The Queen of the Mist, Charing Cross Theatre - ★★★★ - Until October 5, 2019


What's the point of going over Niagara Falls in a barrel? Money? Fame? Ego? In the dawn of the publicity age, a sixty-three year old woman undertook this stunt and lived. Her instant celebrity did not have the results she expected. This is a delightful musical about an unusual subject. The music has echoes of Sondheim and the period recalls the magic of shows like "Barnum" and "Ragtime." There is some very hummable music here and the performances of Trudi Camilleri, Will Arundel and the rest of the talented cast soar. They do a wonderful job of capturing a spirit of defiant adventurism and mixed motives that defined these daredevil events. So, why climb Mount Everest? Perhaps, simply because it is there, or perhaps, because there is something life affirming about doing the impossible or the improbable － a triumphant expression of the human will when for a moment one faces and conquers the death that is ultimately inevitable. Anna's story is worth re-telling and this show wonderfully captures its curiosity, triumph and pathos. Jump in! This water's fine!

Reviewed by J.C.

 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆ 

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WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until October 5, 2019
Mon - Sat: 7:30 pm, Wed: 2:30 pm, Sat: 3 pm
Charing Cross Theatre
Nearest tube: Charing Cross
Map & Location: The Arches, Villiers St, Charing Cross, London WC2N 6NL, UK

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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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On Blueberry Hill, Trafalgar Studios - ★★★★★ - Until May 2, 2020

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"Though we're apart, you're part of me still" goes the song. Separation cannot break some bonds. Parent and child are indivisibly linked in Sebastian Barry's play, but can one reconcile with someone who has tried to break that bond? Two men in physical and mental prisons look at where life and death have brought them. Social impositions of self-loathing and vengeance are challenged by the recognition of a common humanity but can they find it? It is hard not to see this very thoughtful, and often humorous, piece as a metaphor for the challenges that Ireland has faced in its recent cruel and divisive history; however, it always remains a fascinating insight into two flawed, yet surprisingly sympathetic, characters. The story may be dark but its eloquent script makes it riveting. Sebastian Barry's mastery of the language is positively Shakespearean. The two prisoners' rich and comic recounting of their lives keeps the audience on the edge of their seats as 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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The British Theatre Challenge 2019, Brockley Jack Theatre - ★★★★ - Until October 5, 2019

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The British Theatre Challenge produced by Sky Blue Theatre is a world-wide contest for new playwrights. The competition accepts entries of short, unpublished plays by young writers, and from the hundreds of submissions, five are selected. These are then presented for review by an audience who rank their favourites. This is a delightful evening in the theatre offering a chance to see five fresh, original works. This year's productions were the amusing and topical Antisocial Media by Julie Barnett, the thought-provoking For Abby by Holli Harms, the clever and innovative Cougar by Michael Fenlason, the dark metaphor of Trick or Treat by Ron Asher, and the humorous and socially conscious Fabio the Great by Elspeth Tilley. All of the plays were well worth producing, and the variety and ingenuity of the writers provide for a thoroughly enjoyable evening in the theatre. We won't tell you how we voted. Go and support these emerging artists and make up your own mind!

Reviewed by J.C.

 Ou…
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Nuclear War, Buried, and Graceland - Old Red Lion Theatre - ★★★★★ - Until March 21, 2020

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“Oh death, where is thy sting?” could well be a subtitle for Alexander Knott's enthralling triptych comprising Buried, Graceland and Nuclear War. The first of these, Buried, is brilliantly performed by James Demaine as a man temporarily entombed in a collapsed building. His entire life flashes through his mind in a torrent of words and actions. His first drink, his first sexual experience, military service, boxing are all presented with tremendous physicality. In Graceland, Anthony Cozens plays an endearingly dysfunctional teacher who is pilloried by his class. By using the audience as his class, Cozens gains a terrific and often hilarious rapport. Kids can be both perceptive and cruel so when they discover that he is being cuckolded a different side of the teacher emerges. Using combustion as a metaphor for life we enjoyed this ingenious play and the performance enormously. Nuclear War comes as a shock when we meet two women, played by Zöe Grain and Freya Sharp, who portray two s…
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A Life Twice Given, Upstairs at the Gatehouse - ★★★★★ - Until October 6, 2019

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Absolutely superb performances make this disturbing play quite outstanding. In these incredibly uncertain days the prospect of cloning humans is far too close for comfort, but here, in Gail Louw's adaptation of David Daniel's book, it is sensitively used to tragic effect. If less well performed and directed (by John Burrows) it could be mawkish. Indeed, the performances leapt off the stage.As the tragic father Johnny Neal really took flight; it is a complex character with lots of words and contrasting emotions. Johnny was stunningly good. He is matched all along the way by Natalia Campbell's mother who gets compelled into situations she is extremely unhappy with. Both actors conveyed the passing years most convincingly. Twenty-year-old Damian Reyes-Fox played the son from childhood to student doctor. In his big scene at the end he really performed brilliantly. The audience was held totally rapt throughout; this is a tribute to the faultless delivery and tremendous rapport …
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Opera Undone: Tosca & La bohème, Trafalgar Studios - ★★★★ - Until March 7, 2020

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Opera Undone aims to bring opera to a new audience. These are shortened versions of the classics, sung in English and with contemporary lyrics and plots. These are not parodies of the originals, but very clever re-imaginings. Tosca is now a story about the Italian mafia, and Michael Georgiou's Scarpia is a very menacing godfather. Indeed in this version, the focus is very much on the psychology of the characters and the deeper look into Scarpia's motivations brings a whole new sense to the themes of loyalty and love. Honey Rouhani beautifully interprets Tosca, and Roberto Barbaro as Cavaradossi did a fine job. For us, however, the real treat was the transformation of La bohème. Casting Mimi as a man brought a completely new sense to the piece, and Philip Lee's interpretation brought a new depth to the part. Roberto Barbaro showcased his amazing talent for characterisation and excellent voice, this time as Rod/Rodolfo. His new version of Che gelida manina was quite wonderf…
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