http://www.thepublicreviews.com Theatre reviews for you, by you. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:45:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/black-watch-the-barbican-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/black-watch-the-barbican-theatre-london/#comments Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:10:31 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=13057 Writer: Gregory Burke Director: John Tiffany Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars It is rare that a piece of theatre should be at once moving, horrifying and uplifting, but that is the reason why four years on, Black Watch is still touring to and delighting new audiences. The result [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/black-watch-the-barbican-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/aladdina-wish-come-true-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/aladdina-wish-come-true-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:01:38 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=13023 Director and Choreographer: David Morgan Reviewer: Jim Nicholson & the 1st Testwood Guides The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars The Mayflower always come up with something a bit special each Christmas and this year is no different as they entice Lily Savage out of retirement and into the leading role in this [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/aladdina-wish-come-true-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/cinderella-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/cinderella-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:00:32 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=12960 Writer & Director: Peter Duncan Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Cinderella really is the most perfect story for a pantomime. The tale of poor bullied Cinderella, who is kind and gentle, overcoming all the odds to win her prince has all the ingredients one needs for a great [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/cinderella-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/feed/ 3 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/christmas-with-the-rat-pack-live-from-las-vegas-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/christmas-with-the-rat-pack-live-from-las-vegas-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Sun, 05 Dec 2010 12:57:33 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=12759 Director and Choreographer: Mitch Sebastian Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars This Christmas version of the Rat Pack, Live from Las Vegas is currently on a two month tour of one night stands with the exception of Southampton, where the Mayflower Theatre are lucky enough to get this superlative [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/christmas-with-the-rat-pack-live-from-las-vegas-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-rocky-horror-show-richmond-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-rocky-horror-show-richmond-theatre/#comments Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:42:30 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=12613 Writer: Richard O’Brien Director: Christopher Luscombe Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars With a sterling cast and a superb libretto to work with, it is unsurprising that this latest version of The Rocky Horror Show is a truly class act. An enduring cult classic, it has had so many [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-rocky-horror-show-richmond-theatre/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/a-streetcar-named-desire-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/a-streetcar-named-desire-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/#comments Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:33:44 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=12539 Writer: Tennessee Williams Director: Anna Hextall Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars An Oxford University student production at Oxford Playhouse – a theatre with a capacity of 600? Really? Could they pull it off? Would it look amateurish and clunky? Would we all sit there slightly embarrassed hoping to [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/a-streetcar-named-desire-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/chess-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/chess-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:31:53 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=12461 Music: Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus Book and Lyrics: Tim Rice Director and Choreographer: Craig Revel Horwood Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars I loved it all, well very nearly all! The staging was excellent, superb lighting, terrific costumes, top notch choreography, great songs many of which we all [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/chess-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/calendar-girls-mayflower-theatre-southampton-2/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/calendar-girls-mayflower-theatre-southampton-2/#comments Tue, 09 Nov 2010 01:50:19 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=12314 Writer: Tim Firth Director: Roger Haines Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Most people will have heard of how in 1999 Rhylstone and District WI produced a ‘nude, not naked’ alternative Women’s Institute calendar to raise funds for a simple plaque and settee memorial that they wanted to place [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/calendar-girls-mayflower-theatre-southampton-2/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/sunshine-on-leith-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/sunshine-on-leith-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Wed, 27 Oct 2010 01:34:14 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=12022 Music: Charlie and Craig Reid Book: Stephen Greenhorn Director: James Brining Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Will it, wont it? The question on many lips as the very Scottish Sunshine on Leith hits the theatres of England. Already a big success north of the border will the Sassenachs [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/sunshine-on-leith-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/spamalot-%e2%80%93-new-theatre-oxford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/spamalot-%e2%80%93-new-theatre-oxford/#comments Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:21:06 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=12002 Book & Lyrics: Eric Idle Music: John Du Prez & Eric Idle Director: Christopher Luscombe Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars If you type Spamalot into the search engine on Thepublicreviews no less than 5 reviews pop up. The great strength of this website is that when a production [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/spamalot-%e2%80%93-new-theatre-oxford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/songs-from-a-hotel-bedroom-%e2%80%93-watford-palace-theatre-watford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/songs-from-a-hotel-bedroom-%e2%80%93-watford-palace-theatre-watford/#comments Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:28:10 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=11720 Writer: Kate Flatt & Peter Rowe Music: Kurt Weill Director: Kate Flatt Reviewer: Ian Foster The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Songs from a Hotel Bedroom is a new dance/musical hybrid which uses the music of Kurt Weill and tango dancing to illuminate the journey of a tragic love affair. Produced by [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/songs-from-a-hotel-bedroom-%e2%80%93-watford-palace-theatre-watford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/murder-in-the-cathedral-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse-christ-church-cathedral/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/murder-in-the-cathedral-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse-christ-church-cathedral/#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:34:33 