July 9, 2019

Death Takes a Holiday

I never thought that I would find myself wishing for Death to triumph and conquer all, but that is exactly what I found myself doing whilst watching this show. The intimate Charing Cross theatre was the perfect size for this chamber piece. However, the music is not particularly memorable, the lyrics are trite, and the dialogue is clunky and awkward. And yet there is something charming about this production. Chris Peluso stalks around the stage as Death, every step heavy and placed, betraying a hidden burden and pain.

July 9, 2019

She Loves Me

The opening two minutes made me worry that this show was going to feel contrived, dated and too saccharine. None of this was helped by the slightly poor diction in the opening number. However, the opening number and first two minutes passed and this became one of the best productions I have seen for a while. A strong cast is led superbly by Mark Umbers and Scarlet Strallen. Umbers is charming and endearing, if strangely stooped in posture, as Georg Nowack, which makes his nastiness towards Strallen’s Amalia Balash appear all the more cruel and jarring.

July 8, 2019

The Red Shoes

I fell in love with the movie of The Red Shoes the first time I saw it. Part of that may have been because it reminded me of my favourite musical - The Phantom of the Opera - but it was also because the passion spoke to me. I understood the dedication, the commitment and the drive portrayed through the story; I could empathise with the feelings of family, betrayal, torment.

A View From The Box

About

Amateur theatre critic writing reviews of all shows seen, from ballet to big musicals. Views my own, ideally from a seat marked green on Theatre Monkey.