- Yes, Prime Minister (The Gielgud) - beautiful set, Henry Goodman and David Haig were supreme, very funny.
- Black Watch (The Barbican) - incredible show, amazing choreography, phenomenal ensemble, amazingly visceral production.
- Twelfth Night (Cottesloe, National Theatre) - Charles Edwards was fantastic so funny & yet heartbreaking at "I was adored once". Simon Callow was another highlight. A somewhat melancholic Twelfth Night but beautiful and well acted.
- Plenty (The Crucible) - only the second performance so I feel bad reviewing it but it was a bit of a slog. I enjoyed it more once I'd thought about it and the performances (particularly Ed Bennett) were wonderful but it needs tightening up. Stunning tech though, beautiful lights.
- Vernon God Little (The Young Vic) - stunning production. Incredible debut from Joseph Drake. Wonderful voices, particularly Luke Brady. Clare Burt was phenomenal as his mum. The Ring of Fire part was joyous. Just superb.
- Racing Demon (The Crucible) The priests were brilliant but the supporting actors ruined it. Enjoyed the staging greatly. Matthew Cottle's prayer was beautiful.
- The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (The Donmar) Incredible set design. Pandemonium was brilliant. Spring Awakening vibes. Everyone was fantastic. The 'I Love You' song broke my heart, stunning harmonies. Hilarious when the audience speller got their word right.
- Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Palace Theatre)_ second time viewing this. Oliver Thorton is amazing! The bus design is flawless. I really liked Richard Grieve as Tick - he was wonderful. One of my fave shows. The hot stuff sequence is my favourite!
- Betty Blue Eyes (The Novello) I don't get why some people hated this. It's charming. The acting is stellar. The choreography is astonishing! I loved all the songs. Adrian Scarborough has a lovely voice. I have a crush on Reese Shearsmith now. Sarah Lancashire was amazing!
- Frankenstein (Olivier, National Theatre) This was better live (saw BC's Frankenstein and JLM's Creature) but honestly I just didn't really like the play. I did think the lighting was amazing though.
- Moonlight (The Donmar) Love Pinter, I definitely need to read this though, I was somewhat baffled by the end. Beautiful staging. David Bradley is an amazing actor, I could watch him all day.
- Cause Celebre (The Old Vic) Anne-Marie Duff was magnificent. I really loved Niamh Cusack as well. Thought this was a lovely, restrained production with a brilliant second act.
- Much Ado About Nothing (The Globe) Best. Ever. Charles Edwards was blindingly brilliant as Benedick. Everyone was spot on. Such a joyous production.
- As You Like It (The Globe - Touring) Loved this too. Gunnar Cauthry is so pretty and Jo Herbert was an amazing Rosalind. I loved the use of music in this production and I really loved the female Jacques.
- Priscilla Queen of the Desert (The Palace) Oliver Thornton is so marvellous. The sense of joy you have at the end of this show is more than worth the price. Richard Grieve has really found his feet. His 'You Were Always on my Mind' was stunning.
- All's Well That Ends Well (The Globe) I really enjoyed this, but I think I preferred the NT's production which seemed more magical. I did think Sam Crane somehow made Bertram likeable and actually a good match for Helen. Janie Dee was so regal.
- The Lion King (Lyceum) The opening number is insanely incredible, I cried from the sheer technical awesome but the rest of it is like a bad panto. Charlie loved it though.
- Richard III (The Old Vic) Brilliant production. Chuk Iwuji was brilliant as Buckingham. The use of drums during the coronation and Bosworth Field was stunning.
- Hamlet (The Globe) My first midnight matinee. Wonderful production. A really fresh, new take on a play that often becomes very mannered. Joshua McGuire was an excellent Hamlet, very naive and youthful. It really made me look at the play in a new light.
- Anne Boleyn (The Globe) I can't get over how radiant Miranda Raison looked in the sunshine in her white dress. James Garnon was the scene stealer for me as James I. Anthony Howell was also wonderful as Henry VIII. A really funny, poignant play about faith, love and unity.
- Luise Miller (The Donmar) Alright play, I wasn't very convinced by the relationship between Luise (Felicity Jones) and Ferdinand (Max Bennett) but Alex Kingston was marvellous and Paul Higgins utterly broke my heart, he was fantastic.
- The Cherry Orchard (Olivier, National Theatre) Sublime production. I adored the translation - Andrew Upton is a genius, he made this text come alive and have so much resonance. Everyone gave stunning performances but Conleth Hill was fantastic, as was Mark Bonnar, they made the Trofiemov/Lopakin parallels and differences so clear.