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=11705 Writer: T.S. Eliot Director: Tom Littler Music: David Allen Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars A porter in a bowler hat points the way across a dimly lit courtyard and we are led along a cool stone corridor to the magnificent Christ Church Cathedral. This piece already feels magical. [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/murder-in-the-cathedral-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse-christ-church-cathedral/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/a-resounding-tinkle-rosmary-branch-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/a-resounding-tinkle-rosmary-branch-theatre-london/#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:15:31 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=11691 Writer: N.F. Simpson Director: Kim Moakes Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars Once described as ‘unstageable’, Steel Theatre and director Kim Moakes have nevertheless taken up the challenge of producing N.F. Simpson’s absurdist piece, A Resounding Tinkle. The story revolves around married couple Bro and Middie Paradock, whose penchant [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/a-resounding-tinkle-rosmary-branch-theatre-london/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-fool-cock-tavern-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-fool-cock-tavern-theatre-london/#comments Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:47:23 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=11683 Writer: Edward Bond Director: Edward Bond Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Revived for the first time since its premiere in 1975 and directed by the playwright, this production of The Fool is both well-acted and sharply staged. Part of the Cock Tavern’s Bond Season, The Fool is one [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-fool-cock-tavern-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hairspray-%e2%80%93-new-theatre-oxford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hairspray-%e2%80%93-new-theatre-oxford/#comments Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:15:41 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=11654 Music: Mark Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman & Mark Shaiman Book: Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan Director: Jack O’Brien Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars With big hair, a big heart and big stars this brilliant musical will banish the winter blues and leave you beaming! Hairspray tells the story [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hairspray-%e2%80%93-new-theatre-oxford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-tale-of-ivan-vs-ivan-finborough-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-tale-of-ivan-vs-ivan-finborough-theatre-london/#comments Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:29:00 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=11626 Writer: Nikolai Gogol Adaptor: Aleksandar Lukac & The Company Director: Aleksandar Lukac Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Vigorous, physical and grotesque, this adaptation of Gogol’s novella arrives on the Finborough’s stage with a crash and a bang. Ably narrated by David Dodsley, the absurd tale centres around the [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-tale-of-ivan-vs-ivan-finborough-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/spend-spend-spend-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/spend-spend-spend-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/#comments Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:28:26 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=11506 Music: Stephen Brown Book/Lyrics: Steve Brown & Justin Greene Director/Choreographer: Craig Revel Horwood Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Mighty, marvellous and full of northern wit, in these times of boom and bust here is a story for our times. The musical is based on the true story of [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/spend-spend-spend-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/estate-walls-oval-house-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/estate-walls-oval-house-theatre-london/#comments Thu, 23 Sep 2010 23:05:10 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=11279 Writer: Arinze Kene Director: Ché Walker Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars With a mix of in your face lyrical dialogue and East End street slang, Arinze Kene’s Estate Walls is a modern take on a familiar tale of friendship, love and betrayal. Short and sweet, with a run [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/estate-walls-oval-house-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/von-ribbentrop%e2%80%99s-watch-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/von-ribbentrop%e2%80%99s-watch-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/#comments Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:38:30 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=10993 Writers: Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran Director: Brigid Larmour Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 2 out of 5 stars It’s easy to be principled when there’s not much riding on it…but what would you do if you could solve all your money worries just by ditching a principle or two? The latest play [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/von-ribbentrop%e2%80%99s-watch-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/peoples-romeo-tara-arts-touring/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/peoples-romeo-tara-arts-touring/#comments Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:23:20 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=10886 Director: Mukul Ahmed Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars There have been so many versions of Romeo & Juliet that one might think there were no new ways to approach it, but this production by TARA Arts proves that there certainly are. Performed in both English and Bengali and [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/peoples-romeo-tara-arts-touring/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/oklahoma-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/oklahoma-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:13:18 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=10481 Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics and Book: Oscar Hammerstein II Director: Julian Woolford Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! is unquestionably a classic and this touring production does it proud with some very decent leads, a large, young but very talented chorus and a wonderful set [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/oklahoma-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/quartet-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/quartet-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:02:24 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=10420 Writer: Ronald Harwood Director: Joe Harmston Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars I approached this play with some trepidation. It has an impeccable pedigree having been written by the Oscar nominated and Academy award winning Ronald Harwood, probably best known as author of The Dresser and screen writer for [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/quartet-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/spamalot-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/spamalot-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:48:20 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=9670 Music: Eric Idle and John Du Prez Book and Lyrics: Eric Idle Director: Christopher Luscombe Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars The spectacle of the West End has gone, the