Midtown: Guided Tours & Talks - FREE - ★★★


These free walks around midtown, where EC1 meets WC1, are often seasonally themed. They happen in the late morning or early afternoon and start from the orange Bee Midtown Kiosk, just outside the Holborn tube station or from a couple of other designated points. The easiest way to learn about the walks is to pick up the brochure at the Holborn Kiosk. Walks are usually about 45 minutes and themes include "Bloomsbuy People," "The Cock Lane Ghost," "The Great War," "Suffragette City," and such literary tours as "Charles Dickens and Bleak House." There lots of different themes and the tours are always fun and informative.

Reviewed by J.C.

  Our score:  ☆☆☆ 

WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Various days including the weekend, usually midday
Holborn
Nearest tube: Holborn
https://bee-midtown.com/walks
Map & Location: Holborn Station, Kingsway, London WC2B 6AA, UK

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Declan, The Actors Centre (online) - ★★★★ - Until June 28, 2020

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"Thinking about thinking" says Jimbo in this solo performance where we seem to enter the protagonist's mind as he talks to us about his relationship with Declan - an unseen ghost/vampire/friend. The line between dream and reality is blurred as the pyjama clad and somewhat fey young man talks about his experiences. How real Declan actually is remains an enigma as we delve into Jimbo’s mixed-up mind. His mum, the old lady with cats, a neighbour and his nan’s 90th birthday are all conjured up. Vampiric overtones make the whole atmosphere slightly surreal, and by using minimal props in a bare studio, director, Alexis Gregory successfully creates an unworldly atmosphere. The isolation of this young man is palpable and many of Jimbo’s situations are extremely comprehensible as past, present and future merge ahead of the tragic ending. Author/actor, Alistair Hall, gives us an excellent performance as Declan, and with live theatre being unavailable, this video-streamed transmis…
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A Kind of Magic, Multiple theatres (live via Zoom) - ★★★ - Until June 13, 2020

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A Kind of Magic is a kind of charming interactive show presented by the definitively charming Richard Essien, aka Magical Bones. Richard is a multi-talented performer familiar to many from Britain's Got Talent but here we only see his work as an up-close magician. This is a highly laudable attempt to bring live entertainment to us whilst theatres remain closed. Not only do we have Magical Bones, but also no less than four other acts crammed into a little less than one hour. It was a little obvious that this is a new concept and we're sure that it will pick up the pace as it continues; all of his tricks worked and were impressive – especially what seems to be his signature work with Rubik's cubes. The fact that this is all performed in close-up makes it all the more impressive. Guest magicians, Brendan Rodrigues and Magic Singh joined by aerialist Shelley Baker and body-popping dancer Brooke Milliner, bring elements of variety to the show but it is the interactive work by M…
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Come From Away, The Phoenix Theatre - ★★★★★ - Until May 23, 2020

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An affirmation of community and kindness is what we are looking for in the world today. This is a feel-good musical for dark times. In the fearful days around 9/11, Gander, Newfoundland doubled in size as planes were diverted from US destinations to this rural nowhere. And, the people of the town welcomed those who had "come from away" and provided a contrast to the dark forces that seek to divide us and try to parse our common humanity. The grumpiness and suspicion that are present in such traumatic situations are not hidden, but the caring of community triumphs. The music is infectious. There is humour and there is above all hope that we can be so much better than what the hate-filled seek to turn us into. This is a musical entertainment, but it is also a call to be our better selves. A spontaneous standing ovation from the audience, including us.

Reviewed by J.C.
 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆☆ 
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WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until May 23, 2020
Mon…
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Sir John Soane's Museum Guided Tour - FREE - ★★★★★

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This is one of our favourite museums in London. The quirky and crammed home of John Soane, architect of the Bank of England. It has some wonderful treasures, including Hogarth's "The Election" and "The Rake's Progress." The sarcophagus of Seti I is in the basement along with the parlour of his imaginary friend, Brother John. Don't miss the opening of the display walls in the gallery now done on the hour and half hour. Also, try to be there for the free Private Apartments tour, limited to 8 people and requiring  sign up on site.
Reviewed by J.C.

