Category Archives: Theatre

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘God of Carnage’

Posted on March 28, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett A civilized meeting of two married couples to discuss the misbehavior of one of their children descends into an evening of virtual hand-to-hand combat in a star-laden production of Yasmina Reza’s new play “God of Carnage” at … Continue reading →

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THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Jersey Boys’

Posted on March 20, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON –”Jersey Boys,” the pop musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons that has had a long Tony Award-winning Broadway run, finally made it to London’s West End with a British cast and it’s great finally to … Continue reading →

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THEATRE REVIEW: Noel Coward’s ‘The Vortex’

Posted on March 14, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett Noel Coward wrote “The Vortex” in 1924 as a cautionary tale about the price to be paid for overindulging in the roaring ’20s, but his characters appear frightfully shallow and their antics tiresomely petty in the 21st … Continue reading →

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Olivier Awards performances rock the joint

Posted on March 10, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The joint was jumping at the Olivier Awards Sunday night with performances from the nominated musicals and a tribute to the works of lifetime achievement honouree Andrew Lloyd Webber. Most unforgettable was the reaction of … Continue reading →

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OLIVIER AWARDS: Wins for Ejiofor, Scott Thomas, ‘Hairspray’

Posted on March 10, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kristin Scott Thomas (left) and the Broadway smash “Hairspray” won top honors Sunday at the Laurence Olivier Awards, Britain’s equivalent of the Tony Awards. Ejiofor was named best actor for his title … Continue reading →

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THEATRE REVIEW: Miller’s ‘The Man Who Had All the Luck’

Posted on March 9, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett London’s Donmar Warehouse has taken a forgotten play by Arthur Miller, “The Man Who Had All the Luck,” which folded after four performances on Broadway in 1944, and reveals that it deserves an honored place among the … Continue reading →

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THEATRE REVIEW: Shaw’s ‘Major Barbara’ at the National

Posted on March 6, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Bernard Shaw’s play “Major Barbara” tackles themes similar to the movie “There Will Be Blood,” but instead of the American Daniel Plainview it’s a very English capitalist named Andrew Undershaft who takes on religion and … Continue reading →

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THEATRE REVIEW: ‘The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other’

Posted on February 29, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett We all know about silent movies, but a silent play? Peter Handke’s “The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other” at London’s National Theatre is mercifully not mime and it’s not completely silent, but it is wordless … Continue reading →

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THEATRE REVIEW: Pinter’s ‘The Lover’ and ‘The Collection’

Posted on February 27, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter has long been fascinated by the tension that exists between two men who love the same woman. It got out of hand in the recent film version of Kenneth Branagh’s … Continue reading →

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THEATRE REVIEW: Spacey, Goldblum in ‘Speed the Plow’

Posted on February 22, 2008 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – David Mamet’s 20-year-old play “Speed-the-Plow,” which uses the ruthless setting of a Hollywood studio to explore male chicanery and misogyny, looks fresh and scintillating in Matthew Warchus’ new Old Vic production starring Kevin Spacey and … Continue reading →

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