Showstopper! The (Socially Distanced!) Improvised Musical - ★★★★ - Until August 30, 2020


'Adapt and change' seems to be the way forward for theatre in 2020. Showstopper!, which has been running successfully in the West End for several seasons with an Olivier Award already under its belt, has created hundreds of improvised musicals before our eyes and ears. This, however, is its first foray into online entertainment and, judging by the audience feedback, it will prove very popular. Four very talented performers – Ruth Bratt, Justin Brett, Pippa Evans and Adam Megiddo, backed by Duncan Walsh Atkins and Alex Atty in the band – work incredibly hard creating and linking songs in the style of favourites from Hamilton, Les Miserables and many more. We also enjoy seeing them flesh out the flimsiest of plots as suggested by audience members; on this occasion, the story involved a hot air balloon trip and time travel. The reimagined format is obviously still unfamiliar to the performers and without a live audience the show takes a while to get into its stride, but by the second act everything was coming together very well. It is the nature of the beast that the songs will be derivative but that is part of the fun, and it does demonstrate the difficultly of writing a good show tune that doesn't sound like a thousand others. Technically the production is a great success with excellent use of split screens and terrific editing by Andrew Pugsley, who also hosted the evening. Showstopper! is a joyous romp and as the optimistic finale proclaims: “We know our happiness will see us through.”

 Reviewed by D.S.J.
Photo by Hugo Glendinning.

 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆ 

 Want to save on tickets? See our Tips page.

 WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until August 30, 2020
Showstopper Productions Ltd (online)
Various show times available at:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/showstopper

Most Popular

Public Domain, Southwark Playhouse (online) - ★★★★ - January 19-24, 2021

Image
The first song “And just like that, we felt a little less alone” introduces the complex cultural shift that Public Domain examines. Francesca Forristal and Jordan Paul Clarke exude energy and charm as they sing their way from social media platform to social media platform while capturing the naivety of the users and cynicism of the platforms’ creators. Contemporary references in Forristal and Clarke’s script and the well-paced direction by Adam Lenson ensure that Public Domain is fresh and pertinent. The clever lighting by Matt Daw and video overlay by Matt Powell create an illusion that is both hypnotic and disorienting, the perfect visual motif for the complex commentary of the play. In an age where “Friends of our friends” and the projection of image is more important than essence, Public Domain presents the clichés that social media is built upon. Questions like “Why is the camera not on me?” are juxtaposed to the social media creators' remarks “We just focussed on building
Full Details »

The Elf Who Was Scared of Christmas, Charing Cross Theatre (online) - ★★★★ - Until January 4, 2021

Image
The Elf Who Was Scared of Christmas is all about two elves, Cupcake (Gina Beck), her colleague, Figgy (Neil McDermott) and their journey towards achieving self confidence. Figgy spends his time trying to find a way to rid Cupcake of her irrational fears. Presented with oodles of charm and nicely designed, this show would admirably suit children, especially those under seven. Cupcake is encouraged to think of all the good things about Christmas, including snowmen and a smashing snow fight. There are some delightful songs and dances, none better than the title song performed in true musical theatre style. We discover that Cupcake is afraid of being seen by the children when she delivers their presents as she will thereby lose her magic powers. The elves enter a real house and hope that by sharing their fears and by being prepared to fail they will conquer their demons. The show's moral is not complicated but it is well presented and not overplayed; one learns that it can be right to
Full Details »

Snow White in the Seven Months of Lockdown, King's Head Theatre (online) - ★★★★★ - Dec 15 - Jan 10, 2021

Image
The option came on screen “Are you having a lovely time? YES/NO". There was no doubt in our minds. We were. In the middle of the bleakest holiday season in recent memory, we don’t have to look any further than Snow White in the Seven Months of Lockdown for an inoculation of positive energy, humour and joy. If the title isn’t enticing, the splendid harmonies of a tall Snow White (John Savournin) and a slim petite Prince Larry (Emily Cairns) are. In this all-round terrific production, great music, duos, trios, quartets and quintets abound. With a delightfully Wicked Queen (Jennie Jacobs) and the mirror plotting to put taxes up during the pandemic, Snow White and the dwarfs, all amazingly played by Matthew Kellett, must try to keep their wits about them. The plot borrows from the classic fairy tale and mines its parallels to current events. We can relate fully and yet laugh when the Prince says “Can we stay the night?” and Snow White replies “Oh, I don’t know. It's so hard to ke
Full Details »

An Evening with David Bedella, The Crazy Coqs (online) - ★★★★ - January 9, 2021

Image
An Evening with David Bedella at The Crazy Coqs, the chicest cabaret venue in London, encourages you to sit back and sip a glass of Shiraz whilst enjoying an hour of immaculately performed easy-listening music interspersed with pleasant chat. The only thing missing is a live audience. This unavoidable absence somewhat dampens the atmosphere as enthusiastic applause would definitely greet Bedella's accomplished singing and enhance the ambience. Sadly, we can't have everything these days and the dozen or so well chosen songs are well worth the price of the streaming. We felt that the opening number was, perhaps, a little frenetic and really needed a chorus of showgirls to make it work, but things quickly settled into a playlist of delightfully relaxed numbers. Eydie Gormé's “Too Close for Comfort” rubbed shoulders with David Bowie's “Life on Mars?” before a sly dig at the government with Cy Coleman's “There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This.” Pianist and arra
Full Details »

