London gets a delightful new musical. . . and more

London Theater:  A delightful new family musical,   a new play about Stalin,  a new look at Ibsen's last play,  and   American playwright Neal LaBute   . . .

 

Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull and Lauren Ward as Miss Honey in Matilda the Musical

Matilda the Musical- Matthew Warchus's delightful production for all ages about the precocious little girl who loves books and is born into a family of book hating telly addicts . . .

Collaborators- Simon Russell Beale gives an affectionate, quizzical and jokey portrait of Joseph Stalin in John Hodge's play. . .

Reasons to be Pretty- The last of Neil LaBute trilogy about how we look and relationships opens in London where it all started. . .

 Judgement Day- Ibsen’s last play has a reputation for impenetrable symbolism, but in this new adaptation by Mike Poulton, the language takes on a hypnotic rhythm worthy of his earlier verse dramas.. . .

Live Theater for $20 --Really!

Suicide, Incorporated- Andrew Hinderakers’s modestly macabre but also humorously tender play is also an ironically good fit for the Underground series as it deals with the decision by people to end their unhappy lives above ground . . .

Tweet reviews of new London productions

Collaborator- Simon Russell Beale gives an affectionate, quizzical and jokey portrait of Joseph Stalin in John Hodge's play. . .

Reasons to be Pretty- The last of Neil LaBute trilogy about how we look and relationships opens in London where it all started. . .

 Judgement Day- Ibsen’s last play has a reputation for impenetrable symbolism, but in this new adaptation by Mike Poulton, the language takes on a hypnotic rhythm worthy of his earlier verse dramas.. . .

The Lion in Winter- Trevor Nunn’s production of James Goldman's play sadly fails to satisfy even as a historical pastiche comedy because it isn’t outrageous enough for 21st century humour. . . .

4-new curtainup reviews

Sean McNall and Jolly Abraham

Richard II- the Pearl Theatre has deftly handled Shakespeare’s difficult (and long), history play, . . .

Wild Animals You Should Know- There's probably a good play in here somewhere. But it's been given a ready for prime time production somewhat prematurely. The producers would have been wise to followthe Boy Scout motto: "Be Prepared.". . .

Seminar- With copy editing jobs disappearing with other publishing jobs, writers wanting a sharp eye cast on their fledgling literary efforts may well need an expensive private teacher like the one in Theresa Rebeck's new comedy . . .

She Kills Monsters- Whether or not you ever played a heroic paladin or wise wizard, if you know true devotion when you see it, this is fun and worth seeing . . .

Something old, (Private Lives), something new (Horsedreams)

Private Lives — Paul Gross, Kim Cattrai new Elyot is tall, dark and handsome, the sort of debonair leading man born to wear tuxedos and silk dressing gowns and he foxtrots divinely
Horse Dreams - Dael Orlandersmith's brutally frank play about a family decimated by drug addiction, written in a beautifully composed, essentially lyrical, narrative -driven style

on&off-Broadway curtainup reviews

We were burning for Thomas Bradshaw's  semi-pornographic Burning to end. . .but we succumbed to High Jackman's charm.  .and found   much to like (if not love)  in  the new  concert-stand show about  Gay Marriage.  We were also  pleased to see the Prospect Theatre Group's  funy musical  Iron Curtain get a second life.  Our  Shakespeare  maven Deirdre Donovan  sounded off on  the  film Anonymous  about  the Bard's identity.

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Burning -Thomas Bradshaw's new play overloads the play with two many ideas that don't work and sex scenes that more excessive and boring than titillating . . .

Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway- he's the current King of Broadway. For him, it’s home. For us, it’s a treat. . . .

Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays- A bunch of A-list authors and actors explore the joys and pitfalls of same sex nuptials . . .

Aonymous — Our Review of the film that challenges Shakespeare's authorship. . .

Iron Curtain - The Prospect Theater's delightful musical gets a welcome second life . . .

A not-to-be-missed off-Broadway show

Jenn Gambatese with company members in Iron Curtaon

Iron Curtain - The Prospect Theater's delightful musical gets a welcome second life . . .

well acted and staged Inner City tragedy

 

Tonya Pinkins and Angela Lewis 

Milk Like Sugar- Kirsten Greenidge's slice of inner city life in which three teenagers make a pact that's sure to derail their already slim chances for escaping lives brightened only by short-term gratification . . .