Category: Theatre Reviews

This was my fourth time watching The Mousetrap – but first time seeing it anywhere other than St Martin’s Theatre.

There weren’t any special offers but I managed to make use of a £10 Theatre Token to save some money. Unfortunately, they aren’t accepted online so I had to phone, but after the phone queue it was reasonably straightforward and my ticket was still emailed to me.

I still found it entertaining even though I knew the story and could hear people around me wispering their own theories to their companions – all of which were wrong!

The cast included 2 people known to TV audiences – Todd Carty (most famously known as Mark Fower on Eastenders) as Major Metcalf and Gwyneth Strong (most famously known as Cassandra Trotter in Only Fools & Horses) as Mrs Boyle – ironically still appearing in shows with a character called Trotter!

8/10

This was a very funny comedy about 2 old friends who decide to form an ABBA drag tribute act.

I got a TodayTix special offer (not Rush) of £20 seats in the circle – face value £37.50.

The theatre is very small with only 5 rows (3 in the stalls and 2 in the circle. In the circle, it feels as if you are directly above the performers at times, and due to narrow rows, it is impossible to get past others in the back row of the circle without everyone having to get out of the row to let you in.

8/10

I got a top price seat for £19.50 thanks to the code 1950 for this 1950s themed comedy.

The play is set in the modern-day where a married couple have chosen to live a 1959s lifestyle, and then face problems.

7/10

I got a £25 Rush Ticket from TodayTix to see the show Sylvia before it closes next week

It is about Sylvia Pankhurst’s socialist linked fight for universal women’s suffrage as opposed to her mother Emaline who was content to fight for only some women (including herself) to get the vote.

I knew bits of it and had heard of some of the characters but it was nice to learn more about them and the existence of the others (including Adela and Harry Pankhurst, Silvio and Winston Churchill’s overbearing mum).

At some points, the sound quality varied making it a bit difficult to hear all the words but it didn’t diminish too much from an enjoyable afternoon.

9/10

I got a £20 Rush Ticket from Today Tix for this short, amusing but odd play about having AIs who look and learn the memories of your deceased loved ones so that you have company.

The seats were long cushioned benches that did not tip up which made it a bit hard to get along the rows, but they were comfy enough for this short play. The rows were well tired so the view was not blocked.

I got top-price seats on a deal for £25 using my ATG membership.

This was a comedy-drama play that examines the modern world and those unwilling to adapt to be more inclusive. It had a minimalist set and was a two-hander with a couple of married academics at either end of the argument on inclusivity.

It was amusing and an entertaining way to spend just under 2 hours.

7/10

Thanks to a £20 Rush Ticket from Todaytix I got to visit a theatre I hadn’t been to before to see the musical Commitment which is inspired by George Takei’s experiences when he along with his family lots of other Americans who were placed in internment camps by the US government in WW2 just because they had Japanese heritage.

It looks at themes including intolerance, racism, overcoming adversity, choosing what is right versus what is easy, and resilience.

It does have serious themes but dies includes some humour and uplifting moments.

The theatre is a bit hidden away under Charing Cross station and the seats weren’t the best quality but were ok for the 2hr20 mins show.

8/10

I decided to seize the day and try for a £25 Rush Ticket from TodayTix so that I could watch what happens in Newsies The Musical. I got a great seat to see the spectacular show.

Action happens all around the auditorium (including above). I was in (upper?) Manhattan so got a good overall view.

The seating did feel a bit temporary and didn’t have armrests – but uniauily had cup/bottle holders on the back of the seats in front of you.

The show is based on the true story of the newsboys stike New York in 1899 where the amount they had to pay for the powers they sold was increased, so they formed a union and went on strike to stand up against their mistreatment.

9/10

The seats were a lot more reasonably priced than other productions for this one night only touring show.

This was my third time seeing the Mind Mangler and random audience member, but the first time seeing it as a extended act without the rest of Magic Goes Wrong.

The performance and the real audience members (including a soon-to-be (now not so) secretly married couple, some retired people, a trading standards recruitment manager, a performance manager at the London Dungeon and someone who once met a man called John), were very funny and it was an enjoyable night out.

10/10

I saw this touring adaption of the Agatha Christie who done it featuring Miss Marple investing when a guest is positioned at a party of a Hollywood celebrity who has moved to St Mary Mead.

It is a Christie story where I remembered some of the plot and who did it but that didn’t spoil it as I was able to look out for misdirection and clues.

7/10