Sir John Soane's Museum Guided Tour - FREE - ★★★★★

Image
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 (l ast 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
Full Details »

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Creation Theatre (online) - ★★★★ - Dec 19 - Jan 3, 2021

Image
This is very much L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and far removed from the 1939 Hollywood version. Much darker, especially in the second half, the story is really quite scary and might be too difficult for very young children. Adult questions such as “How can you miss something you've never had?” and the concepts like forgetting what it is to be hugged and loved make us all consider our own lives, especially in these difficult times. Meanwhile, everyone's favourites – The Scarecrow (Dharmesh Patel), The Tin Man (Tom Richardson) and The Cowardly Lion (Simon Yadoo) join Chloe Lemonius' Greta-Thunberg-like Dorothy on her journey to the Emerald City. We particularly liked Tin Man, a computer geek who can't love without a heart; his witty word play was gleefully delivered. Lion's super mane and Welsh accent plus Scarecrow's clever costume and excellent timing added to the great fun. Creation Theatre's full company of adult and child performers pro
Full Details »

The Pirates of Penzance, The Palace Theatre - ★★★★★ - December 12 & 13, 2020

Image
Sasha Regan's All-male The Pirates of Penzance is exactly what theatre needs right now. Immaculate performances within a joyful production make this revival of a 140-year-old operetta come up fresh as paint. Only curmudgeonly Gilbert & Sullivan traditionalists could baulk at the use of young men, singing as countertenors, in the female roles; this is not a camp skit but an honest, truthful production which adds just a few knowing winks to the situations. Conceived for much smaller venues, the show expands perfectly onto the cavernous Palace Theatre's stage. Time after time, jaws drop at the beautiful stage pictures created by director Sasha Regan and choreographer Lizzi Gee, including a brilliant pirate ship. The cast are spot on and laughs, which are never cheap or crude, bubble along as the business unfolds naturally from the plot. Alan Richardson's coloratura countertenor as Mabel is quite amazing whilst Tom Senior's Frederic sets more than just Mabel's hear
Full Details »

Naked Boys Singing, The Garden Theatre at The Eagle - ★★★★ - Until October 25, 2020

Image
There is still a certain taboo around naked men on stage. Well, Naked Boys Singing firmly grasps the nettle and does exactly what it says on the tin. If the sight of naked guys singing and dancing is shocking for you, this musical revue should probably be avoided, but you'd be missing a lot of good clean fun. There is plenty of talent on display and the six guys perform splendidly; perhaps, one or two of the voices would be helped by microphones but the lack of costumes would make that difficult. So sing up boys! We're not watching 'great art' here, but several of the numbers stand out including "The Entertainer", "Robert Mitchum" and especially "Perky Little Porn Star." One hilarious song reminds a lonely man that the solution to his problem is in his own hands. There is also a beautifully sung chorale using the multifarious names for the male member! It would be invidious to single out individual cast members as all have plenty of opport
Full Details »

Sleeping Beauty? - Tea Break Theatre (online) - ★★★★ - December 17-30, 2020

Image
A Zoom success! The online trailer suggests Sleeping Beauty? is a panto the whole family will enjoy, and the show fulfills that promise. Full of fun, imagination, a light dab of audience involvement and two puppets, this panto put a smile on our face and kept it there right until the final curtain. Though we were at home, we felt we were in the theatre. Alicia McKenzie as Princess Rose and Chris Dobson as Prince are first-rate. With the delightful support of Felicity Sparks as Evie and Molly Small as Arrabelcha, they magically transported us from room to room in Katharine Armitage’s tale in which we met the dream-characters of the sleeping castle. You won’t forget the ingredients of Arrabelcha’s soup! However, Princess Rose and Prince won’t kiss – even to break the evil spell! They agree “we’ve both just met.” Besides, Princess Rose is “sick of people telling me what I can and can’t be.” Tune in to Zoom and enjoy a festive romp. This is a well-paced modern Sleeping Beauty that no one
Full Details »

FROSTBITE: Who Pinched My Muff? - The Garden Theatre at The Eagle - ★★★★★ - Until January 10, 2021

Image
While FROSTBITE: Who Pinched My Muff? may be more Poundland than Harrods it provides great value and constant gales of laughter. It is, perhaps, best to gloss over the plot - or lack of it - but all the characters from pantomime are here: Good Fairy, Evil Demon, Loveable Dame, Cute Elf, Principal Boy, Sweet Girl and Grumpy Father. Writer Gareth Joyner, designer David Shields and director Robert McWhir give us two hours of unabashed naughtiness demonstrating that there is high art in low comedy! Nathan Taylor's superb Demon Frostbite leaves no piece of scenery unchewed while Dereck Walker is everything one could ever want as Dame Herda Gerda, and his costumes are magnificent. This is a proper pantomime damery not drag. Shelley Rivers is the ideal thigh-slapping Principal Boy (memories of Dorothy Ward) and, as the nimble Scots elf, Lumiukko, James Lowrie charms the audience with his naughty 'innocent' looks. This all proves that you don't need TV stars to bring rollickin
Full Details »

The City Life Magazine | Reviews & Ratings