Rod is God

***

Rod as God has a bright opening, flags in the middle and loses credibility towards the end. Somehow the script felt like an early draft. The main theme within the play is duping the public to blindly believe in … Read More

Phill Jupitus- You’re Probably Wondering Why I asked You Here?

4 Stars

**** 

Now many people will know this larger than life comic from TV. He is a long standing team captain on ‘Never Mind The Buzzcocks’, a frequent guest on comedy panel shows such as QI and has also … Read More

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

4 stars ****

The ‘Spelling Bee’ is a very American peculiarity and writing a musical around it is even more peculiar but it works so well.

We meet a group of stereotypical nerdy young people, verging on cartoon caricatures, who … Read More

The Happy Prince

2 stars **

Well, he didn’t look very happy but Tom Dawkins as the prince stood out (in a good way)  in what is otherwise a strangely bemusing production.

Good points – the music is really lovely and generally well … Read More

Glasvegas – The Original 1977 Musical

5 stars *****

I went in with a splitting headache and came out with a huge cheesy grin on my face, thankful I’d picked this show to round off my day.

This is a hugely enjoyable show (and the venue … Read More

Street Cries

4 stars ****

If you know the gist of ‘Under Milk Wood’ you will get the premise of this hour of musical cabaret, although having just come out of ‘Spelling Bee’ it took a while to readjust my brainspace and … Read More

Liz Lochhead – Making Nothing Happen

****

Poetry can be boring. Except when it’s read well aloud, and then it comes alive and reveals itself. Liz Lochhead is very, very good at reading poems aloud. It helps that she’s a rather good poet too.

… Read More

The Girl With No Heart

**

This show is a good effort. The actors and puppeteers are skilful, the music and lighting effects enhanced the scenes. The origami, some of it done with one hand from one person, and another hand from another … Read More

The Lad Himself

****

Mark Brailsford’s portrayal of Tony Hancock is totally realistic. Dressed in hat and overcoat, the look, the facial mannerisms and the voice, it’s as if the ‘The Lad Himself’ had walked on to the stage. Such was Hancock’s fame, … Read More

Billy the Mime

***

I did not entirely like this show – which is my own fault for I did not heed the warning: ‘not for the easily offended’. I wouldn’t count myself as such, so maybe it that warning needs … Read More