A Night with Janis Joplin – The Musical ★★★★ Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre | Aug 21 - Sep 28, 2024


This is a tribute show with a difference. While Mary Bridget Davies creates an impassioned incarnation of the incredible Janis Joplin, her musical influences also come to life in some extraordinary re-creations of Aretha Franklin, Bessie Smith, Odetta, Nina Simone and Etta James. We definitely would have liked to have seen more of Kalisha Amaris, Georgia Bradshaw and Danielle Steers in their all too brief appearances as these icons. Nevertheless, the focus on Joplin is totally satisfying, and Davies manages to embody the spirit of the unique talent who was a worthy inheritor of the legacy established by these great ladies of the Blues. The contrast between a traditional rendition of "Summertime" and Joplin's tormented and tender interpretation of the classic illuminates her one-of-a-kind talent and her rightful place among these luminaries. Davies' performance of this piece is a highlight in a programme that has many milestone moments. The format for the show is a concert with flashbacks to Joplin's childhood. The biography, however, is largely skimmed over to concentrate on Janis' music which is left to speak for itself, the commentary only hinting at the psychological needs that made "Pearl" one of the greatest exponents of the musical genre that expresses an almost existential sense of loss and longing. The need for love and the pain that reverberate through the powerful performances of "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Down on Me," make Joplin's art the window into the spirit of the artist. Davies' equally impressive versions of the signature songs "Ball and Chain" and "Piece of My Heart" deliver all the passion of the originals while exposing her own extraordinary talent. It is a performance of unbridled energy that is exhausting even for the onlooker. Indeed, it is a performance that gives the lie to the old cliché that we will never see her like again.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Danny Kaan

Want to save on tickets? See our Tips page.

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: Portugal St, London WC2A 2HT, UK

Most Popular

Now You See Me Live ★★★★ London Coliseum | Jul 31 - Sep 6, 2026

Image
Now You See Me , the 2013 heist thriller about four illusionists known as the Four Horsemen, combined magic, mystery and action as its central characters staged elaborate robberies under the cover of spectacular live performances. The film has now inspired a stage show that brings together some of the world's leading magicians. They include French illusionist Enzo Weyne, who specialises in large-scale illusions, Italian escape artist Andrew Basso, inspired by Harry Houdini, Canadian magician Gabriella Lester, whose act combines sleight of hand and escapes, and British mentalist Matthew Pomeroy, known for mind reading and interactive performances. In a production showcasing the breadth of modern magic, this world-class quartet is joined by Britain's Got Talent performers Eden Choi and Rafferty Coope, alongside hypnotist Fraser Penman. Aimed at audiences aged five and above, Now You See Me makes for a thoroughly enjoyable family outing, while delivering enough skill, spectacle ...
Full Details »

Death Note: The Musical ★★★★ Barbican Theatre | Jul 30 - Sep 12, 2026

Image
Calling all manga mavens and animé aficionados! Death Note returns in a full-scale production, pitting Light and L against each other on a spectacular set designed by Jon Bausor. Following successful runs in Japan and Korea, and a London concert version in 2023, the production arrives with two new numbers written especially for it. The story of a schoolboy and a super sleuth locked in a battle of wits after the former discovers a notebook that allows him to kill anyone whose name he writes in it has been streamlined from its original manga version, but the essentials remain. Questions of law versus justice, whether the ends can ever justify the means, and the corrupting influence of power are deftly woven into the cat-and-mouse game between the two protagonists. All this unfolds against the existential questions raised by the shinigami, or death gods, and their intervention in human affairs. The absorbing story moves at a brisk pace, while Frank Wildhorn’s score brings considerable de...
Full Details »

St. Martin in-the-fields: Lunchtime Concerts ★★★★ FREE

Image
Maybe the best musical value in London. The lunchtime concerts at St. Martin's are always a wonderful way to escape the hustle and bustle that is London and the sensory overload that is Trafalgar Square. This is a beautiful setting with great acoustics, and a church pew hard enough to make sure you don't nod off. Reviewed by J.C.  Our score:    ☆☆☆☆  WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE: Mon & Fri: 1 pm - 1:45 pm ( occasionally Tues & Thurs)  St. Martin in-the-fields, Trafalgar Square Nearest tube: Charing Cross https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whats-on
Full Details »

The Comedy About Spies ★★★★★ Adelphi Theatre | Aug 1 - Sep 26, 2026

Image
At the height of the Cold War, there was no business like the spy business, and now The Comedy About Spies has returned to the West End to deliver another brilliantly bonkers send-up of our enduring fascination with James Bond and his cinematic counterparts. The plot, such as it is, revolves around thwarting a double agent intent on delivering plans for a secret doomsday weapon to the Soviets. But there is little need to worry about the fate of the free world. This spoof about spooks is a gloriously wacky farce, with CIA, KGB and MI6 agents racing around a hotel where an earnest young baker is planning to propose to his girlfriend and a hapless actor is preparing to audition for the role that Sean Connery made his own. The silliness is relentless, with gags flying thick and fast. The puns are outrageously groan worthy, while the cast’s physical comedy is superb. Every performance hits the mark, but Chris Leask is a particular delight as the backstory obsessed Sergei Ivanov, while Henr...
Full Details »

