REVIEW: Closer To Heaven, Union Theatre ★★★★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins What makes the musical stand-out is it unashamed gaiety, and I use that word in its modern sense. This is, as Nicholas De Jongh said when the piece premiered, "the first t…

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 6:09pm on April 28, 2015[SHARE]

REVIEW: Light Shining In Buckinghamshire, Lyttleton Theatre ★★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins There is an acute fascination in watching the richly intense banquet give way, bit by bit, to the advances of the common folk, to see the lavish table become stripped bare…

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 12:48pm on April 24, 2015[SHARE]

REVIEW: Dead Royal, Ovalhouse ★★★★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins Roberts is immaculate in playing both parts: the sour, rotten, old Wallis who, despite her bitterness, wants to save Diana from the dreary drudgery of joining the monarchy…

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 4:43am on April 23, 2015[SHARE]

REVIEW: Shock Treatment, Kings Head Theatre ★★★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins Julie Atherton can play dowdy geek character, svelte seductive siren, and camp fetish magnet (complete with vinyl Nurse's outfit just covering her pert derrière and barel…

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 10:15am on April 22, 2015[SHARE]

REVIEW: Death Of A Salesman, Royal Shakespeare Theatre ★★★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins The role of Willy Loman is very exacting, requiring great range and subtlety from the actor. The single greatest requirement, though, is for the actor to be Loman rather t…

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 9:55am on April 22, 2015[SHARE]

REVIEW: Love's Sacrifice, The Swan Theatre ★★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins Despite a delicious design from Anna Fleischle (the black velvet floor and beautifully detailed costumes especially) and some winning, often charming, performances from Ca…

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 6:08am on April 22, 2015[SHARE]

REVIEW: Carmen Disruption, Almeida Theatre ★★★★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins At just over 90 minutes, this is a theatrical spectacle and tapestry as ethereal and vital as it is strange and incomprehensible. Simon Stephens throws those elements such…

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 5:48am on April 22, 2015[SHARE]

REVIEW: All Male Pirates Of Penzance, Richmond Theatre ★★★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins The key is truthfulness: the men play the female roles as truthfully as they can, in the context of the show, and by doing so, unlock different energies and synergies. Jus…

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 5:51am on April 21, 2015[SHARE]

REVIEW: Fun Home, Circle In The Square ★★★★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins Universality is the key to the success of Fun Home. Fundamentally, it is about family and the undisclosed natures and secrets of those who are our family. Children discove…

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 5:24am on April 21, 2015[SHARE]

REVIEW: Gypsy, Savoy Theatre ★★★★★★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins Everyone in this company is superb in their part, everyone can really sing, really dance and really deliver the goods in terms of dramatic and comic acting. This is that r…

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 4:06am on April 16, 2015[SHARE]

REVIEW: Rumpy Pumpy, Landor Theatre ★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins Some of Mackie's tunes are pleasant and catchy - the music is easily the superior component in the work. But it is held back, both by poor lyrics and, generally speaking, …

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 5:02am on April 15, 2015[SHARE]

REVIEW: Finding Neverland, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre ★★★★★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins Finding Neverland is a truly magical musical theatre experience. The score is lively and quite quite beautiful. From ballads to raucous boy songs and big, generous ensembl…

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 8:00pm on April 14, 2015[SHARE]

Critics Choice Broadway Shows The Top 10- April 2015 by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins What show should audiences from the UK see first if visiting the Great White Way? We have compiled this list to save you the trouble of working it out! It’s just our…

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 3:33pm on April 14, 2015[SHARE]

REVIEW: Drunk Shakespeare, Roy Arias Stages ★★★★ by Stephen Collins

By Stephen Collins The result is fresh, frivolous and somewhat interactive theatrical tomfoolery. It looks haphazard and unsophisticated but actually it is the result of careful, considered …

SOURCE: britishtheatre.com at 9:11am on April 14, 2015[SHARE]