- Much Ado About Nothing (Wyndham's) AWFUL. Left at the interval. Turned it into a panto. Hated everyone even people I normally adore.
- A Woman Killed with Kindness (Lyttleton, National Theatre) Stunning production. Incredibly clever and forensic. Thought everyone was wonderful but particularly loved Jenkin and Sir Francis.
- Emperor and Galilean (Olivier, National Theatre) Incredible production, the drum revolve was amazing. Andrew Scott was magnificent, he made it look so easy. Loved everyone.
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Theatre Royal, Haymarket) Stunning production. Sam Barnett stole the show. Both Jamie Parker and Sam were amazing together. Created a very balanced partnership. Player was wonderful. Completely stunning production.
- Butley (The Duchess) So glad I saw this. Dominic West was wonderful, so different to Life is a Dream. Paul McGann was brilliant as well.
- Doctor Faustus (The Globe) Dislike the play but the production was very good.
- The Globe Mysteries (The Globe) Amazing production. Wonderful crucifixion, tech went wrong but was sorted wonderfully. Philip Cumbus was so hot as Judas.
- Anna Christie (The Donmar) Stunning production. Ruth Wilson was amazing. The staging was incredible - the whole stage pivoted for the ship scenes.
- One Man, Two Guv'nors (Lyttelton, National Theatre) Utterly hilarious. Oliver Chris & Daniel Rigby were fab!
- Road Show (The Menier) Not entirely convinced by the production staging but the score & the acting was wonderful. Michael Jibson was heartbreaking & his face!!!
- Othello (Sheffield Crucible) Really good production, Clarke Peters' diction wasn't great but his acting was brilliant, Dominic West was magnificent but it was all about Alexandra Gilbreath's Emilia. Loved Lily James' singing voice.
- The Globe Mysteries (The Globe) I love this production, so much fun and brilliant moments of horror. Philip Cumbus as Gabriel and Judas is brilliant, I love his 'switch off your mobiles' speech.
- Much Ado About Nothing (The Globe) Naomi Frederick replaced Eve Best and she was glorious, she made the part her own and had great chemistry with Charles. I love his gulling scene so much. Phil's Claudio manages to not be a total git. I just love, love this production.
- King Lear (West Yorkshire Playhouse) James Garnon really was wonderful, his 'thou nature art my goddess' speech was wonderful, really different. Sam Crane was also marvellous.
- Journey's End (Sheffield Crucible) Stunning production. The chap playing Stanhope broke me into a million pieces. Raleigh had the most terrible death screams, I felt sick. The Last Post and all those names at the end had me sobbing. Incredible sound design, truly stunning.
- Inadmissible Evidence (Donmar) I don't think I liked the play but the performance by Doug Hodge was magnificent. Al Weaver was also quietly heartbreaking. The set design was great, felt very claustrophobic and you could sense the isolation.
- Driving Miss Daisy (Wyndhams) This was wonderful. Such a simple set design & staging. All three were perfect, you lost odd bits from James Earl Jones but it fit his character, Boyd Gaines was incredible (so elated to have seen him on stage) and Vanessa Redgrave was heartbreaking. This play was just so wonderful, no other word for it.
- Hamlet (Young Vic) Brilliant production. Set in a mental asylum which textually doesn't make sense but oh my god it made so much sense. I got so choked up. Everyone was brilliant. I loved the Horatio gender change. Loved how Hamlet was the Ghost & Fortinbras. Really amazing.
- The Ladykillers (Gielgud) Really incredible set design. Love everyone. Thought Stephen Wight was wonderful. His face is just delightful. Really enjoyed it but did only pay a tenner not sure I'd don't think I'd have paid full price for my seat.
- Richard II (Donmar) First time seeing this play. Really liked it. The performances were stunning. Eddie Redmayne is such a fascinating actor to watch. Andrew Buchan broke my heart at the end.
- Matilda (The Cambridge) I had such high expectations and they were definitely met. Loved the lighting & choreography. Thought all the kids were fantastic without being obnoxious. Eleanor Worthington-Cox was wonderful as Matilda. Bertie Carvel is tremendous as the Trunchbull. Terrifying, hilarious and Smell of Rebellion shows his lovely legs off.
- Company (Crucible, Sheffield) This was marvellous. The whole cast were perfect. Sorry-Grateful broke my heart, David Birrell, Damian Humbley and Ian Gelder were gorgeous together on that song. Daniel Evans was an amazing Bobby. He was basically a little boy who just couldn't bring himself to be hurt or alone and it worked. His 'Being Alive' was mind-blowing.
jan 17 2011 ∞
dec 31 2011 +