 Our Score: ☆☆☆☆☆

WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE: Wed - Sun: 10 am - 5 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm) Closed: Dec 24, 25, 26, 31 & Jan 1
Private Apartments Tours: 1:15 pm & 2:00 pm Sir John Soane's museum, Lincoln's Inn Fields Nearest tube: Holborn https://www.soane.org
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Relatively Speaking, The Mill at Sonning - ★★★★★ - Until April 18, 2020

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The words "Alan Ayckbourn" usually summon up fun and this production is no exception. It is a delight in every way. As soon as we see Michael Holt's clever set with all those doors we are anticipating a good time. It's not long before the characters are popping in and out of them and the laughs begin rolling in. Thanks to director, Robin Herford's perfect pacing of this piece the audience is completely taken into Ayckbourn's world and never given a pause to question the delightful absurdity of it all. The wonderfully silly plot twists and hilarious cases of mistaken identity all work beautifully. The entire cast get it just right with performances that make their unbelievably credulous characters entirely credible. James Simmons as the philandering husband on the verge of exposure is suitably self-serving and lecherous, and Rachel Fielding as his wife strikes just the right tone of gullible and knowing. The other woman, Lianne Harvey's Ginny, radiates the…
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The Time Machine, The London Library - ★★★★ - Until April 5, 2020

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Science fiction is notoriously difficult to present theatrically; this immersive version of H. G. Wells' The Time Machine succeeds where many have failed. In groups of twenty, we were whizzed through the glorious galleries and bookshelves of the London Library. It is difficult to describe unless you can imagine travelling through 'The Crystal Maze' in the company of Doctor Who on steroids! This new dramatic version, written by Jonathan Holloway in November 2019, is loosely based on the novel's premise. The Traveller gives a lecture to his weekly dinner guests suggesting that time is simply a fourth dimension and he then demonstrates his invention. It was rather bewildering at the beginning because the narrative has been updated and jiggled about, but as we went with the flow, the anachronisms, ambience and theatricality of it all became enjoyable and, unexpectedly, spookily realistic. The idea that when we visit the future sections of the population have been infected …
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Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis, Park Theatre - ★★★★★ - Until January 4, 2020

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The title says it all. You know you're in for a lot of fun and this play lives up to its billing. What do you give to your dominatrix when she turns forty? It's a question we've all asked ourselves, and what we get here is an amusing and provocative answer. This is a piece that looks at and laughs at role playing, how it can liberate us and how it can trap us. Everyone from Chinese Elvis to dominatrix, Josie, has an alter ego that either supports them or constrains them. Coming to terms with the authentic self and enjoying the possibility of playing with the notion of other selves is both the challenge and the solution. This is a very funny play with a lot of heart and wisdom that is beautifully performed by a cast which never misses a beat. Sioned Jones is quite wonderful as the obsessive compulsive cleaner who grows into a new persona and Andrew P. Stephen is delightful as the dry cleaner who accepts his complexity. Kellie Batchelor is completely believable as the age-c…
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Peace In Our Time, The Union Theatre - ★★★★ - Until April 4, 2020

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This is a Noël Coward you are probably not familiar with. After WW II, he wrote this more serious play based on the premise that the Nazis had won the Battle of Britain and had occupied the country. There are flashes of Coward's usual humour but the overall tone is quite serious. There is an almost Orwellian tone to the work as we see the new regime bombard Londoners with propaganda about how they have been liberated and the country is now back in business again. Coward, who was a committed patriot, based the play on his experience of occupied France. We are shown how a variety of people respond to what in France's case we now term the German occupation, but which at the time could easily have been a new, permanent reality. The present production beautifully creates the eerie quality of this life with its half-lit set and candles that suggest the fragile light of hope in this place. Situated in a pub near Sloane Square, the regulars run the gamut in terms of how they deal wit…
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BIG: The Musical, The Dominion Theatre - ★★★★ - Until November 2, 2019

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BIG takes us back to the musicals of another time. It fills the stage with some great production numbers: dazzling choreography and belt-it-out singing. This is a lush and over the top show that brings back warm memories of the original film and introduces new life to the great piano dancing sequence. The story is a basic riff on the old adage "be careful what you wish for." When Josh Baskin's wish comes true, he becomes a thirteen year old boy trapped in an adult body. While this can have some advantages like getting a job at a toy company, it also comes with complications, some of which were a little awkward for the audience as well, like the love story with Susan. While all of the cast is strong and the singing and dancing of young Josh and his friends were quite wonderful, the evening belonged to Jay McGuiness as Big Josh. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious. Kimberley Walsh showed real star power as Susan, lost until Josh gives her his compass ring. We also t…
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Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk, Victoria & Albert Museum - ★★★★ - Until June 21, 2020

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For many the word "kimono" may long have been simply a synonym for housecoat or dressing gown. This fascinating exhibition first looks at the history and importance of this most versatile of garments in its Japanese home and then considers its impact after being introduced into Europe. Some stunningly beautiful examples of traditional kimonos from Japan's Edo period through the Meiji restoration are on display. These are sumptuous garments that reflect the growing fashion interest of a rising merchant class and offer lovely examples from both the geisha and kabuki theatre cultures. Indeed, the history of Japan is woven into the story of  the materials and techniques employed to create these wearable works of art. The post-war period saw the kimono's use relegated to cultural and ceremonial occasions, but there are some delightful examples of its resurgence in Japan's contemporary youth culture.  Since its introduction in the west, there have been a variety of use…
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