That Bastard, Puccini! ★★ Park Theatre | Jul 10 - Aug 9, 2025


That Bastard, Puccini! recounts the rivalry between the composer Ruggero Leoncavallo, best known for his opera, Pagliacci, and his more famous contemporary, Giacomo Puccini. While the story centres around their competing productions of operas based on Henri Murger's Scènes de la vie de bohème, it also wanders over other various points of contention between the two. Unfortunately, both of the major characters are presented as caricatures. Alasdair Buchan's Leoncavallo is simply an aggrieved blowhard, whereas Sebastien Torkia's Puccini is depicted as a condescending womaniser. One never really cares much about either composer, their motivations or their disagreements. The show is also littered with anachronisms, some intentionally introduced for humour, and others apparently quite unintended. The cast, particularly Lisa-Anne Wood, who plays Leoncavallo's wife, Berthe, also take on various other characters. Wood becomes Puccini's spouse, Elvira, and his publisher/producer, Ricordi. Torkia likewise does a parodic version of Gustav Mahler at a couple of points. This is all undertaken with frequent, heavy-handed breaking of the fourth wall and the now de rigueur meta references which add nothing to the drama. As with many historical pieces, a major issue becomes how to introduce information without the work seeming like an animated Wikipedia article. That Bastard, Puccini! doesn't always manage that challenge very well. Facts are often introduced in a not very natural manner, and sometimes material which is historically interesting, but dramatically irrelevant, seems shovelled in. It is certainly possible to write a fascinating and insightful work about the personalities and rivalry of two musical geniuses. One needs only remember Peter Shaffer's Amadeus. However, while Shaffer's treatment of this theme remains as unforgettable as Puccini's La Bohème, That Bastard, Puccini! seems destined to go the way of Leoncavallo's version of the same story.

Rated: ★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by David Monteith-Hodge

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: 13 Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP, UK

Most Popular

Les Liaisons Dangereuses ★★★ National Theatre | Mar 21 - Jun 6, 2026

Image
Spoilt, rich people whose sole occupation is scheming to destroy the lives of the naïve and gullible. No, this is not a dramatised version of the Epstein files. Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ eighteenth-century epistolary novel, depicting amoral aristocrats on the brink of the French Revolution, has inspired many incarnations, yet it continues to shock and, at times, to delight. Christopher Hampton’s stage adaptation, first presented in 1985, streamlines the narrative, focusing on the rivalry and tangled emotional connection between the two master manipulators: the Marquise de Merteuil, played by Lesley Manville, and the Vicomte de Valmont, portrayed by Aidan Turner. Together they engage in a vicious game, with Valmont attempting to seduce both the innocent Cécile de Volanges and the devout Madame de Tourvel. It is wickedly entertaining material, and it proves just as intriguing in this context as it does in the well-known teen film, Cruel Intentions . There are, however, some issues with...
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 »

Éireann by A Taste of Ireland ★★★ Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre | August 28 - 31, 2025

Image
Éireann by A Taste of Ireland has some five-star moments, but the show's concept is too broad and unfocused. The result is a bit of a hotchpotch. Mythic and political references are thrown in, and there is even a contrived and rather superfluous hurling sequence. There is no clear narrative arc or any perspective, and the show fails to provide much meaningful insight into Ireland, its history and its culture. The strength of this production is its Irish dancing, and while the synchronisation in the group work is not always perfect, the general quality and athleticism are superb.The solos of Gavin Shevlin are beautifully executed, and the troupe is at its best during the step dance sequences. The balletic and modern dance interludes are less successful, and some of the lifts and floor work seem laboured. Despite some issues with the sound system, the musical moments provided by Aaron O'Grady, Eamonn O'Sullivan and Megan McGinley are strong. Unfortunately on the night we att...
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 »

Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait ★★★★ National Portrait Gallery | Until September 6, 2026

Image
To mark what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, the National Portrait Gallery has mounted an exhibition exploring the actress’s enduring place in popular culture. While tracing the chronology of Monroe’s life, the exhibition interweaves her story with the ways in which artists and photographers have interpreted and presented this most elusive of icons. Photographs by Cecil Beaton, Richard Avedon and many others attempt to capture the fascination she exerted, while works by Willem de Kooning and Andy Warhol demonstrate how her image transcended Hollywood to become the raw material of modern art. Mesmerising clips from her films provide a reminder of the charisma that first made her a star. More than six decades after her death in 1962, Monroe remains a singular presence in the collective imagination. Other celebrities have enjoyed their moment in the spotlight and faded, but her allure endures. There is the classic rags-to-riches narrative, shadowed by an inability to find...
Full Details »

