irrational quicks

Production

  • Play- 7 Streams 
  • Venue – NT 
  • Rating 5 

 

Overview

  • 7 hours later and a standing ovation.

    I loved  this – the minimal words, the long poetic sequences of lives unfolding against the tragedy and chatter of life .

    I must have seen this in the mid nineties and its revival has stood the test of time – out shining many of today’s productions.

    ‘The word destroys the thought ‘ and this leaves you with much to think about

Standout creative /cast

  • Robert Lepage and his ideas 

 

 

Production

  • Play/musical – Elton John – it’s a little bit 
  • Venue Upstairs  at The Gatehouse 
  • Rating 3.5

 

Overview

  • I wanted to give this more tubs – but this is a very good cover band with a lead who can play and sing very well – however , the script is painfully poor and the story aspect was very uncharismatic with no fills ( or frocks ) Songs and playing were undeniably  good- so if youjust want a cover concert- you won’t go far wrong – if you are after more- it’s a little bit …disappointing .  

Standout creative /cast

  • Elton’s songs in a small space 

 

 

Production

  • Play -A Number 
  • Venue:Bridge Thestre 
  • Rating 3.5 – 4

Overview

  • Two very strong performances and a slick production 
  • A play about cloning – the consequences and morals – I am not entirely sure the scene about the death of the son was believable and the play is very short and the end is  unsatisfactory
  • The production design /quality is good , as are the performances , but the play feels too small for the staging or perhaps the staging is too big for the play – either way – that bit in my opinion is 3.

 

 

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Standout Cast /Creative

  • Roger Allam

Production

  • Ballet -Dances at a Gathering /Cellist 
  • Venue:ROH
  • Rating 4.5

Overview

  • a really beautiful double bill –

    Dances was delicate and the pianist was super. The cellist is a staggering achievement ,  was just lovely – moved

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Standout Cast /Creative

  • Pianist  Robert Clarke ( dances )
  • Marcelino Sambe ( cello 

Production

  • Play – Death of England  
  • Venue: NT
  • Rating: 4

Overview

  • If someone had said ‘come along to a one man show, 1hr.40, no interval, I may have cried ‘taxi ‘
  • But this is a very good , slick , high energy performance
  • It is often quite offensive, and is one man’s rant on being English , but redeems itself, just … and it is this glimmer of change, reflection on heritage , upbringing , social , embarrassment and its message of the hope of forgiveness that wins it through  

Standout Cast /Creative

  •  

Production

  • Opera – Alice’s Adventures  Underground  
  • Venue: ROH 
  • Rating: 3.5-4

Overview

  • A visual feast
  • Production is a bit messy /score an acquired taste 
  • This is very up my street – and was compelling in its madness .
  • But the  score is challenging to say the least ( not unpleasant ) but certainly not tuneful . It could become a cult piece . Or one may wish there had been s tune – certainly at 55 minutes , I’d be keen to watch it again
  • The question is – who is it aimed at ? Judging from the 7 and 9.15 timings – not kids and yet the visuals and just what a kid wants from opera . It’s a difficult collaboration but does pull it off  in sheer boldness  

Standout Cast /Creative

  • Designs by Anthony McDonal

Production

  • Play – TheVisitor 
  • Venue: NT
  • Rating: 2.5

Overview

  • A missed gem
  • This play is macabre and interesting
  • The performances of Alfred (Ian Drysdale) and the visitor (Lesley Manville)  are good 
  • The music is nice 
  • With the right concept this could have been magnificent , instead it was rather dull and a bit disjointed

Standout Cast /Creative

  • The play
  • by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
  • adapted by Tony Kushner

Production

  • Play – Welkin
  • Venue: NT
  • Rating: 2.5

Overview

  • Not all bad, set nice, play in the most part interesting
  • painfully slow , somewhat inconsistent.
  • A scene change too far  and some suspect accents 
  • first half is better than the second
  • think I’d cut the modern end and the modern song before press night and run up that hill a bit faster 
  • why is a 1790’s gathering of women singing a Kate Bush song?

Standout Cast /Creative

  • Bunnie Christie -Design 

Production

  • Play – Ocean at the end of the  Garden
  • Venue: NT
  • Rating: 5

Overview

  • What is the difference between reality and imagination ?
  • After all – we are a little planet 🌍 in the middle of space
  • This a a great little adventure  with scary episodes
  • I felt strangely heart broken
  • standing ovation /great cast

Standout Cast /Creative

  • Samuel Blenkin ( Boy)
  • Marli Siu ( Lettie Hempstock)

Production

  • Opera -Death in Venice
  • Venue: ROH
  • Rating: 5

Overview

  • This takes a little getting into a) because Britten is an an acquired taste and b) because the subject matter feels uncomfortable
  • but this is an exquisite production combining ballet , stylised staging , especially good lighting. It sounds wonderful and is sung beautifully.  
  • A summer season in Venice and an gentlemen’s love for an under age boy .

