Category Archives: Theatre

THEATRE REVIEW: Neil LaBute’s ‘In a Forest Dark and Deep’

Posted on March 15, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Compelling performances by Matthew Fox and Olivia Williams as battling siblings make Neil LaBute’s new play “In a Forest Dark and Deep”, in its world premiere in London’s West End, more interesting than it really … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'In a Forest Dark and Deep', Matthew Fox, Neil LaBute, Olivia Williams, Vaudeville Theatre | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: Terence Rattigan’s ‘Flare Path’

Posted on March 14, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – It’s hill of beans time in Terence Rattigan’s wartime drama Flare Path as three little people realize what their problems amount to in a world made crazy by nightly bombing raids as Britain fights alone … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Flare Path', James Purefoy, Mark Dexter, Sheridan Smith, Sienna Miller, Terence Rattigan, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Trevor Nunn | Comments Off

OLIVIER AWARDS: ‘Clybourne Park’, ‘Legally Blonde’ winners

Posted on March 13, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – “Clybourne Park”, a comedy by Bruce Norris that deals with racism in Chicago over 50 years, was named best new play and “Legally Blonde – The Musical,” based on the movie, won as best new … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, News, Theatre | Tagged 'After the Dance', 'Cleburne Park', 'Legally Blonde - The Musical', Nancy Carroll, Olivier Awards, Roger Alam, Sheridan Smith, Stephen Sondheim | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: Noel Coward’s ‘Blithe Spirit’

Posted on March 9, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Noel Coward’s spirited drawing room comedy “Blithe Spirit” is as ticklish and ephemeral as champagne bubbles but Thea Sharrock’s new production in the West End lets out most of the fizz and allows in all … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Blithe Spirit', Alison Steadman, Apollo Theatre, Hermione Norris, Jodie Taibi, Noel Coward, Robert Bathurst, Ruthie Henshall, Thea Shamrock | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Wizard of Oz’

Posted on March 2, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – If ever a show was pre-sold it’s the new stage version of The Wizard of Oz with the 1939 movie a perennial favorite and Danielle Hope cast as Dorothy via a 10-week prime time BBC-TV … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'The Wizard of Oz', Andrew Lloyd Webber, Danielle Hope, E.W. Harburg, Hannah Waddington, Harold Arlen, Jeremy Sams, London Palladium, Michael Crawford, Tim Rice | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’

Posted on March 2, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Lightweight, amusing and frothy, Broadway hit musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” seems an odd choice for the serious-minded Donmar Warehouse, but its U.S. high school hijinks and a cast full of fizz … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee', Christopher Oram, Donmar Warehouse, Jamie Lloyd, Katherine Kingsley, Rachel Sheinkin, Steve Pemberton, William Finn | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Million Dollar Quartet’

Posted on February 26, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – “Million Dollar Quartet” is a straightforward jukebox musical but since the music comes from Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis at Sun Records in the 1950s, it’s not your average jukebox. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Million Dollar Quartet', Ben Goddard, Derek Hagen, Eric Schaeffer, Floyd Mutrux, Francesca Jackson, Michael Malarkey Colin Escott, Noel Cowerd Theatre, Robert Britton Lyons | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: Danny Boyle directs ‘Frankenstein’

Posted on February 24, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Fans of Danny Boyle’s movies such as “Slumdog Millionaire” and “127 Hours” will not be surprised to learn that his return to the stage directing a new play at the National Theatre based on Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Frankenstein', Benedict Cumberbatch, Danny Boyle, Jonny Lee Miller, Mary Shelley, Naomie Harris, National Theatre, Nick Dear | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: Keira Knightley in ‘The Children’s Hour’

Posted on February 12, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Lillian Hellman’s 1934 Broadway melodrama “The Children’s Hour” shows its age in this new West End production, but it does afford screen stars Keira Knightley and Elisabeth Moss a chance to show they are just … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'The Children's Hour', Bryony Hannah, Carol Kane, Comedy Theatre, Elisabeth Moss, Ellen Burstyn, Ian Dickson, Keira Knightley, Lillian Hellman, Stephen Warbeck | Comments Off

THEATRE REVIEW: Royal Court’s ‘Clybourne Park’

Posted on February 12, 2011 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Race relations in a Chicago suburb in 1959 and 50 years later take a savage but hilarious beating in the Royal Court’s “Clybourne Park” by Bruce Norris, now transferred to the West End. In 1959, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged 'Clybourne Park', Bruce Norris, Dominic Cooke, Lorna Brown, Royal Court, Sophie Thompson, Stephen Campbell Moore, Wyndham's Theatre | Comments Off