cast has halved, the scenery hardly changes so have we the public of Southampton been lovingly ripped off by [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/spamalot-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/copacabana-watermill-theatre-bagnor/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/copacabana-watermill-theatre-bagnor/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:39:58 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=9513 Music: Barry Manilow Lyrics: Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman Book: Barry Manilow, Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman Director: Craig Revel Horwood Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars It always worries me when a show is born out of a single popular song and I remember back in 1994 sitting [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/copacabana-watermill-theatre-bagnor/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/what-every-woman-knows-finborough-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/what-every-woman-knows-finborough-theatre-london/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:31:44 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=9509 Writer: J.M. Barrie Director: Louise Hill Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars There are two things that make going to the theatre a truly delightful experience: firstly the opportunity to see a play that is new (or new to you) which is brilliantly written, and secondly to see it [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/what-every-woman-knows-finborough-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/an-open-letter-to-the-media-accreditation-team-2010-edinburgh-festival-fringe/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/an-open-letter-to-the-media-accreditation-team-2010-edinburgh-festival-fringe/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:04:31 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=9492 We are writing this letter to express publically our disappointment and bewilderment that you have rejected The Public Reviews (www.thepublicreviews.com) as an official accredited outlet for this year’s festival. The Public Reviews was established in 2007 and in May this year we celebrated our third anniversary. The site has the sole aim to provide a [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/an-open-letter-to-the-media-accreditation-team-2010-edinburgh-festival-fringe/feed/ 49 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hotel-medea-trinity-buoy-wharf-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hotel-medea-trinity-buoy-wharf-london/#comments Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:05:41 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=9462 Created by: Zacora Ura & Para Active Artistic Director: Jorge Lopes Ramos Music: DJ Delores Reviewer: Jemma Bicknell The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars It’s 6.20am and I have just returned home after experiencing ‘Hotel Medea’. To put it simply it was the best production I have ever seen. The words multimedia, [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hotel-medea-trinity-buoy-wharf-london/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/lilly-through-the-dark-%e2%80%93-burton-taylor-studio-oxford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/lilly-through-the-dark-%e2%80%93-burton-taylor-studio-oxford/#comments Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:54:26 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=9458 Writer: Edward Wren Puppets and Set Design; Claire Harvey Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Storytelling should be magical, mysterious, spellbinding and in the tiny citadel of a studio perched high above Oxford this charming play did not disappoint. The Burton Taylor Studios is a tiny performance area, found [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/lilly-through-the-dark-%e2%80%93-burton-taylor-studio-oxford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-memory-of-water-lion-unicorn-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-memory-of-water-lion-unicorn-theatre-london/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:11:43 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=9420 Writer: Shelagh Stephenson Director: Eyal Israel Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars A superbly written play, The Memory Of Water examines relationships and the fluidity of memory as three sisters come together for their mother’s funeral. The action revolves around the bedroom of recently deceased Vi, and through the [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-memory-of-water-lion-unicorn-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-harder-they-come-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-harder-they-come-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:24:30 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=9173 Writer: Perry Henzell Director: Kerry Michael & Dawn Reid Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Sizzling, sexy and stylish this exuberant musical will cast its spell on you and leave you dancing in the aisles! The Harder They Come, named after the eponymous song, is set in Jamaica in [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-harder-they-come-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/laughter-in-the-rain-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/laughter-in-the-rain-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 07:46:36 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=9149 Book: Philip Norman Music: Neil Sedaka Director: Keith Strachan & Bill Kenwright Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Nearly three years ago at a Neil Sedaka concert he shared with us the ‘hot off the press’ news that he had just agreed to a musical based on his life [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/laughter-in-the-rain-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/stop-messing-about-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/stop-messing-about-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:59:10 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8927 Writers: Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cook Director: Michael Kingsbury Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Utilising much of the original Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke material from the 1969/70 ‘Stop Messing About’ radio series the show enables the audience to step back in time and imagine they are there, [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/stop-messing-about-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/three-men-in-a-boat-pentameters-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/three-men-in-a-boat-pentameters-theatre-london/#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:24:37 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8894 Writer: Jerome K. Jerome Adapted by: Tom Neill Director: Tom Neill Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Nestled in the fantastic Pentameters Theatre in leafy Hampstead, Three Men In A Boat is a gentle, amusing, and entirely enjoyable production that is both well staged and superbly acted. Skilfully adapted [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/three-men-in-a-boat-pentameters-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-history-boys-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-history-boys-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:25:30 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-history-boys-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/ Writer: Alan Bennett Director: Christopher Luscombe Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Alan Bennett once said “I write plays about things I can’t resolve in my mind. I try to root things out” and, with its debate about the nature of education and relationships, this play certainly delivers! The [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-history-boys-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/women-on-wine-above-the-stag-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/women-on-wine-above-the-stag-theatre-london/#comments Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:45:15 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8844 Writer: Shakella Dedi Composer: Karl Walinets Director: R. Victor Williams Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Three disparate groups of women descend on an exclusive wedding boutique, ‘Vestido De Moda’, in search of discounted dresses and free booze. Through the interaction between the friends and clashes between the groups, [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/women-on-wine-above-the-stag-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/beating-berlusconi-kings-head-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/beating-berlusconi-kings-head-theatre-london/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:17:41 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8767 Writer: John Graham Davies Director: Matt Rutter Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Based on the extraordinary real-life experiences of lifelong Liverpool supporter Mark Radley and spanning the socialist upheaval of the 70s and 80s, Beating Berlusconi is a sublime piece of theatre. The hero of the play is [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/beating-berlusconi-kings-head-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/love-story-chichester-festival-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/love-story-chichester-festival-theatre/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:37:44 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8729 Original Book by: Erich Segal Music: Howard Goodall Book and Lyrics: Stephan Clark Director: Rachel Kavanaugh Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars I certainly do not give five star ratings to shows lightly, in actual fact, on this site, this is my first ever. I have seen literally hundreds [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/love-story-chichester-festival-theatre/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/daisy-pulls-it-off-watermill-theatre-bagnor/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/daisy-pulls-it-off-watermill-theatre-bagnor/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:30:35 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8708 Writer: Denise Deegan Director: Caroline Leslie Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Firstly let me give you two names for your notebook, Emerald O’Hanrahan and Rosie Jones, remember you heard it here first, these are two young performers destined for the very top. Recent revivals of Denise Deegan’s ‘Daisy [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/daisy-pulls-it-off-watermill-theatre-bagnor/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/salome-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/salome-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/#comments Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:07:40 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8644 Writer: Oscar Wilde Director: Jamie Lloyd Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Hard-hitting, bold and imaginative, this is a production to make you sit up and take notice and, with its harsh, modern staging, it challenges you to look at the story of Salome from a 21st century viewpoint. [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/salome-%e2%80%93-oxford-playhouse/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/rocky-horror-show-%e2%80%93-new-theatre-oxford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/rocky-horror-show-%e2%80%93-new-theatre-oxford/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:29:39 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8619 Music, Lyrics and Book: Richard O’Brien Director: Christopher Luscombe Choreographer: Jenny Arnold Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Like a sumptuous box of exotic chocolates this production supplies pleasure, delight and surprise in equal measure, leaving one satisfied and intoxicated and yet tempted to come back for more! The [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/rocky-horror-show-%e2%80%93-new-theatre-oxford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/if-i-were-you-richmond-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/if-i-were-you-richmond-theatre/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:13:21 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8609 Writer: Alan Ayckbourn Director: Joe Harmston Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars Although the premise of the play is not exactly unprecedented, there is always great scope for comedy in two characters swapping bodies! A popular theme for Ayckbourn plays (Body Language and The Jollies cover similar ground), If [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/if-i-were-you-richmond-theatre/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-man-finborough-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-man-finborough-theatre-london/#comments Fri, 28 May 2010 05:34:33 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8515 Writer: James Graham Director: Kate Wasserberg. Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Played by a rotating cast and made up of the main character’s recollections, which are performed in an order determined on the night, The Man promised to be an exciting and engaging piece of interactive theatre. Written [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-man-finborough-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/internal-midland-hotel-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/internal-midland-hotel-manchester/#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 22:52:50 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8479 Creators: Alexander Dervriendt, Joeri Smet, Sophie De Somere, Aurelie Lannoy, Nicolaas Leten Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Ontroerend Goed – a Belgian based theatre performance group specialise in personal one to one theatrical experiences, and Internal requires 5 individual audience/participants per 25 minute show. Each participant needs to [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/internal-midland-hotel-manchester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/must-the-inside-story-%e2%80%93-library-theatre-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/must-the-inside-story-%e2%80%93-library-theatre-manchester/#comments Tue, 25 May 2010 21:51:31 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8440 Writer: Peggy Shaw & Suzy Wilson Music: Paul Clark Director: Suzy Wilson Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Must: the inside story is a joint collaboration between physical theatre company Clod Ensemble and Queer Theatre legend and artistic director of New York’s Split Britches Theatre Company Peggy Shaw. Must [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/must-the-inside-story-%e2%80%93-library-theatre-manchester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/wife-after-death-richmond-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/wife-after-death-richmond-theatre/#comments Tue, 18 May 2010 08:47:39 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8298 Writer: Eric Chappell Directors: Tom Conti & Tom Kinninmont Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars A new play from BAFTA-winning comedy writer Eric Chappell, Wife After Death promised to be a night to remember and did not disappoint. Probably most famous for having written ‘Rising Damp’, it is no [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/wife-after-death-richmond-theatre/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/molloy-the-oxford-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/molloy-the-oxford-playhouse/#comments Sun, 16 May 2010 18:37:51 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8282 Writer: Samuel Beckett Director: Judy Hegarty