As I’m on a few days break, it’s time to reflect on the theatre I’ve experienced so far in 2024!
5 stars (8)
Your Lie in April (Drury Lane) * MUS WE – a concert based on a popular manga that is deeply poignant.
King Lear (Almeida) PLA – an outstanding performance from Danny Sapani, and inspired use of music.
Guys and Dolls (Bridge) * MUS – this time it was possible to admire the lighting design in full, and enjoy a partially new cast.
Standing at the Sky’s Edge (Gillian Lynne) * MUS WE – lived up to its publicity with a clever set and song/plot structure.
Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell (Coach and Horses) * PLA – a site-specific piece of perfection which Robert Bathurst made his own.
Rewind (New Diorama) * PLA. A deeply emotional piece on international corruption and migration.
Leaves of Glass (Park) * PLA. A family play that enthralled through one long act.
Paved With Gold And Ashes (Barons Court) * PLA. An industrial tragedy becomes almost poetic in this vibrant fringe production.
4 stars (29)
Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Wyndham’s) * BWW PLA WE. A powerful outing for a play I know well, with Brian Cox and Laurie Kynaston excelling in the small cast.
The Velventeen Rabbit (Sadler’s Wells Studio) * BWW DAN. A sweet and delightful ballet for children about the power of dreams.
Jekyll & Hyde # (Original Theatre) * PLA. A one-man tour de force piece of storytelling.
Don’t Make Tea (Soho) * PLA. A quirky black comedy about the benefit system of the near future.
2.22 A Ghost Story (Richmond) * PLA. The spooky West End hit gets another chance to chill and puzzle on tour.
Sister Act (Dominion) * MUS WE. A joyous piece of musical theatre with a rainbow heart.
Unique # (BFI) CON. A multimedia experience with live orchestra.
The Girl in the Green Jumper (Playground) * PLA. This stage adaptation of Renske Mann’s memoir was very well performed and designed.
Driftwood # (Pentabus) * PLA. A family drama unfolding secrets and lies, very funny in places.
HideandSeek (Park) * BWW PLA. A curious tale of friendship and longing in a forbidden place.
Frank’s Closet (Union) * MUS. The stage revival of Stuart Wood’s sparkling musical revue.
Player Kings (New Wimbledon) PLA. Ian McKellen plays Falstaff in an updated Henry IV (both parts).
Barnes’ People # (Original Theatre) * PLA. Four vignettes from the lonely, odd and displaced.
Making it Up # (New Zealand Fringe) PLA *. A story of becoming creative, and a creative mentorship.
Belongings (Watermans) * CHI. A lively and thoughtful piece about adoption and abandonment from Tangled Feet.
The Big Life (Stratford East) * BWW MUS. A carnival atmosphere characterise this Caribbean musical revival.
Hadestown (Lyric) * MUS WE. Returning after four years, this sweet musical takes us down under the ground for the story of Orpheus and Eurydice.
Pretty Woman (New Wimbledon) * MUS. Based on the film, the West Hit is now entertaining folks on tour
This & That (Barbican Pit) * EXP. Part of Mime London, this includes digital wizardry and shadow puppetry.
The Hills of California (Harold Pinter) * PLA WE. A sprawling tale of a family of daughters who aspired to be the next Andrews Sisters.
The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess) PLA WE. The clever and funny physical comedy hit was new to me, but worth waiting for.
Tess (Peacock) * DAN. This dance version of Thomas Hardy’s novel was enthralling throughout.
Bronco Billy (Charing Cross) * MUS. Buzzing with charm, this musical took an old Clint Eastwood film into disco land.
Dazzling (Riverside Studios) * PLA. A creative story of love, obsession and painting.
Northanger Abbey (Orange Tree) * PLA. Jane Austen’s satirical novel turns into riotous farce.
Fire Embers Ash (Barons Court) * PLA. The story of Russian’s women flyers feels inspired and fresh.
A They In A Manger # (Camden People’s) * CAB. A lively Christmas cabaret has memorable moments.
Rehab (Neon 194) * MUS. Returning after a run at the Playground a while back, this musical about addicts still sparkles.
