The downside of reviewing any production is that it is extremely difficult to sit back and enjoy the performance for what it is. Notes made contemporaneously (not necessarily legible in the clear light of day) or complete reliance on mental notes mean that attention is necessarily divided. A further complication related to amateur productions is the awareness that, by definition,
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Premiered in 2012 and a Tony award winner in 2013, it seems extraordinary that, even allowing for Covid delay, it has taken so long for Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike to reach London via a first outing in Bath in 2019. Although characters and themes are lifted liberally and affectionately from Anton Chekhov, there are considerably more laughs
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Composer/lyricist Drew Gasparini braved Covid restrictions either side of the Atlantic to fly into London for this single performance of I Could Use A Drink at the Garrick Theatre. Although his work has been performed all over the world (including London) his extensive musical theatre repertoire is perhaps better known in his home country. He is currently developing a number
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Three cheers for live theatre – and especially a musical – back at Southwark Theatre in spite of all Covid related restrictions! Reception at the theatre was well organised and seating pared down by removal of a row to allow for social distancing, together with Perspex dividers between seats of different parties (one bonus being unusually generous leg room). A
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Celebrating its 30th year of existence, Masquerade Theatre Company is a new group for this reviewer, as is the Miskin Theatre venue (not the easiest to access given the circuitous route to its entrance, direction provided by previously experienced audience members). Only the programme and website acknowledgement of their Kent Drama Awards 2019 give a clue that this is an
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The script description of Hell Yes I’m Tough Enough defines it as a “relentless, fast paced, hysterical, crude, offensive, passionate, visceral and oh so British comedy that will leave you wanting to grab a placard and take to the streets!” Unfortunately, while this may have been the intention, actualisation fell some way short of ambition. Apparently informed by sources within
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With a cast of three, Jon Brittain and Matt Tedford’s outrageous cross dressing romp takes aim at the political domination of the 1980s by Margaret Thatcher. Matt Tedford reprises his acclaimed take on Margaret Thatcher, leading the audience through the main premiership events but with a particular focus on the introduction by Jill Knight (and an unmentioned David Wilshire) of
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Just two days after her birthday (it would be less than good manners to mention which one) Crazy Coqs welcomed back the formidably talented and remarkably youthful Lorna Dallas to perform no less than 20 songs to a room at Zedels packed with many clearly devoted followers. Her programme, entitled “Stages” reflected a long career which began in small town
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26 Leake Street Gallery – Thursday 8 February It hardly seems possible that it is 25 years since Nelson Mandela’s autobiography “A Long Walk To Freedom” was first published. The abomination that was apartheid may be no more than a vague concept to younger generations. But while major events and atrocities may have hit the headlines in this country, the
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It comes as a sobering discovery to those of us of a certain age to realise that the first television broadcast of Dad’s Army was over fifty years ago. Frequent repeats of the nine series produced have exposed successive generations to this classic sitcom. It still has the power to amuse to a not insignificant extent owing to character recognition,
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