Standout Cast /Creative

 

  • Singer – Mark  Padmore 
  • lighting Designer  – Paule Comstable

Production

  • Play – My Brilliant Friend Part 1 & 2  
  • Venue: NT
  • Rating: 5

Overview

  • Amazing 5 hour staging of Elena Ferrante‘s novels 
  • A community in post war Naples grapple with…
  • Violence, destruction, community ,family and friendship.

 

Standout Cast /Creative

  • Director Melly  Still and the  creative team 
  • Thestrength of this lies in its taggering collaborative achievement

Production

  • Play – The Lion, witch and the wardrobe
  • Venue – Bridge Theatre
  • Rating 4

 

Overview

  • Inventive and energetic
  • Wanted a proper wardrobe..
    Some nice characters and staging.
     

 

Standout creative /cast

  • Stuart Neal – Actor (Tumnus) 

 

 

Production

  • Play – Either
  • Venue – Hampstead Theatre
  • Rating 3

 

Overview

  • Well  written and performed 
  • Found it a bit over clever for no reason
    More a good idea than a good play  Just my opinion – think I’ve seen too many modern tales of fast love

Standout creative /cast

  • Gabriel Akuwudike -actor

 

 

Production

  • Opera – Don Pasquale
  • Venue: ROH
  • Rating: 5

Overview

  • I loved this .( prob not for the purists ) 
  • retro, characterful .Men, women , foolery and comic revenge
    Gr8 conducting /design Refreshing – slightly lost its way at the end

 

Standout Cast /Creative

  • Bryn Terfel as Don Pasquale
  • Conductor – Evelino Pido
  • lighting- Alessandro Carletti  
  • Set design – Paolo Fantin

Production

  • Play – Two Ladies 
  • Venue – Bridge Theatre
  • Rating 3.5

 

Overview

  • Two srong lead performances
    Split between 3 and 4 star and I don’t have a 3.5
    Play was inconsistent and unsatisfactory
    Mediation on men, power and the women on their arms.

Standout creative /cast

  • Lovely to listen to
  • well sung /orchestra great

 

 

Production

  • Opera – Handel’s Agrippina
  • Venue ROH
  • Rating 3

 

Overview

  • This will divide the audience. Great singing/Orchestra
    Nothing at the ROH deserved less than 3 stars due to resources and talent – 
    Felt like a concert version shoehorned into a production –
    Metal box design – blinds rise and fall. Lights beam. Stairs cascade awkwardly –
    did nothing to help enhance the story or warm the characters into any relationship

Standout creative /cast

  • Zoe Wanamaker / Zrinka Cvitesic

 

 

Production

  • Master Harold and the Boys
  • Venue -National Theatre
  • Rating 4 

overview

  • 1st preview – 1st third was clunky and a slow burn , but 
    Beautiful play and will bed in by press night , so 4 in anticipation
    A world without collision was heartfelt

Standout Cast /Creative

  • Lucian Msamati  (Sam) 

Production

  • Play  -Skin in the Game 
  • Venue: Old Red Lion 
  • Rating: 5

Overview

  • Amazing debut play by the lovely Paul Westwood 
    Quick witted and gritty – Set a bit functional  – Gripped by story
    – I read the press – which was 2, 3 and 4 – it does have a few inconsistencies and the beginning was a bit forced, Also you have to buy into a fake dead body , but as a debut – it’s not half bad .

Standout Cast /Creative

  • Great to see a good new full length play 

 

Production

  • Opera – Billy Budd
  • Venue: ROH
  • Rating: 5

Overview

  • Amazing staging
    Good libretto by EM Forster – Beautifully sung/ orchestra great – Directed like a play

Standout Cast /Creative

  • Director/ D Warner
  • Billy Budd’s aria 

 

Production

  • Play – Peter Gynt 
  • Venue – NT
  • Rating – 2

Overview

  • Lead engaging /good
  • script nice /flowing  
    production lost on stage/ felt sub standard /suit London fringe/ Shame- had potential ..

Standout

  • Actor :James McArdle
  • Adapted text : David Hare

Production

  • Play – Anna
  • Venue NT
  • Rating 3

 

Overview

  • Unusual concept – worth viewing in it’s own right
    Beautifully crafted- Rather unbelievable

Standout creative /cast

  • Designer 
  • Concept 

 

 

Production

  • Production – Jelly Fish 
  • Venue – NT 
  • Rating 4 

Overview

  • Charming . Humble and unfussy
    very well cast and acted – I didn’t much like the scene changes – but that’s just me – no one else will mind

Standout Cast/Creative

  • All 4 actors
  • Lighting was interesting 

Production

  • Ballet – International Draft  Works
  • Venue Linbury /ROH
  • Rating 4 

overview

  • Exceptional standard
  • interesting snapshot of around the world

Standout Cast /Creative

  • second piece
  • must look up which country tbc