Theatre review: Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Review: On the Waterfront, Theatre Royal Haymarket

On The Waterfront

This stage version is directed and acted by Steven Berkoff. The production was completely different from any other shows I have seen recently. The cast are the most interesting collection of stage actors I have seen on a London stage as they have such characters etched on their faces.

In most of the scenes, the actors are moving in slow motion to the background of great music throughout. The cast play mutliple roles and switch over quite convincingly. My favourite scene is when the cast line up as a bunch of pigeons ina copp. THat is the most ingenious and hilarious scene I have seen in ages.

The acting by the lead is really strong and the whole cast has to be commended for a fantastic performance. A must see.

Booking to 27 April 2009

Theatre Royal Haymarket
Haymarket
London
SW1Y 4HT

Review of Sunset Boulevard at the Comedy Theatre by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s

I went to see this in the preview week before the press night and usually it is quite a quiet affair. This was surprisingly busy and the place looked packed with the “home counties” crowd.

It is the story of silent movie star Norma Desmond, played to perfection in a powerful performance by Kathryn Evans, and her infatuation with a young writer called Joe Gillis, played by Ben Goddard. The cast did a very good job making it seem quite believable even though they had to run off to play the flute, bass etc in the middle of a conversation.

This is the first musical I have seen which is done in Orchestration (I think that is what you call it) where there isn’t an orchestra but the whole cast plays at least one instrument as well acting/ singing their part. It looked very chaotic and was really confusing to for the first hour. At times, it made the stage really cluttered and you could easily lose the plot.

The staging I thought was a bit odd as this is not a big theatre and to do it like this made it too busy. I am just a regular punter and know nothing about theatre production so my opinions are from an audience’s point of view. In addition to that, I thought it was all too dark and gothic. Sarah Travis did the arrangement for this and the director is Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.

I was a bit sceptical before I went as I was not sure how this would translate to the stage but I enjoyed this production of Sunset Boulevard, which was much more entertaining than Treasure Island.

Sunset Boulevard

Comedy Theatre

London

SW1Y 4DN

Until April 18

Box office:
0870 060 6637

Venue website