Yoga & Sex (Etcetera) * PLA. When you’re over 40, how do you combine the two for your best life?
3.5 stars (9)
Mary’s Daughters # (The Space) * PLA. An ambitious and affecting piece about Mary Wollstonecraft and her two daughters.
Mind Mangler (Apollo) * MAG. The spin-off from Magic Goes Wrong is entertaining and funny.
The Lady or The Tiger (Tabard) * MUS. This musical revival was a lot of fun in an old-fashioned way.
Double Feature (Hampstead) * PLA. Two stars and their directors in rehearsal. A clever play with innovative decisions.
A Mirror (Trafalgar) PLA WE. A wedding hides a play in this intense but perhaps too affected piece of theatre.
Cable Street (Southwark Playhouse) * MUS. A new musical about the battle of Cable Street shone, but needed a slight trim.
Shifters (Bush) * PLA. A relationship over time, exploring ‘whatever love means’.
Self-Raising (Soho) * PLA. Jenny Sealey’s personal play deals with her childhood and disability.
The Fruity Prince # (The Space) * PLA. Funny and breakneck revision of Tudor history.
3 stars (17)
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (Marylebone) * PLA. A solo piece of storytelling moves Russia to Hackney in Dostoyevsky’s drama.
The Death and Life of All of Us (Camden People’s) * PLA. Victor Esses explores families, sexuality and home in his solo show.
The Divine Mrs S (Hampstead) * PLA. Sarah Siddons has a hard time of it in this muddled play.
Single Spies (Questors) * PLA. Alan Bennett’s duo of spy plays still sparkles.
Spit in My Face (Camden People’s) * PLA. An experimental piece about polygamy with huge potential.
Squirrel # (The Space) * PLA. Hoarding, memory and trauma all contribute to this interesting play.
The Human Body (Donmar) PLA. When the creation of the NHS meets Brief Encounter, this lengthy play doesn’t quite know what it wants to be.
The Investigator # (Yukon Digital Theatre Collective) * PLA. An interview based play with interaction takes on political power.
Jab (Finborough) * PLA. A pandemic play has its moments.
Sarah Quand Même (Drayton’s Arms) * PLA. Sarah Bernhardt’s story in later life has some good scenes.
Turning The Screw (King’s Head) * PLA. A tale of Benjamin Britten’s interest in young men feels a little forced.
Me You Us Them # (Terra Nova) * PLA. Immigration stories in Northern Ireland.
I Should Be So Lucky (New Wimbledon) * MUS. Campy fun, which runs out of steam
Dickless (Riverside Studios) * PLA. A Newcastle night out which turns very dark.
Blood on Your Hands (Southwark Playhouse) * PLA. Men’s mental health in a slaughterhouse setting.
Tongues and Savage/Love (Seven Dials Playhouse) * PLA. Sam Shepard’s verse plays are chopped up and redesigned in this curio.
Kin (National Theatre) * DAN. Immigration. movement, music, and puppetry come together to present a powerful tale.
2.5 stars (2)
Wild About You (Drury Lane) * MUS. A musical concert of two discrete halves needs quite a bit of work despite strong performances.
Cruel Intentions (The Other Palace) * MUS WE. An attempt to move Dangerous Liaisons into a high school setting doesn’t come off in this musical.
2 stars (2)
Nachtland (Young Vic) * NWE PLA. Hitler’s painting causes havoc in a family, but the satire and absurdity is missing.
Metamorphosis (Lyric Hammersmith) * PLA. Kafka’s story doesn’t survive a modern rethink about the pressures of capitalism.
No score (3)
Romeo & Juliet # tech issues (New Wolsey) PLA.
Barbie Comes To Tea (Soho Upstairs) rehearsed reading PLA
Fly Me To The Loon # AI experiment (Scenesaver) PLA
I love seeing musicals; however can’t see many musicals a year (can’t afford many; plus live in a major touring city- not NYC)
Theater so far in 2024:
1. Mean Girls- more enjoyable than I thought (went due to promising a friend I would see it with her)
2. Moulin Rouge (honestly don’t what drew me to want to see it)- can’t stop listening to the songs; got emotional while watching