Lovett Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Molloy tells the story of an old decrepit tramp on an epic bicycle journey to find his mother. The journey becomes complicated and takes on a rather desperate air as first he is arrested for “indecently [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/molloy-the-oxford-playhouse/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hairspray-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hairspray-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 08:06:53 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8239 Music: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Book: Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan Director: Jack O’Brien Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars The phenomenon that is Hairspray has hit the Mayflower and already the three week run is very close to a sell out. Based on the [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hairspray-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/happy-3rd-birthday-to-us/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/happy-3rd-birthday-to-us/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 11:15:27 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8131 Well today is a special landmark in The Public Reviews life. It is our 3rd birthday! Three years ago, I had an idea! I wanted to see the face of theatre criticism changed, I wanted to give a voice to the ordinary theatre going public a platform to share their opinions and thoughts on theatre, [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/happy-3rd-birthday-to-us/feed/ 4 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/nagging-doubt-finborough-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/nagging-doubt-finborough-theatre-london/#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 22:17:02 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8064 Writer: Jack Klaff Director: Sophie Lifschutz Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars First performed in 1981, this is the first incarnation of Nagging Doubt to be staged since the democratic elections in 1994 that effectively ended South African apartheid, and also marks the 50th anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre. [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/nagging-doubt-finborough-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/riverdance-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/riverdance-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 08:21:40 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=8061 Composed: Bill Whelan Director: John McColgan Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars A 2010 cast of sheer quality means that, even 15 years on and slimmed down, Riverdance is still as spectacular and thoroughly entertaining as when it first hit the stage. Born out of the interval entertainment at [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/riverdance-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/bronte-watermill-theatre-bagnor/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/bronte-watermill-theatre-bagnor/#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:12:17 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=7839 Writer: Polly Teale Director: Nancy Meckler Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars This is yet another very distinctive offering from Shared Experience who have produced an intense, emotional and very thought provoking piece in Polly Teale’s cleverly written ‘Bronte’. Teale utilises factual and fictional characters to tell the story [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/bronte-watermill-theatre-bagnor/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/chitty-chitty-bang-bang-the-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/chitty-chitty-bang-bang-the-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:31:16 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=7629 Based on Original Book by: Ian Fleming Music and Lyrics: The Sherman Brothers Director: Adrian Noble Reviewer: Jim Nicholson  The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars  The kids loved it, the parents loved it, this is a thoroughly enjoyable, very professional and unquestionably uplifting touring version of that ‘old favourite’ Chitty Chitty Bang [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/chitty-chitty-bang-bang-the-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/jesus-hopped-the-a-train-trafalgar-studios-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/jesus-hopped-the-a-train-trafalgar-studios-london/#comments Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:12:02 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=7618 Writer: Stephen Adly Guirgis Director: Esther Baker Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Set in and around New York’s notorious Rikers Prison, Stephen Adly Guirgis’s play about two prisoners’ relationship and discussions of faith and morality is a perfect choice for Synergy Theatre Project – a company that works [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/jesus-hopped-the-a-train-trafalgar-studios-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/a-model-for-mankind-cock-tavern-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/a-model-for-mankind-cock-tavern-theatre-london/#comments Wed, 31 Mar 2010 06:31:48 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=7462 Writer: James Sheldon Film Director: Adam Tyler Director: Blanche McIntyre Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Well written, staged and acted, the world premiere of James Sheldon’s ‘A Model For Mankind’ is an intriguing, enjoyable piece of theatre. Set in 1979, and flashing back to the Stalinist Soviet Union, [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/a-model-for-mankind-cock-tavern-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dancing-queen-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dancing-queen-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Wed, 31 Mar 2010 06:27:22 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=7458 Director and Choreographer: Alan Harding Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 1 out of 5 stars You know you are on a loser when, thirty seconds in, you realise there is no live orchestra, the music is recorded, the 14 dancers on stage are all miming and the dance routines only link with the [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dancing-queen-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hedda-gabler-%e2%80%93-the-oxford-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hedda-gabler-%e2%80%93-the-oxford-playhouse/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:04:36 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=7455 Writer: Henrik Ibsen Translator: Michael Meyer Director: Adrian Noble Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars How fast can Hedda gabble? The play tells the story of Hedda Gabler, who Ibsen named deliberately by her maiden name as she was “her father’s daughter rather than her husband’s wife”. Hedda has [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hedda-gabler-%e2%80%93-the-oxford-playhouse/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hi-de-hi-darlington-civic-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hi-de-hi-darlington-civic-theatre/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:28:37 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=7662 Writers: Jimmy Perry & David Croft Adapters: Paul Carpenter & Ian Gower Director: Bruce James Reviewer: Steve Burbridge The Public Reviews Rating: 2 out of 5 stars Hi-De-Hi’, the BAFTA award-winning television sitcom which ran for nine series’ during the 1980s, returns to the stage for the first time since its West End run in [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hi-de-hi-darlington-civic-theatre/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/journeys-end-gala-theatre-durham/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/journeys-end-gala-theatre-durham/#comments Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:10:20 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=7154 Writer: RC Sherriff Director: Alastair Whatley Reviewer: Steve Burbridge The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Based on R.C. Sherriff’s own experience in the trenches of World War One, ‘Journey’s End’ is a powerful and poignant production that starkly illustrates the futility of war. Set within a claustrophobic dugout where time creeps to [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/journeys-end-gala-theatre-durham/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-woman-in-black-darlington-civic-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-woman-in-black-darlington-civic-theatre/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:34:23 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=7118 Author: Susan Hill Adaptor: Stephen Mallatratt Director: Robin Herford Reviewer: Ian Cain The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars The popularity of ‘The Woman in Black’ cannot be disputed. Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s 1983 novel began life at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough in 1987 and is now in its twenty-first [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-woman-in-black-darlington-civic-theatre/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/a-day-at-the-racists-finborough-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/a-day-at-the-racists-finborough-theatre-london/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:07:19 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6949 Writer: Anders Lustgarten Director: Ryan McBryde Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Timely, controversial and thought-provoking, Anders Lustgarten’s new play is a must-see. Set in the same Barking constituency that Nick Griffin is to stand for in the next General Election, ‘A Day At The Racists’ explores and addresses [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/a-day-at-the-racists-finborough-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/whistle-down-the-wind-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/whistle-down-the-wind-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:27:00 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6819 Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Jim Steinman Book: Patricia Knop, Gale Edwards & Andrew Lloyd Webber Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Director Bill Kenwright appears to have transformed the original 1998 high octane, ‘in your face’, full on impact rocking monster of a musical into a pipe and [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/whistle-down-the-wind-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/heros-watermill-theatre-bagnor/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/heros-watermill-theatre-bagnor/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:55:19 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6586 Written by: Gerald Sibleyras Translated: Tom Stoppard Director: Paul Hart Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Written by French playwright Gerald Sibleyras in 2003 with the title ‘Le Vent des Peupliers’, this play was translated in 2005 by Tom Stoppard, with a much simpler English title of ‘Heroes’, and [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/heros-watermill-theatre-bagnor/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/brighton-beach-memoirs-watford-palace-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/brighton-beach-memoirs-watford-palace-theatre/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:21:10 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6474 Writer: Neil Simon Director: Jennie Darnell Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Set in 1937 in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn this coming of age story brings the audience into the home and lives of the Jerome family. The set is beautifully designed to show the overcrowded but welcoming home that [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/brighton-beach-memoirs-watford-palace-theatre/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/frankie-and-johnny-in-the-clair-de-lune-yvonne-arnaud-theatre-guildofrd/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/frankie-and-johnny-in-the-clair-de-lune-yvonne-arnaud-theatre-guildofrd/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:43:32 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6436 Writer: Terrence McNally Director: Michael Lunney Reviewer: David Griffiths The Public Reviews Rating: 2 out of 5 stars Frankie and Johnny were lovers- that much was all too clear as little was left to the imagination as the curtain rose. We were also left to admire the fact that Miss McGillis (yes she of Top [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/frankie-and-johnny-in-the-clair-de-lune-yvonne-arnaud-theatre-guildofrd/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-hostage-southwark-playhouse-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-hostage-southwark-playhouse-london/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:20:59 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6338 Writer: Brendan Behan Director: Adam Penford Reviewer: Ian Foster The Public Reviews Rating: 2 out of 5 stars After having one of the hottest tickets in London in January with The Rivals, the Southwark Playhouse had quite an act to follow and it has done so by reviving Brendan Behan’s play The Hostage, the first [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-hostage-southwark-playhouse-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/medea-oxford-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/medea-oxford-playhouse/#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:07:19 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6316 Writer: Euripides Adaptor: Tom Paulin Director: Barrie Rutter Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 2 out of 5 stars When I go to the theatre I am often moved by the unexpected. Some event in a play resonates with an experience in my own life- growing old, children leaving home, disappointment, hope, or tragedy- [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/medea-oxford-playhouse/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/herons-replay-2010-library-theatre-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/herons-replay-2010-library-theatre-manchester/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:17:56 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6273 Writer: Simon Stephens Director: Clive Judd Reviewer: Poppy Helm The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars The Library Theatre’s Re-Play festival provides another opportunity to see some of Manchester’s best new theatre. Herons, winner of five awards at the 2009 National Student Drama Festival, sits indisputably within this category. This is a play [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/herons-replay-2010-library-theatre-manchester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/vampires-rock-darlington-civic-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/vampires-rock-darlington-civic-theatre/#comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:23:16 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6226 Writer/Director: Steve Steinman Reviewer: Ian Cain The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Take the greatest rock anthems of all time, mix with the star quality of punk legend Toyah Willcox and add a story about vampires lurking in the New York of the near future and you have all the elements of [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/vampires-rock-darlington-civic-theatre/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/cell-replay-2010-library-theatre-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/cell-replay-2010-library-theatre-manchester/#comments Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:55:22 