Category: Theatre Reviews

This is an amusing adaptation of the Noel Coward supernatural comedy about a man and his “spiritous” spouse.

Jennifer Saunders was ab fab as Madame Arcati with great performances from the rest of the cast too (Rose Wardlaw as Edith the maid, Lisa Dillon as Ruth, Geoffrey Streatfeild as Charles, Simon Coates as Dr Bradman, Lucy Robinson as Mrs Bradman and Madeleine Mantock as Elvira.

Although the theatre did check covid passes on entry and signs were suggesting the audience wear masks, unfortunately, not all did so. The theatre also advised people to turn up 60-90 mins early despite there not being much space to wait until the auditorium open about 30 mins before the performance.

I had an on the day bargain rush ticket from TodayTix, and it was a good view from the second row of the dress circle.

8/10

Managed to get an on the day rush ticket to see this musical. I saw no reminders about the advice to wear face masks which was disappointing, and probably less than a tenth of the audience was doing their bit to help keep theatres open and respecting others by reducing the spread and protecting others by wearing a mask.

I saw the 2005 version, and this was quite similar. It has similar visual stunts with moving scenery, unpacking the carpet bag, the proscenium part of step in time and Mary’s final flight.

The seat location was great, and the show was enjoyable, but the lack of masks and disruptive audience talking & fidgeting (not just children) and people taking photos/videos during the performance- front of house staff were quite good at spotting them and telling them to stop.

7/10

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Got a £25 rush ticket through Todaytix (at my first attempt!) And fit the first time this year I actually git a paper ticket from the box office!

The seat had a good view in the stalls. Although, there were regular reminders about recording and phones; it is was the first theatre this year where I didn’t see or hear any reminders that face masks are advised – probably only around a third did their bit by choosing to wear masks.

It obviously had songs added, and there were a few changes from the film – no Libyans (a different crisis was used instead), but there were many things for fans of the film to spot – including the slightly creepy (but funny for fans who know what’s coming) “mummy’s boy” aspect. They also added some funny jokes about travelling to 2020 – to see that it’s like)

The casts did great I pressions of their film counterparts.

The theatre has decorated parts of the auditorium and the foyer in a Back to the Future theme, which added to the atmosphere.

It made use of lots of effects, including conveyor belts, revolves trap doors, black curtains ( and one time this was a little bit late, blinding flashing lights, bubble machines and what I can only assume was magic at the end ( as I thought I had worked it out until a twist or 2).

9/10

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I got a Rush ticket from Todaytix for £25 (including fees). It was a great seat in the dress circle with a face value of over £100!

The that is very posh inside, but didn’t have a dress code, and only about half (or just under) of the audience were following the guidance (announced a number of times) to wear a face-covering – they don’t stop you laughing, cheering or clapping.

It is a feel-good comedy musical, with some serious messages added on.my favourite part was the song “You’re Timeless To Me” doe to the hilarious extra lines added in and the amount of corpsing on satge (particularly from Les Dennis – but Michal Ball did it at least once too!) – which only added to the enjoyment of the audience.

There were understudies for Tracy Turnblad (Natalie Woods), Female Authority Figure (Amy West), Corny Collins (Bradley West) and Sketch (Bradley Trevethan). They all did great – even when the top of Tracy’s extra high beehive/backcombing fell off her head, she coped very well.

9/10

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After multiple failed attempts to get a £25 rush ticket for this, I finally managed to get a ticket!

This is a Cole Porter musical from the 1930s set on an Atlantic liner going from New York to the UK. There is an excellent mix of passengers who we learn about. It was hilarious, with great songs and dancing, and the cast looked like they were having great fun, which then spread to the audience.

I had heard the Barbican Theatre is notoriously difficult to find. Still, once I found the best exit from Moorgate station and worked out which way to turn using the handy walking map signposts, it was a lot easier than I feared – the stickers on the pavement helped too!

The theatre has one centre block in the stalls with a side aisle on either end, and the seats are fixed rather than tip-up, which is a bit inconvenient when letting people get to and from their seats. The stalls sears were very well tiered and had doorways at the end of each row that closed when the performance was on. It also has the largest and shiniest safety “curtain” I have seen!

Probably about 40% of the close to full house woreface covering (advised by signs when entering but no announcements or reminders once you were in.

9/10

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This touring revival of the 1980 Willy Russell comedy drama play stars Jessica Johnson as Rita/Susan the working class Scouse hairdresser trying to get an education by taking an Open University course and Stephen Tompkinson as her alcohloic tutor Frank

It was a 2 hander with one set (his office) but changes of Rita/Susan’s outfits to show different days.

It was funny – although some of the jokes required an awareness of 1980 to get them. It showed how both characters helped each other grow.

They had no programmes due to covid and the audience seating was socially distanced. The theatre had also changed the stalls so that the seats that were cushions in the pit in front of the stage were regular seats.

Despite masks and the reduced audience numbers laughter could still be heard.

8/10

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Adam Cooper, Kevin Clifton, Charlotte Gooch, Faye Tozer, Cavin Cornwall and Sandra Dickinson star in this iconic musical.

It was funny and entertaining, and the seat was a bargain at £25 (including fee) from TodayTix as according to another website the face value was £75. It was a great view, and having seen the soggy state of some people from the front few rows at the interval and at the end, I was pleased I wasn’t at the front!

9/10

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This is a stage version of the Channel 4 comedy spoof about the royal family.

The main storyline is about the Queen abdication following Philp’s death, Camilla plotting to make Charles an absolute monarch after a typo is spotted in the Brexit agreement and Wills and Kate trying to save the nation.

There are subplots with Beatrice and Eugenie trying help redeem the reputations of Andy and Fergie, Harry & Meghan in LA and Edward, who plays many roles.

It is funny and silly and as long as you don’t take things too seriously it is very funny.

The theatre asked for proof of double vaccine or negative test on the door, had hand sanitizer stations dotted around but didn’t encourage mask wearing for the audience – most of who weren’t masked.

There were some technical sound issues at a couple of points, but overall it seemed to go ok.

The seat was only £12.50 & was back row of the stalls, but was on an aisle and good view.

7/10

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This was the last in the run of shows.

Tonight was a pre-school putting on a magic show (linked to Groan Ups and Magic Goes Wrong). It was set in the Scottish Highlands. It was called The Day Harry Got Cut In Half.

Social media asked for a rap song about apples, worst moonwalk and an Oscar cameo.

It had lots of characters, children who did magic through glitter wishes, they turned the headmistress into a pickle and then have to sort everything out.

7/10

The third and final part of the trilogy

Social media asked for and Zoom voted for time travel to the past to stop the apocalypse from happening. It was called Ashopolypse Then.

It had some songs added, a bit of a debate of whether or not the apocalypse should be allowed to occur.

7/10