War Horse ★★★★★ National Theatre | Until July 30, 2026

Image
Michael Morpurgo’s tale of a horse caught up in the First World War was first published in 1982, but it remained largely under the radar until the National Theatre’s landmark 2007 production transformed it into a theatrical phenomenon. A successful film adaptation by Steven Spielberg followed, but War Horse has now returned to its natural home: the stage. Happily, this revival captures all the wonder, emotion and imaginative power that made the original production so unforgettable. The production’s greatest triumph remains the astonishing puppetry. Joey and his fellow horses are brought to life with such skill and sensitivity that within moments they cease to be stage constructs and become living, breathing creatures. It is a remarkable feat of theatrical illusion. The story begins when Albert’s hard-drinking father squanders an absurd sum on a riding horse at auction and then wagers with his brother that the animal can be trained to plough the family’s fields. The task falls to young...
Full Details »

Driftwood ★★★★ Kiln Theatre | Jun 4 - Jul 4, 2026

Image
Set in Trinidad on the eve of independence from Britain, Driftwood explores a society in transition. Change is everywhere, not least at ALMA, the gentlemen's club run by Pearl and her daughter Ruby. The club is owned by Mansion, an Englishman preparing to return home, and his departure coincides with the arrival of a mysterious young stranger whose secrets threaten to upend the lives of everyone around him. The performances are uniformly excellent. Ellen Thomas delivers an outstanding portrayal of Pearl, a resilient survivor forced to disavow her own child in order to endure. Thomas completely inhabits the role, creating a formidable exterior whose rare moments of vulnerability carry real emotional weight. Equally compelling is Martins Imhangbe, who brings swagger and intrigue to the enigmatic newcomer whose arrival compels Pearl to confront the consequences of her past choices. Cat White is also impressive as Ruby, the pragmatic seductress determined to navigate a rapidly changin...
Full Details »

Black Comedy ★★★ Orange Tree Theatre | May 16 - Jul 11, 2026

Image
Working under considerable pressure, Peter Shaffer wrote Black Comedy as a companion piece to the 1965 Chichester Festival production of Miss Julie by August Strindberg. Despite significant reservations from the original production company, the play proved an immediate success. It has since been staged around the world and continues to delight audiences with its ingenious premise and relentless comic energy. At the heart of this delightful farce lies the theatrical conceit that the characters stumble about in what they believe to be complete darkness, while the audience watches their misadventures in full light. Conversely, whenever the stage is dark to the audience, the characters experience illumination. More than a clever gimmick, this inversion becomes a metaphor for the secret and seriously complicated amorous life of the struggling sculptor Brindsley Miller. Brindsley is preparing to meet two crucial visitors: his prospective father-in-law, a military man of rigid convictions, a...
Full Details »

Allegra ★★★★ Richmond Theatre | Jun 8 - Jun 13, 2026 & UK Tour

Image
Allegra hears music everywhere. At the most inappropriate moments she bursts into song, much to the embarrassment of her long-suffering brother, Ronen. Concerned for her welfare, he hires a housekeeper to look after her, but Allegra's irrepressible enthusiasm continues to land her in hot water with neighbours, authority figures and eventually the police. The play asks whether Allegra's sunny, unconventional outlook is really the problem, or whether the fault lies with a society that has little patience for those who refuse to conform. Stories of the "wise fool" have a long literary pedigree, stretching from Erasmus' Praise of Folly and Cervantes' Don Quixote through Dostoevsky's The Idiot to Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest . Peter Quilter's Allegra most closely resembles Elwood P. Dowd from the 1950 film Harvey : a gentle, optimistic soul whose very existence challenges the values of a joyless world. This is familiar territory, and t...
Full Details »

Redcliffe ★★★ Southwark Playhouse, Borough | May 22 - Jul 4, 2026

Image
Inspired by a real historical incident, the new musical Redcliffe tackles an issue that remains relevant today: the criminalisation of consensual homosexual relationships, which still exists in many countries. Between 1752 and 1753, William Critchard and Richard Arnold were accused of sodomy, an offence punishable by death in Britain at the time. Their story survives through contemporary newspaper accounts and a rare witness statement uncovered in the Bristol archives in 2023. In bringing this material to the stage, Jordan Luke Gage, who wrote the book, music and lyrics, takes considerable liberties with the historical record. Arnold was a publican in his sixties and Critchard a twenty-four-year-old footman when the two men were observed together in a private room at a Bristol alehouse. Dramatic licence is not in itself a problem, but while the details have been reshaped, the characters at the centre of the story never become fully realised individuals. The principal weakness of Redcl...
Full Details »

The City Life Magazine | Reviews & Ratings