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6213 Writer: Aillis Ni Ryan Director: Paula Simms Reviewer:Katherine Kirwin The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Cell is an intense and disturbing look into a day of a bright but disturbed young Irishman who is living as a recluse in his bedroom in his parent’s house, with an imaginary alter-ego questioning each of [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/cell-replay-2010-library-theatre-manchester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/care-takers-replay-2010-library-theatre-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/care-takers-replay-2010-library-theatre-manchester/#comments Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:48:17 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6209 Writer/Director: Billy Cowan Music: Jamie Summers Reviewer: Katherine Kirwin The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Truant Company are a company which focus upon creating new theatrical work which examines the world from the perspective of queer identity and sub-culture. Care Takers was performed at The Lowry, The Oldham Coliseum and The Unity [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/care-takers-replay-2010-library-theatre-manchester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/chinese-state-circus-mulan-lowry-theatre-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/chinese-state-circus-mulan-lowry-theatre-salford/#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:07:39 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6186 Artistic Director: Phillip Gardey Adaption by: Tony Wilkie-Millar & Tian Run Min Original Music by: Mr Wu Jia Ji & Ms. Zhang Hongtao Reviewer: Poppy Helm The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Rarely have I been so excited before a performance – a trip to the circus obviously brings out the child [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/chinese-state-circus-mulan-lowry-theatre-salford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/adolph-hitler-my-part-in-his-downfall-richmond-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/adolph-hitler-my-part-in-his-downfall-richmond-theatre/#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:16:58 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6162 Writer: Spike Milligan Director: Tim Carroll Reviewer: James Higgins The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars I arrived at Richmond theatre to a most unusual greeting, ‘hullo mate !’ boomed the sailor, winking at me as I walked into the foyer. All around me were a motley crew of WWII characters from servicemen [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/adolph-hitler-my-part-in-his-downfall-richmond-theatre/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/whistle-down-the-wind-liverpool-empire/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/whistle-down-the-wind-liverpool-empire/#comments Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:06:54 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6119 Music: Andrew Lloyd-Webber Lyrics: Jim Steinman Book: Mary Hayley Bell Director Bill Kenwright Reviewer Steph Rowe The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Well after years of trying I have finally made it to see the production of ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ and I was not disappointed. After watching the original 1961 film [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/whistle-down-the-wind-liverpool-empire/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dirty-dusting-the-customs-house-south-shields/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dirty-dusting-the-customs-house-south-shields/#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:11:18 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6098 Writer: Ed Waugh & Trevor Wood Director: Dolores Porretta-Brown Reviewer: Ian Cain The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Having toured all over the world and wowed audiences numbering hundreds of thousands, the phenomenon that is ‘Dirty Dusting’ has returned home to the venue that first staged it in February 2003, as part [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dirty-dusting-the-customs-house-south-shields/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/silence-the-musical-above-the-stag-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/silence-the-musical-above-the-stag-theatre-london/#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:09 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6092 Writer: Hunter Bell Music & Lyrics: Jon & Al Kaplan Director: Christopher Gattelli Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars A parody of the 1991 film Silence Of The Lambs, this award winning musical threatens to be either truly awful or extremely funny. On this, my first visit to Above [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/silence-the-musical-above-the-stag-theatre-london/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/les-miserables-25th-anniversary-production-palace-theatre-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/les-miserables-25th-anniversary-production-palace-theatre-manchester/#comments Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:33:08 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6058 Author/Dramatist: Alain Boubil Book/Music: Claude-Michel Schonberg Lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer Adaptors: Trevor Nunn & John Caird Directors: Laurence Connor & James Powell Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Les Miserables has become a musical theatre institution, performing in many cities and countries around the world, and been translated into several [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/les-miserables-25th-anniversary-production-palace-theatre-manchester/feed/ 5 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-tempest-%e2%80%93-curve-theatre-leicester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-tempest-%e2%80%93-curve-theatre-leicester/#comments Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:23:52 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6054 Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Simon Plumridge Reviewer: David Noble The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars The Tempest is one of those rare examples of a Shakespearian play that follows the classical unities of theatre, yet it is far from formulaic. A strange concoction of magic, comedy and romance, it was largely ignored [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-tempest-%e2%80%93-curve-theatre-leicester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/present-laughter-richmond-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/present-laughter-richmond-theatre/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:43:44 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=6046 Writer: Noel Coward Director: Belinda Lang Reviewer: James Higgins The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Present Laughter is another classic Noel Coward play full of his usual Wit and Humour. Written in 1939 just as War Broke out in Britain, Present Laughter allows us to peer through a window and view the [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/present-laughter-richmond-theatre/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-woman-in-black-lowry-theatre-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-woman-in-black-lowry-theatre-salford/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:05:04 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=5986 Writer: Susan Hill Adaptor: Stephen Mallatratt Director: Robin Herford Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Susan Hill’s novel turned stage production The Woman in Black has gained massive cult following since Stephen Mallatratt and Robin Herford’s original outing in Scarbourgh in 1987 and has been scaring people in theatres [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-woman-in-black-lowry-theatre-salford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/rocky-horror-show-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/rocky-horror-show-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:21:20 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=5970 Music, Lyrics and Book: Richard O’Brien Director: Christopher Luscombe Choreographer: Jenny Arnold Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: 2 out of 5 stars Firstly let me make it clear that the audience loved the show. With the theatre filled with a huge cult following, mostly dressed in appropriate attire, every song, every joke and [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/rocky-horror-show-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-secret-garden-west-yorkshire-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-secret-garden-west-yorkshire-playhouse/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:35:12 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=5944 Based on the book by: Frances Hodgson Burnett Adaptor/Lyrics: Garry Lyons Composer/Lyrics: Tim Sutton Director: Ian Brown The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars It is still not too late to enjoy a trip to the theatre with the family as for the next week over in Leeds something magical is still taking [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-secret-garden-west-yorkshire-playhouse/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-nutcracker-russian-state-ballet/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-nutcracker-russian-state-ballet/#comments Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:56:45 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=5911 Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Conductor: Alexander Kosinsky Choreography: Vasily Vainonen and Sergei Bobrov Reviewer: Rebecca Moore The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars I wish I still had my time machine. If I did, I would go back a mere four weeks and enjoy the anticipation of Christmas all over again. I’d go [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-nutcracker-russian-state-ballet/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/cinderella-moscow-city-ballet-lyceum-theatre-sheffield/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/cinderella-moscow-city-ballet-lyceum-theatre-sheffield/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:28:01 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=5902 Music: Sergei Prokofiev Director/choreographer: Victor Smirnov-Golovanov Reviewer: Lyndsey Holmes The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Moscow City Ballet has a reputation for delivering classical ballet of the highest standard. Regular visitors to the UK, Moscow City Ballet, along with the Moscow City Ballet Orchestra are in Sheffield this week performing two of [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/cinderella-moscow-city-ballet-lyceum-theatre-sheffield/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-woman-in-black-richmond-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-woman-in-black-richmond-theatre/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:21:20 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=5894 Writer: Susan Hill Adaptor: Stephen Mallatratt Director: Robin Herford Reviewer: Becky Middleton The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars As with any book adaptation, it is easy to be sceptical that it will translate well from page to stage. But The Woman in Black stands alone as a successful and chilling play in [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-woman-in-black-richmond-theatre/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/brendan-cole-live-and-unjudged-manchester-opera-house-tour/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/brendan-cole-live-and-unjudged-manchester-opera-house-tour/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:46:41 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=5876 Musical Director: Barry Robinson Reviewer: Val Peets The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Brendan Cole Live and Unjudged is just that, a lively and amusing evening of entertainment for the fans of Brendan Cole, the BBC TV program, Strictly Come Dancing and dance in general. The audience were mixed in age if [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/brendan-cole-live-and-unjudged-manchester-opera-house-tour/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/regolith-finborough-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/regolith-finborough-theatre-london/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:06:56 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=5853 Writer: Chris Lee Director: Ken McClymont Reviewer: Ian Foster The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Running in repertoire for just six performances, Regolith is a chance to catch a world premiere of a play by the Irish Chris Lee, a former Playwright-in-Residence at the Finborough. There’s just the two characters, Sharp and [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/regolith-finborough-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dancing-in-the-streets-theatre-royal-brighton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dancing-in-the-streets-theatre-royal-brighton/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:58:44 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=5845 Director: Keith Strachan Lyrics and Music: Motown, 1960s/70s Reviewer: Ann Bawtree The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars The Brighton audience for “Dancing in the Streets” was 95% composed of dedicated fans of Motown for whom this is a production not to be missed. As glamorous and enlivening as the originals, the show [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dancing-in-the-streets-theatre-royal-brighton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/generous-finbourgh-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/generous-finbourgh-theatre-london/#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:35:03 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=5841 Writer: Michael Healey Director: Eleanor Rhodes Reviewer: Ian Foster The Public Reviews Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars Generous, by Michael Healey, won the Best New Play award in its native Canada in 2007 but has been somewhat neglected here in the UK, so the Finborough Theatre in Earl’s Court with its long tradition of [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/generous-finbourgh-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-yorkshire-tragedy-white-bear-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-yorkshire-tragedy-white-bear-theatre-london/#comments Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:26:57 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=5836 Writer: Thomas Middleton Director: Andy Brunskill Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars Part of the Shakespeare Apocrypha (a group of plays that have sometimes been attributed to Shakespeare, but whose authorship is questionable for various reasons), the modern consensus is that A Yorkshire Tragedy was actually written by Thomas [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-yorkshire-tragedy-white-bear-theatre-london/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/varekai-cirque-du-soleil-royal-albert-hall-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/varekai-cirque-du-soleil-royal-albert-hall-london/#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:32:53 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=5746 Writer/Director: Dominic Champagne Composer: Violaine Corradi Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Hitting the UK shores with their latest production Varekai, Cirque du Soleil are currently performing at the Royal Albert Hall to sell out crowds and it is easy to see why. Premiering in 2002 Varekai tells the [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/varekai-cirque-du-soleil-royal-albert-hall-london/feed/ 0