Category Archives: Theatre

FILM REVIEW: ‘The Railway Children’ on stage

Posted on March 27, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – There’s a perfect family treat available at 400 cinemas across the UK and Ireland on Easter Monday with the first screenings of a film of York Theatre Royal’s acclaimed stage presentation of “The Railway Children”.

Posted in Film, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'The Railway Children', Anne Beresford, Damian Cruden, Debbie Gray, E.Nesbit, Geneius Pictures, Mike Kenny, Munro Films, National Railway Museum, Ross MacGibbon, Screen Yorkshire, Theatre Royal York | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: Gemma Arterton in ‘Nell Gwynn’

Posted on February 17, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Jessica Swale’s thoroughly entertaining play “Nell Gwynn”, about the strumpet turned actress who beguiled a king of England and became a queen of the London stage, is filled with laughter and music and a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Nell Gwynn', Anneika Rose, Christopher Luscombe, David Rintoul, David Sturzaker, Gemma Arterton, Greg Haiste, Hugh Durrant, Jay Taylor, Jessica Swale, Michael Garner, Michelle Dotrice, Nica Burns, Nicholas Shaw, Nigel Hess, Peter McGovern, Sarah Woodward, Sasha Waddell, Shakespeare's Globe | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: Frank Loesser’s ‘Guys and Dolls’

Posted on December 20, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – If you like musical theatre, beg, borrow or steal a ticket to see the Chichester Festival Theatre’s dazzling production of Broadway classic “Guys and Dolls”, which opens at the Savoy Theatre on Jan. 6 and … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Guys and Dolls', Abe Burrows, Damon Runyan, David Haig, Frank Loesser, Gavin Spokes, Gordon Greenberg, Jamie Parker, Jo Swerling, Peter McKintosh, Savoy Theatre, Siubhan Harrison, Sophie Thompson | Comments Off

‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ does right by LAMDA

Posted on July 8, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – A fund-raiser for LAMDA, the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art, attracted a packed house to a performance of hit West End show “The Play That Goes Wrong” on Tuesday.

Posted in News, Theatre | Tagged 'The Play That Goes Wrong', Benedict Cumberbatch, Carne Studio Theatre, Duchess Theatre, John Lithgow, Jonathan Sayer, LAMDA, London Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts, Simon Sainsbury Theatre | Comments Off

Timothy Ackroyd’s ‘The Fuse’ in talks for TV

Posted on May 11, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Timothy Ackroyd said he is in discussions to adapt for television his production of the courtroom drama “The Fuse”, which he wrote with the late Beryl Bainbridge. The sardonic and gripping play, which was presented recently … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Television, Theatre | Tagged 'The Fuse', Beryl Bainbridge, Edward Andrews, National Liberal Club, Nicolas Roeg, Ragamuffin Productions, Royce Mills, Sir Timothy Ackroyd | Comments Off

Bernard Slade: From ‘Bewitched’ to Broadway

Posted on May 2, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Bernard Slade, who turns 85 today, created TV shows such as “The Flying Nun” and “The Partridge Family” but he had his greatest success with the smash hit Broadway play “Same Time, Next Year”. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ..., Television, Theatre | Tagged 'Bewitched', 'Same Time, 'The Flying Nun', 'The Partridge Family', Bernard Slade, Next Year' | Comments Off

How I introduced Martin Short to Steve Martin

Posted on March 26, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The memory of how I introduced Martin Short, who is 65 today, to Steve Martin still cracks me up but I’ve discovered that I’m the only one who thinks it’s funny. It was backstage at … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Memory Lane, Recalling ..., Theatre | Tagged Anne Lockhart, Bernadette Peters, Martin Short, Pee Wee Herman, Roxy Theatre, Steve Martin, Steven Kampmann | 1 Comment

The Old Vic names full cast for ‘High Society’

Posted on March 20, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett The Old Vic has announced full casting for its production of Cole Porter’s “High Society” based on the film musical version of “The Philadelphia Story”, which will open on May 14 following previews that begin on April … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, News, Theatre | Tagged 'High Society', Annabel Scholey, Cole Porter, Jamie Parker, Kate Fleetwood, Maria Friedman, Rupert Young, The Old Vic | Comments Off

Dashing into action to the aid of Rachel Weisz

Posted on March 5, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz, who turns 45 on March 7, is Mrs. Daniel Craig now but there was a moment, a single moment, when she only had eyes for me.

Posted in Film, Memory Lane, Recalling ..., Theatre | Tagged 'A Streetcar Named Desire', Olivier Awards, Rachel Weisz, Rob Ashford | Comments Off

When Mr. Spock invited me on a day out

Posted on February 27, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett It was the familiar voice of Mr. Spock on the phone although Leonard Nimoy, who died today aged 83, at the time was soon to publish his defiant memoire, “I Am Not Spock”.

Posted in Film, Memory Lane, Recalling ..., Television, Theatre | Tagged 'Sherlock Holmes', 'Star Trek', Leonard Nimoy | Comments Off