A classic of modern literature brought to life on stage with an excellent cast led by the peerless Matthew Modine. Those with a passion for literature would almost certainly have read To Kill a Mockingbird at some point in their lives. It might even have been required reading or a set book for ‘O’ LevelContinue reading “Review – 5***** To Kill a Mockingbird – The Gielgud Theatre”
Category Archives: Reviewer – Brian
Review: 4**** Titus Andronicus The Show Must Go Online @robmyles #ShakespeareDeck #cultureduringquarantine #staycreative
Tweetingit: 4* The ancient and modern meet head on as social media lends a hand in this inventive production of Shakespeare’s bloodiest tale. The techno phobe lurking deep within me is now under control thanks in no small part to the ever inventive Show Must Go Online. It’s difficult to imagine how a theatrical productionContinue reading “Review: 4**** Titus Andronicus The Show Must Go Online @robmyles #ShakespeareDeck #cultureduringquarantine #staycreative”
Review: 3*** Love Never Dies – via the Shows Must Go On YouTube @OfficialALW #cultureduringquarantine #stayathome #musicals
Tweetingit: 3*** Andrew Lloyd Webber’s magic touch just about sees this sequel to Phantom through any rough patches. But it’s sometimes difficult to see the join with plainly familiar melodies. The sequel is generally confined to the big screen where we’re accustomed to roman numerals in the title and resigned to the money printing potentialContinue reading “Review: 3*** Love Never Dies – via the Shows Must Go On YouTube @OfficialALW #cultureduringquarantine #stayathome #musicals”
Review: 4**** Treasure Island – The National Theatre at Home via YouTube @PatsyFerran @NTLive #NationalTheatreAtHome #TreasureIsland #cultureduringquarantine
Tweetingit: 4* A one-legged man with a parrot on his shoulder looking for treasure never fails to grip the imagination. A classic story refreshed and rebooted for the London stage. For a novel first published in 1883 Treasure Island remains an enduring classic. No less than nineteen film and TV adaptations have been made includingContinue reading “Review: 4**** Treasure Island – The National Theatre at Home via YouTube @PatsyFerran @NTLive #NationalTheatreAtHome #TreasureIsland #cultureduringquarantine”
Review: 3*** East – The Vaudeville Theatre @digitaltheatre @VaudevilleTh #cultureduringquarantine #stevenberkoff
Tweetingit: 3* A smartly scripted verse play from the cultured pen of Stephen Berkoff is a hit and miss affair but still generates a distinctive aura of time and place. Stephen Berkoff made his name as a villain in numerous film roles where he grappled with James Bond and Rambo among many others. He evenContinue reading “Review: 3*** East – The Vaudeville Theatre @digitaltheatre @VaudevilleTh #cultureduringquarantine #stevenberkoff”
Review: 5**** Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert – The 02 Arena, London via @SkyArts #CultureinQuarantine @AlfieBoe @MsLeaSalonga @realmattlucas
Tweetingit: 5* Victor Hugo’s sprawling epic seamlessly transfers from stage to the stadium rock atmosphere of London’s 02 Arena. A perfect production showcasing rare genius. Once upon a time I acquired the hardback version of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Needless to say 1,232 pages stayed in pristine condition as I contrived excuses not toContinue reading “Review: 5**** Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert – The 02 Arena, London via @SkyArts #CultureinQuarantine @AlfieBoe @MsLeaSalonga @realmattlucas”
Review: 3*** Antony and Cleopatra – RSC at Stratford-Upon-Avon @MarqueeArtsTV @TheRSC #staycreative
Tweetingit: 3* A well-drilled, highly talented cast go through the numbers and deliver a slick production. But this feels like an overly sterile approach to an infrequently staged play. Well three hours four minutes and thirty five seconds is a bit of a stretch even for a battle hardened theatre goer like me. But IContinue reading “Review: 3*** Antony and Cleopatra – RSC at Stratford-Upon-Avon @MarqueeArtsTV @TheRSC #staycreative”
Review: 4**** Funny Girl – The Palace Theatre, Manchester @digitaltheatre and @SkyArts @Sheridansmith1 #staycreative #CultureInQuarantine
Tweetingit: 4* A hugely entertaining production of a Broadway classic based on the life of performer Fanny Brice. Funny Girl is synonymous with Barbra Streisand and her portrayal of Fanny Brice both on stage and film; the latter won her an Academy Award for Best Actress in a leading role. It turned Streisand into aContinue reading “Review: 4**** Funny Girl – The Palace Theatre, Manchester @digitaltheatre and @SkyArts @Sheridansmith1 #staycreative #CultureInQuarantine”
Review: 4**** Private Lives – The Gielgud Theatre Via@digitaltheatre @tobysnews @GielgudTheatre @PlowmanAL
Tweetingit: 4* Noel Coward’s comedy of manners still seems fresh as a sparkling production mixes a sharp script with some wonderfully manic slapstick sequences. When Private Lives premiered in 1930 Noel Coward was approaching the peak of his powers as a playwright. It landed in the middle of a prolific spell that saw 26 ofContinue reading “Review: 4**** Private Lives – The Gielgud Theatre Via@digitaltheatre @tobysnews @GielgudTheatre @PlowmanAL”
Review: 3*** Billy the Kid – The Unicorn Theatre Via @digitaltheatre @UnicornTheatre
Tweetingit: 3* Two generations collide and ultimately bond through a shared love of football. A neat two hander draws out a moving story of the beautiful game and its effect on our lives. Two people on opposite sides of life can learn much from each other if they only take the time to listen. BillyContinue reading “Review: 3*** Billy the Kid – The Unicorn Theatre Via @digitaltheatre @UnicornTheatre”
Playhouse Pickings 