The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd review DH Lawrence at the kitchen sink by Susannah Clapp

Orange Tree, RichmondDH Lawrences 1914 play is a bracing battle of the sexes Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:08pm on September 13, 2014☆⚑

Rudys Rare Records review gusts of goodwill greet Lenny Henry on his home patch by Susannah Clapp

Birmingham RepA stage version of the Radio 4 comedy is bit like Steptoe and Son with musical interludes Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:07pm on September 13, 2014☆⚑

Fully Committed review nonstop hilarity; much eyebrow work by Susannah Clapp

Menier Chocolate FactoryThis revival of Becky Modes frenetic one-man show is a gift for Kevin Bishop Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:06pm on September 13, 2014☆⚑

Little Revolution review Hackney riots from the sidelines by Susannah Clapp

Almeida, LondonAlecky Blythe's terrific account of the 2011 London riots, using her trademark verbatim dialogue, puts bystanders centre stage Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:09pm on September 6, 2014☆⚑

Regeneration review full of interest, full of warnings by Susannah Clapp

Royal & Derngate, NorthamptonThis adaptation of Pat Barker's first world war novel is ambitious and vibrant but loses some of the book's crucial texture Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:06pm on September 6, 2014☆⚑

The James Plays review Rona Munro's timely game of thrones by Susannah Clapp

This historic Anglo-Scottish co-production delivers epic sweep but insufficient psychological depth Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:06pm on August 16, 2014☆⚑

The White Devil review splashy rather than searing by Susannah Clapp

The Swan, Stratford-upon-AvonMaria Aberg's feminist take on Webster's lurid play is undermined by anxious updating Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:09pm on August 9, 2014☆⚑

My Night With Reg review never ceases to scintillate by Susannah Clapp

Donmar Warehouse, London Vivacity is fringed with loss in Robert Hastie's 'new-minted' revival of Kevin Elyot's drama about five gay men in the 80s Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:08pm on August 9, 2014☆⚑

Porgy and Bess review woe, rage and desire resound by Susannah Clapp

Regent's Park Open Air theatre, London Nicola Hughes and Rufus Bond make a powerful leading couple in this glorious version of Gershwin's classic Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:07pm on August 9, 2014☆⚑

A Streetcar Named Desire review Gillian Anderson is utterly compelling by Susannah Clapp

Young Vic, LondonBenedict Andrews's revival of the Tennessee Williams classic steams off the revolving set of the Young Vic Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:30am on August 3, 2014☆⚑

Amadeus review Rupert Everett impresses as the seething Salieri by Susannah Clapp

Chichester Festival theatre, West SussexA vivid revival of Peter Shaffer's Amadeus christens a newly refashioned Chichester Festival theatre Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on July 26, 2014☆⚑

Shakespeare in Love review one fine lead and a too-tangled plot by Susannah Clapp

Noel Coward, LondonLucy Briggs-Owen is a revelation in Lee Hall's clever but sometimes confusing version of the hit Tom Stoppard screenplay Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on July 26, 2014☆⚑

Medea review clenched and forceful by Susannah Clapp

Helen McCrory delivers a majestic performance as the vengeful protagonist in Ben Power's new version of Euripides' play Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on July 26, 2014☆⚑

Giffords Circus: The Thunders review not death-defying but life-enhancing by Susannah Clapp

Oxford University Parks, and touringJuggling slapstick and Greek myths works a treatGiffords Circus packs big ambitions into a little top. Not so much death-defying as life-enhancing, it's a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:09pm on July 19, 2014☆⚑

Perseverance Drive review few surprises, but beautiful hymns by Susannah Clapp

Bush, LondonFaith drives a family apart in Robin Soans's new dramaIt is not hard to make out the direction of Robin Soans's new play. That is the bad news. The good news is that it has a dec…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:07pm on July 19, 2014☆⚑

The Trials of Oscar Wilde review bons mots and barefaced lies by Susannah Clapp

St James, LondonJohn Gorick is a beguiling Wilde in a smart play that reveals the establishment at its worstSt James had a sell-out success with its week-long (lunchtime and evening) season …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:07pm on July 19, 2014☆⚑

Richard III review Martin Freeman is a contained and cautious king by Susannah Clapp

Trafalgar Studios, LondonThe long reach of the play's wildness is diminished in its 1979 office settingThe warnings about Richard III were misleading. The only sonic disturbance I was aware …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:09pm on July 12, 2014☆⚑

The Crucible review an engrossing, fiery evening by Susannah Clapp

Old Vic, LondonArthur Miller's play resonates without any updating in Yael Farber's powerful stagingI went to The Crucible half-expecting the director Yael Farber to have shifted the action …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:07pm on July 12, 2014☆⚑

Great Britain review a pleasurable sharing of scepticism and scorn by Susannah Clapp

Lyttelton, LondonBillie Piper excels in Richard Bean's hot-off-the-press satire on greedy MPs, foul-mouthed journalists and sleazy coppersThe really good thing is that it's here. Rat-a-tat s…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:07pm on July 5, 2014☆⚑

Skylight review: Hare revival is a Thatcherite play for today by Susannah Clapp

Wyndham's theatre, LondonRemarkable performances from Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy imbue David Hare's 1990s-set drama with fresh resonanceFor nearly 20 years, I have been arguing with Skyli…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on June 21, 2014☆⚑

Mr Burns; Fathers and Sons review by Susannah Clapp

Almeida; Donmar Warehouse, LondonMr Burns fails to ignite at the Almeida, but Turgenev and Brian Friel prove a dream team at the DonmarWhen it comes to The Simpsons, I have the enthusiasm of…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on June 14, 2014☆⚑

Hotel; Dmitry Krymov Laboratory: Opus No 7 review by Susannah Clapp

Shed, London; Barbican, LondonPolly Stenham brings vicious violence to the Shed, while the persecution of Soviet Jewry is remembered at the Barbican Susannah Clapp gives five stars to Intima…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on June 7, 2014☆⚑

Intimate Apparel review UK premiere of a defining piece of American drama by Susannah Clapp

Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal, BathThe British premiere of Lynn Nottage's 2003 subtle play is marvellous, examining what intimacy really isThe Ustinov Studio is making history. Lynn Nottage …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:04pm on June 7, 2014☆⚑

Time to bring down the curtain on stage critics' sexism by Susannah Clapp

A week in which male reviewers provoked a storm by calling opera singer Tara Erraught 'unsightly' has provoked a much-needed debate on sexist attitudes in arts criticismBelow, women in the a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on May 24, 2014☆⚑

All My Sons review Miller's slow-burning classic by Susannah Clapp

Regent's Park Open Air theatre, LondonTimothy Sheader's revival of Arthur Miller's postwar shot at the American Dream struggles to recover from a sluggish first halfWith Miss Saigon playing …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on May 24, 2014☆⚑