plymouth – until 09 December, 2023 and touring. 1*: Cormac Richards.
“Lazy, outdated, tacky nonsense.”
Photo Credit: Marc Brenner.
Oh What A Lovely War by Joan Littlewood, Gerry Raffles & Charles Chilton. Southwark Playhouse – the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 09 December 2023. 4****: William Russell.
“Littlewood’s magic is lacking but for first time audiences this production should still work powerfully enough.”
Photo Credit: Alex Harvey-Brown.
Mandy Patinkin in Concert. The Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D to 19 November, 2023. 5*****: William Russell.
‘Patinkin delivers a master class in the art of singing popular song.’
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus.
The Time Traveller’s Wife. Book by lauren Gunderson. Music & Lyrics by Joss Stone & Dave Stewart. The Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1. 3***: William Russell.
‘A gloriously bonkers show for all who collect the unusual.’
Photo Credit: Johan Persson.
Lizzie by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer, Tim Maner & Alan Stevens Hewitt. Southwark Playhouse Elephant, Dante Place, London to 02 December, 2023. 2**: William Russell.
‘A show that needs as many whacks as possible.’
Photo credit: Pamela Raith.
Antisemitism by Uri Agnon. Camden People’s Theatre, 58 Hampstead Road, London NW1 to 28 October, 2023. 3***: William Russell.
‘A flawed musical for today outstandingly performed.’
Photo Credit: Cam Harie
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical, Birmingham Hippodrome, 18 October 2023 ‘till 04 November 2023, then on tour ‘till 04 February 2024. 4**** David Gray & Paul Gray
‘Roald Dahl’s sense of wicked fun brought to life in a lively musical adaptation.’
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Birmingham Hippodrome, 10 October, 2023. 5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray
‘Strong performances all round in a lively explosion of a show.’
Close-Up by Ben Elton. The Menier Chocolate Factory, 50 Southwark St, London SE 1 to 18 November 2023. 2**: William Russell.
‘A dire juke box musical life of Twiggy.’
Photo Credit – Manuel Harlan.
The King and I by Rogers and Hammerstein – Theatre Royal Plymouth until 23 September 2023 and touring, 5✩✩✩✩✩. Review: Cormac Richards.
‘Traditional, vibrant and refreshing production of a real classic.’
Photo Credit: Johan Persson
Rebecca based on the novel by Daphne DuMaurier. Book and Lyrics by Michael Kunze. Charing Cross Theatre, The Arches, Villiers St, London WC2 to 18 November, 2023. 2**: William Russell.
‘Better take the road to Mandalay than to Manderley – a truly dreadful musical.’
Photo Credit: Mark Senior.