The Miser - Garrick Theatre

The lead role in this comedy drama is played by Griff Rhys Jones. Harpagon, convinced that everyone around him is trying to steal his riches, becomes obsessed with protecting his wealth. This impacts directly on the love lives of his son and daughter as he arranges marriages for them designed to add to his (stored up, not to be spent) fortune. The gags in this play are thick and fast - a little too much so and his daughter’s (Elise) squeaky voice drove me to distraction. There is some interaction with the audience, which in opinion seemed misplaced and cheesy (especially the ‘hint’ regarding the play getting a 5 star review) and even some of the mishaps that are funny the first time loose their ‘laugh effect’ when repeated several times over. The staging cleverly shows the miser’s refusal to spend anything of house repairs; there’s a large crack in one of the walls and bits fall occasionally from the ceiling. Despite several over-the-top cahracters the production is energetic and instills the desire to find out just how this farce would end.

The Miser can be seen @ Garrick Theatre  until 3rd June 

Out Of Order - Richmond Theatre

This revised script, originally from the 90’s, is on a 30 week tour of the UK. The play is set in a suite at the Westminster Hotel. A Conservative MP, having an affair with the secretary of the Labour leader, plans to spend the night with her in the hotel but their plans are obstructed when a dead body is found at the window of their suite. But reporting the discovery to hotel staff or calling the police is too logical an option and would deny the audience the sheer farce which follows. The updated political references add to the humour of the script and the cast were energetic in their roles.

The icing on the cake was Ray Cooney himself making an appearance on stage during the curtain call in celebration of his 70th year in theatre.

Out Of Order @ The Richmond Theatre has now closed but can be seen at other venues until 22nd July 

School Of Rock - New London Theatre

The theatrical production is true to the 2003 movie’s story line.  When Dewy is rejected from his rock band he steals his roommates identity and gets a job as a teacher in order to pay his bills. Determined to enter the Battle of The Bands, he converts his students into a rock band. The audience is told right at the start that the children are in fact playing their own musical instruments which saved me some speculation. The talent and energy displayed by the young cast members is phenomenal. Not only are they singing, dancing and playing musical instruments - they’re doing it all whilst putting on American accent. There are three different casts of children and unfortunately I didn’t take note of which cast were performing the night I attended.  The adults held their wn too, notably David Fynn in the lead role.

The show is very loud, crazy and a little wild. Unlike the film version which I found a little irritating, this production left me wanting more. I found myself humming Stick It To The Man days later.  I can truly say that this is unlike anything I’ve seen by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

School of Rock can be seen @ New London Theatre until 12th February 

Giselle - The Colosseum

I don’t get to the ballet half as much as I’d like so it’s always a delight to do so. Giselle, the story of a young peasant girl’s love and grief was a great one to start the year.  The delicate dancers who float effortlessly through the air with tremendous skill.  Romace, duels, death -it’s all portrayed through graceful, precise and highly formalised steps and gestures. The staging is simple but effective as it moves from light and airy in the first act to dark and sinister in the second.

The National Ballet is a wonderful company and I must try to see more of them this year. 

Giselle @ The Colosseum has now closed

Dreamgirls - Savoy Theatre

Never before have I heard vocals quite like Amber Riley's on a theatre stage. Her lustrous voice shines through as Effie, one of three teenage Afro-American girls who form the girl group The Dreams. The girls are waiting for their one big break and so enters Curtis (Joe Aaron Reid) with a plan to propel them into stardom. But the opportunity that starts out as too good to be true, and sees the girls succeed beyond their wildest dreams, soon sees Effie kicked out of the group with a broken heart. Dreamgirls takes us beyond the glitz and glamour of the stage to the nitty gritty of economic gain, greed and betrayal that can accompany fame.  And though there is clearly a lot of other talent in the show; Tyrone Huntley as CC, Effie’s songwriting brother and Adam J Bernard as an impressive Jimmy;  I found myself anxiously awaiting her return to the stage all throughout her absence.  There is laughter and many tears, partly due to the storyline but mostly to the power of the vocals belting out just a few yards from your seat. Have a tissue at the ready for Riley’s big number just before the intermission and the finale.   

I loved Jennifer Hudson’s voice in the 2006 movie and was a little unsure how I’d take to the stage version of Effie but there was not a shadow of disappointment in the show. Well, except the fact I couldn’t get up and dance / sing along with the cast. 

Dreamgirls can be seen at the Savoy Theatre until 21st October 

The Dresser - Duke of York's Theatre

This play about the ongoings of backstage theatre stars Reece Shearsmith and Ken Scott.  Shearsmith shines as the dresser to an ailing, slightly deranged actor.  He’s overly tolerant yet amusing in all he does. The first half is an on off, on off, deliberation as to wether the play can go on with a ‘Lear’ in this state.By the second half it’s been decide that the show will indeed go on, but an irrational lead is not the only thing afflicting the company. As World War II bombs fall around them, the actors do a poor job on stage of masking their fear.  The action is frantic, many of the lines are improvised and you can’t help but feel the stage manager’s anxiety. Outstanding performances from the cast and no shortage of laughs.     

The Dresser can be seen @ Duke of York's Theatre until 14th January 

The Last Tango - Phoenix Theatre

I loved Dance Til Dawn so much I saw it 3 times. Hence I had huge expectations for this show, and with it being their last expected they would go out with a bang. But alas I set myself up for disappointment. The show isn’t bad and maybe it’s not fair for me to compare  - but in comparison it was a let down.

However, if you haven’t seen their previous show, then you can enjoy this one for what it is. An older man roots through memorabilia from the 1930’s and watches his younger self dance his way through various life stages. Meeting his bride to be, the proposal, marriage, children (her way of announcing each child is particularly funny), going to and returning from war. It lacks the dialogue and witty humour of the previous show, but, Vincent and Flavia’s moves are as smooth and synchronised as ever as the duo dance their way through the tango, salsa, rumba and jive.  The dulcet tones of Oliver Darley wowed me as much as they did in Dance Til Dawn and all the supporting dancers and singers are also on point.

The Last Tango can be seen @ Phonenix Theatre until 3rd Dec