Shrek The Musical has opened in London's West End and seems to have generally won over the nation's critics. It's New York run wasn't a runaway success and producers must have been a little nervous on the press night. Lots of the New York production has been recycled, even Shrek's green rubber suit... yuk! Nigel Lindsay plays the titular green ogre, while Britain's Got … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Shrek The Musical opens in London
Guardian
Critics round-up: Strictly Gershwin with the English National Ballet at London’s Royal Albert Hall
Difficult-to-please Clement Crisp gives a four-star crit for the English National Ballet's dance show "Strictly Gershwin": For this show is jolly, welcoming, coasting along on tunes that everyone knows, and it is done with a fine sense of theatre, which has ever been Deane’s forte. In this revival, it is even more slick and brassy than at its first outing in 2008. The … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Strictly Gershwin with the English National Ballet at London’s Royal Albert Hall
Simon Keenlyside is “singing on the top of his form” or has a “tendency to shout tonelessly”?
Simon Keenlyside's British début as Macbeth at The Royal Opera House has both bemused and wowed the critics. After the live relay we can all have our say, but here is a smattering of divided opinion from the opening night critics. Hilary Finch in The Times was blown away: The English baritone, singing on the top of his form, is one of the most complex and complete Macbeths … [Read more...] about Simon Keenlyside is “singing on the top of his form” or has a “tendency to shout tonelessly”?
Critics round-up: Royal Ballet Triple Bill – Scènes de ballet – Voluntaries – Rite of Spring
"Whether you regard the triple bill as an evening of highlights or an insubstantial pageant depends on the programme," - says the Daily Express, before going on to review the Royal Ballet's latest triple bill. I suppose that's true, but as someone who loves picnics, antipasti, collections of short stories and boxes of mixed truffles, I can truly say that mixed bills often make … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Royal Ballet Triple Bill – Scènes de ballet – Voluntaries – Rite of Spring
Critics round-up: Ballo della regina (Balanchine) – Live Fire Exercise (Wayne McGregor) – Danse à grande vitesse (Christopher Wheeldon)
The Royal Ballet's new triple bill brings two new pieces: Balanchine's Ballo della Regina, and a new creation by Wayne McGregor called Live Fire Exercise. The critics were almost all in agreement here. Loving the showy Balanchine, some doubts about the McGregor choreography, and a general thumbs-up for the company. Ballo della regina Music - Giuseppe Verdi (dances from … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Ballo della regina (Balanchine) – Live Fire Exercise (Wayne McGregor) – Danse à grande vitesse (Christopher Wheeldon)
Gillliam’s The Damnation of Faust at London Coliseum convinces the critics
After months of compining (by critics and audience) that too many famous film or television directors were being let loose on the ENO stage with often disasterous results, it seems that the latest in the line has come up trumps. The Times says, That celebrated aphorism about monkeys, typewriters and the works of Shakespeare seems to apply at English National Opera too. Give … [Read more...] about Gillliam’s The Damnation of Faust at London Coliseum convinces the critics
Patrice Chéreau on English actors, the theatre, and his homosexuality
The Guardian went to meet Patrice Chéreau who is in London to rehearse the first play he has ever directed in the UK. It's a coup for the Young Vic. The play he is rehearsing is I Am The Wind, a spare, concentrated two-hander written by the Norwegian Jon Fosse. He talked about working with English actors: They are very disciplined, very open, and because of the condition of … [Read more...] about Patrice Chéreau on English actors, the theatre, and his homosexuality
Critics round-up: Betty Blue Eyes – A pig takes over the West End as Cameron Mackintosh brings home the bacon
Cameron Mackintosh hasn't lost his magic touch, and after 10 years without a new musical he's come up with Betty Blue Eyes which has delighted the critics. It's a musical about a pig, the animal kind, continuing Mackintosh's love of putting singing and dancing animals on stage: there was his first mega-hit, Cats, and then Moby Dick which sunk out of sight immediately, but was … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Betty Blue Eyes – A pig takes over the West End as Cameron Mackintosh brings home the bacon
The Guardian says: vote for ballet… online
The question that the newspaper is asking is: "A row has erupted over whether Natalie Portman danced most of her ballet scenes in Black Swan. Does it matter whether it was her or 'ballet double' Sarah Lane?" Go here to vote. … [Read more...] about The Guardian says: vote for ballet… online
Critics Roundup: South Park creators’ musical ‘The Book of Mormon’ triumphs on Broadway
It looks as though everyone got the joke after all. Even in Utah, it seems, with no damning articles or negative reviews. Time reports: “I was prepared for scatological humor, generous doses of the F-word, and off-color bawdiness—this is South Park without network censorship, remember?” a Mormon reviewer blogged on BeliefNet, “but I wasn't prepared for my Mormon faith to be … [Read more...] about Critics Roundup: South Park creators’ musical ‘The Book of Mormon’ triumphs on Broadway