Torch Song, The Turbine Theatre - ★★★★★ - Until October 13, 2019


It is hard to imagine Torch Song without Harvey Fierstein, but this is ultimately the test of whether this is a play or whether it was simply a one man show. Matthew Needham takes on a big challenge and he succeeds splendidly. He makes the role of Arnold his own. Dino Fetscher offers him strong support sympathetically capturing the confusions of social pressure and his bisexuality. Rish Shah creates a charming Alan and Jay Lycurgo captures the impulsive teenager, David. Daisy Boulton is convincing as Laurel, the understanding but not naïve wife, and Bernice Stegers is quite wonderful as Ma. Her fights with Arnold are a wonder to behold. Their exchange of barbs is both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. As a play, Torch Song stands up to the test of time. Its treatment of such issues as bisexuality and adoption of gay teenagers are very contemporary, and its look at the issues of seeking love and developing self-acceptance are timeless. What makes this work so strong is that these are smart characters able to self-reflect, to question their own motives and even to mock their own behaviour. Fierstein's witty, thoughtful and honest characters come alive in this first offering of The Turbine Theatre in its inaugural season. A high standard has been set and a there's a promise here that we have more good and challenging theatre to come.

Reviewed by J.C.

 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆☆ 

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WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until October 13, 2019
Wed - Sun: 7:30 pm, Sat & Sun: 3 pm
The Turbine Theatre
Nearest tube: Sloane Square
https://www.theturbinetheatre.com
Map & Location: Arches Lane, Nine Elms, London SW11 8AB, UK

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

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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.

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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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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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The City Life Magazine. Reviews and Ratings.