Andrew Lloyd Webber's new (& last?) musical

Stephen Ward -Andrew Lloyd Webber brings back the 1960s scandal in what may be his last musical . .

Is  a pre-feminist era  London scandal  likely to cross the pond?  

We review 2 "hot" revivals in London

London

Fortune's Fool - I urge all who love Russian drama to see this wonderful production of Poulton's expert adaptation. There is no better drama on the London stage at present. . . Read More

Coriolanus -Josie Rourke is to be congratulated for making this often tedious play sing with life and the drama never pales . . Read More

Brian Dennehy still a star at 75

Steward of Christendom- Brian Dennehy gives his considerable all to Sebastian Barry's exquisitely written but dramatically unengaging play . . . Read More

New & Noteworthy

August: Osage County the movie review

August: Osage County by Elyse Sommer -

Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep and Julianne Nicholson

Turning a play, even a multi-prize winning one, into a movie that's true to the original, is no mean feat. Trimming it to a third of its original three hours yet untethering it from the single set of its stage version adds to that challenge.  to read full review:  www.curtainup.com/movitalk.html#August

we review 2 more holiday fun shows

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Le Jazz Hot: How The French Saved Jazz - In the Anderson twinss, the form immortalized by the likes of Armstrong, Davis and Ellington has found two capable torchbearers. Their appreciation for that tradition and their considerable talent make them well poised to allow modern audiences to see the light. . . Read More

. Nothing To Hide - every minute appeared to be relished by the audience at the performance I attended. Read

Gypsy proves it's timeless once again

Gypsy - Director Joe Calarco has delivered this timeless musical fable to the tune of a hit. . . Read More

Bret Easton Ellis's psychopath sings in London

American Psycho - Rupert Goold's musical adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis book skates over the surface of what it is that makes a psychopath with its state of the art imagery. . . Read More

West Side Story's Maria as a Jewish granny

Handle With Care - Like the good seasonal play that this is, the whole thing ends on a note of redemption, warmth and holiday cheer. There's even a family secret, and a crazy coincidence that might just blow the yarmulke right off your head. Or is it not really a coincidence at all, but rather a miracle? . . Read More

Our Lonon critic on Duck House & Drawing the Line

ondon

The Duck House - Word driven humor by Colin Swash of the BBC's Have I Got News For Youand Dan Patterson of Room 101. . . Read More

Drawing The Line - Howard Davies directs Howard Brenton's play about 1947 India when a British judge was given just six weeks to determine a fair boundary between India and Pakistan. . . Re

Brush up on your Irish brogue with The Night Alive

The Night Alive - Despite the darkness of these characters' lives and the situation, Conor McPherson's play is richly spiced with humor. . . Read More

A popular movie-- has turned into a popular radio play for the Irish Rep

A Wonderful Life: The 1946 Radio Play - The popular radio play adaptation of the 1946 film is back at the Irish Rep . . . Read More

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A fun play about the pleasures & pitfalls of technology --but not without glitches

The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence - Madeleine George certainly has come up with an at once fun and thought provoking if imperfect conceit . . . Read More

Pericles in rare form in New Jersey

Pericles - a charmingly conceived and cleverly staged version of what is not generally considered to be top drawer Shakespeare Read More

Our London Critic on Candide and Henry V

London

Candide - The Menier Chocolate Factory hosts the most charming musicals on a small scale and somehow improves them with their intimate productions. With Bernstein's music and brilliant singing, what more could we wish for? . . Read More

Henry V - Michael Grandage crowns his opening five play West End season with a production of Henry V starring Jude Law, Grandage's award winning Hamlet of a few years back. . . Read Mor

Martha Clarke's new dance piece: beautiful but too slight

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Chéri - A gorgeous Amy Irving to provide a modicum of text, a pair of New York's American ballet theater dancers to execute Martha Clarke's sensual as ever and literature inspired choreography! What more could one wish for?. . . Read More

Burt Bacharach's songbook gets a dusting off at NYTheatre Workshop

New York Off-Broadway
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What's it All About? Bacharach Reimagined - What's it all about? It's about dusting off Burt Bacharach's songbook and presenting it to younger audiences with updated arrangements, seven wildly talented musician/singers and a first-rate creative production. . . . Read More

The Pigeoning- an odd & entertaining little show

The Pigeoning - clever puppets and other visually entertaining elements add up to a show that entertains with a well-balanced set of humorous and somber moments. . . . Read More

Gastronauts-- London critics turned into food critics

Gastronauts - This is an evening that turns theatre critics into food critics but there is plenty of food for thought . . Read More