A Hero of Our Time

5 stars *****

I’ve read the book from which this play is adapted, in the original and in translation. In lists of great Russian literature, Lermontov’s novel, perhaps not so well known in the West as those of Tolstoy … Read More

A Review of Theatre Reviews (2)

On 15th August I posted an article extolling the virtues of good storytelling theatre and gave some examples of the best that I had personally seen. We are now well into the final week and here are few more examples, … Read More

The Games

4 Stars

****

The Games from Spike Theatre is gloriously funny and includes many forms of comedy theatre ranging from satire to song and dance to slapstick. The dialogue is a bit corny at times but the physical action is … Read More

At the Sans Hotel

1 Star

*

Make no mistake, if you see this production you will think it is either cutting edge avant-garde theatre or pretentious and pointless. There is no structure to what you will see. What you will witness is a … Read More

The Matchmaker

4 Stars

****

Donald Smith, Splinter Productions Literary Director, has successfully adapted ‘Letters of a Matchmaker’ by Irish writer JB Keane to create this warm hearted production. The play is set in Ballybarra, a remote town in southern Ireland sometime … Read More

I, the Dictator

3 Stars

***

Set in 1939, two men with similar facial appearances are at the height of their powers. In Europe, Hitler’s armed forces are extinguishing democracy in the countries around Germany. In America, Charlie Chaplin is one of … Read More

The Young Pretender

3 Stars

***

In the space of an hour this play by E.V. Crowe gets to the heart of the character of Bonnie Prince Charlie. How did this young man of 24 years of age raised in Italy attract a … Read More

Love Songs for a Timewaster

3 Stars

***

The very full programme notes provide the background to this production of a play with songs. It is very much a work still in progress and a full version is expected to be completed in the … Read More

Penny Dreadful’s Etherdome

4 Stars

****

Horror comedy meets American vaudeville in the Penny Dreadful’s take on the search for the relief of pain in dentistry and surgery. Throughout the ages, the medical Holy Grail was to discover how to carry out surgical … Read More

Manipulators

3 Star ***

Manipulators is an up close magic act of manipulation and misdirection presented by Simon Coronel and Vyom Sharma.

The close up magic is involved and with the performers sleeves rolled up keeps you guessing to how they … Read More