Abigail’s Party ★★★★★ Harold Pinter Theatre | Aug 12 - Sep 19, 2026

Image
Mike Leigh's acerbic 1977 comedy about the social aspirations and spiritual emptiness of British suburbia gets a first-rate resurrection in this new production, directed by Nadia Fall. The dark parallel between the unseen Abigail and her unbridled teenage revels and the concealed marital tensions and clandestine sexuality that pervade Beverly's pretentious soirée is neatly drawn. The setting is a masterclass in period detail. Peter McKintosh's terrific set, crammed with furnishings and status symbols, creates a claustrophobic world in which every ornament, glass and canapé becomes a badge of social standing. His costumes are equally telling, capturing the fashions and ambitions of a Britain caught between old-fashioned respectability and the new consumer culture. This is Beverly's evening, and Tamzin Outhwaite makes the most of it. She wrings laughs from the most straightforward line, deploying a repertoire of expansive gestures and imperious glances. She dominates the ...
Full Details »

A Slow Fire ★★★ Jermyn Street Theatre | Aug 20 - Sep 26, 2026

Image
In a post-apocalyptic world, Reece and Ashton have taken refuge in an industrial lock-up. They pass the time recalling and re-enacting scenes from their past lives, “moments of hope”, as they describe them. Their situation recalls Beckett’s Vladimir and Estragon, except that here Godot actually arrives in the form of Presley, a mysterious figure who threatens to disrupt their isolated existence. At first, he joins in their ritual recollections, but eventually reveals darker intentions.  A Slow Fire is described as “part thriller, part excavation of the soul” and it delivers, to varying degrees, on both counts. Unfortunately, its thriller elements are undermined by a structural flaw. The first act takes too long to establish the premises, allowing the tension to dissipate, while the second act then accelerates abruptly as Presley attempts to seduce Reece into participating in his scheme. The result is not simply uneven pacing but an imbalance in the play’s dramatic architecture, wi...
Full Details »

Cats ★★★★ Regent's Park Open Air Theatre | Jul 25 - Sep 19, 2026

Image
T. S. Eliot's whimsical poetry collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats was published in 1939. More than four decades later, Andrew Lloyd Webber transformed most of its poems into Cats , which premiered in 1981 and became a theatrical phenomenon, running for 21 years in the West End and 18 on Broadway. Eliot's poems introduce an eccentric gallery of feline characters including Jennyanydots, The Rum Tum Tugger, Bustopher Jones, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, Gus the Theatre Cat, Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat, Growltiger, Macavity and Mr Mistoffelees. Lloyd Webber and director Trevor Nunn fashioned a slender narrative around them, introducing the outcast Grizabella, who does not appear in Eliot's collection, and giving her the now iconic song "Memory." The story centres on the annual Jellicle Ball, where the elderly Old Deuteronomy gathers the tribe to celebrate each cat through song and dance before choosing one to be reborn into a new Jellicle life. Narr...
Full Details »

Summer Exhibition 2026 ★★★★ Royal Academy of Arts | Jun 16 - Aug 23, 2026

Image
The theme of the 258th Summer Exhibition, “Interconnectedness,” makes tracing links between the works on display both a fascinating and at times overwhelming experience. While this year’s works on view appear to contain less overt political commentary and fewer instances of humour than is often typical of such events, both are still present in striking moments. Tim Shaw’s powerful portrayal of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Pin It On Them (Associated Artwork From the Installation: Shut It Piggy) (555) can be juxtaposed with the playful absurdity of Joey Rutherford’s Pickle With a Pearl Earring (1110) , reminding viewers of the range of tones running through the exhibition. Alongside these, there are the usual charming animal representations, including our favourite, the highly realistic cat in Thus Regard Palmerston (793) , as well as the standard attempts to shock and provoke, such as Tracey Emin’s There Is An End To Everything (674) . The collection continues to move between cur...
Full Details »

A Month in the Country ★★★★★ Donmar Warehouse | Aug 22 - Oct 3, 2026

Image
Brian Friel’s version of Turgenev’s A Month in the Country is more sexually and psychologically explicit than the original, with the character of Natalya firmly at its centre. Her boredom, sense of entitlement and neediness become the driving forces of a drama in which desire, jealousy and emotional frustration steadily destabilise a superficially tranquil household. Friel makes the play leaner, livelier and considerably funnier than the original. Turgenev regarded his plays as works to be read rather than performed, and Friel cuts the wordiness while bringing the characters’ suppressed feelings sharply to the surface. However, he retains Turgenev’s rich imagery. The curtain rises on a card game in which the comic tutor Schaaf declares that hearts are trump, neatly prefiguring the romantic entanglements to come. Aleksey’s kite, a symbol of youthful freedom and carefree abandon, vividly suggests why Natalya is increasingly attracted to the young tutor. Indeed, his exuberance stands in ...
Full Details »

Who Killed Marilyn? ★ Emerald Theatre | Aug 15 - Oct 29, 2026

Image
Who Killed Marilyn? by Sharleen Cooper Cohen promises a fresh look at the circumstances surrounding Marilyn Monroe’s death. It also claims to tackle the perhaps more intriguing question: who was Marilyn? Instead, it serves up a standard stew of conspiracy theories, from the Kennedys and the Mafia to the murky machinations of the American establishment, along with some familiar pop psychology. Like many biographical dramas, it falls into the trap of telling rather than showing, awkwardly introducing events and characters in a way that feels forced rather than organic. Here the narrator is the dead Marilyn herself, played by Pixie Lott, who purports to reveal the woman behind the myth. Unfortunately, there is little revelation. Lott captures Monroe’s familiar voice, mannerisms and cinematic gestures, but the performance rarely escapes the caricature. It might have been far more intriguing to have this posthumous Marilyn deliberately distinguish herself from the screen persona she create...
Full Details »

The City Life Magazine | Reviews & Ratings