Playing at the Riverside Studios, London until 8 June. Ruby in the Dust’s new play-with-music, written by Joe Evans and directed by Linnie Reedman, tells the story of Grenadian-born Leslie ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson who became one of the biggest cabaret stars of the 1920s and 1930s. He was also lover to both Cole Porter and Edwina […]
A Phantom more human than the Webber version
Playing at the Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre, Walthamstow until 31 May. “The greatest hit never to be produced on Broadway,” those are the words of veteran Broadway composer Maury Yeston (Nine, Titanic) when commenting on his show Phantom which receives its British professional premiere at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre. After their triumphant productions including Flora, the […]
Evita tour allows Alberto to shine
Evita, a touring production, reviewed at the New Wimbledon Theatre (15-18 May). They say the old ones are the best and here we go again with another tour of the famous 1978 Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice collaboration that turned Elaine Paige from virtual unknown to superstar. Call it what you will – musical, pop operetta – […]
Liza On An E welcomes you to the cabaret
Playing at the Vaudeville Theatre until 18 May. Life is definitely a cabaret at the Vaudeville as Trevor Ashley brings, straight from Down Under, his one-man, or should we say, one-woman show Liza On An E for the first time to the West End (and only for five nights). From the moment the multi-talented Ashley […]
Kerry Ellis in Concert, sublimely enjoyable
Kerry Ellis in Concert, reviewed at the London Palladium. It takes a big presence to host a concert at the London Palladium, one of the West End’s larger auditoriums, and make it feel like an intimate cabaret gig. Kerry Ellis uses the combination of a phenomenally powerful voice and self-effacing humility to do just that. […]
Stuart Matthew Price, a leading man to be
Stuart Matthew Price – The Roles I’ll Never Play. Reviewed at St James Theatre Studio, London. Stuart Matthew Price, who is about to turn 30, made his London stage debut exactly six years ago in the Donmar Warehouse’s UK premiere of Jason Robert Brown’s Parade, where his stand-out tenor rang out over the opening number, ‘The […]
Under the influence of Alison Jiear
Alison Jiear – Under the Influence. Reviewed at the St James Studio, London. After witnessing this somewhat exemplary vocal performance from Alison Jiear, it is hard to fathom why the actress and singer has only just released her third album. Not in a long time have I heard a voice of such versatility, clarity, tone, […]
Encores! On Your Toes is one to cherish
Presented by Encores! at New York City Center, (May 8-12). The Encores! Series at New York City Center winds up its 2013 season with an elaborate and often thrilling mounting of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart‘s landmark work from 1936, On Your Toes, with its groundbreaking infusion of ballet, both classic and jazz-inspired, integrated directly […]
Lee Lessack on route from NY to Paris
Lee Lessack’s From Manhattan to Paris at The Crazy Coqs, London. First of all I must declare an interest – I have been a fan of American cabaret artist Lee Lessack ever since I first saw him at the late lamented Pizza On the Park plenty of years ago and his light baritone still floats […]
Desperately Seeking the Exit, it’s therapy
Playing at the Leicester Square Studio, London until May 20. In 2007, after much publicity, a new musical opened in the West End called Desperately Seeking Susan, scored with songs from the back catalogue of 1970s New Wave band, Blondie. Based on the movie featuring Rosanna Arquette and Madonna in her first major acting role, […]
Jekyll & Hyde departs Broadway
Broadway has scored the second musical casualty of the spring season. The very noisy revival of Jekyll & Hyde at the Marquis Theatre will go silent on May 12. The production had toured extensively before opening on Broadway on April 18 for a limited run originally scheduled to wind up June 30. The premature departure is hardly […]
Bare, another stunning Union production
Bare, the Rock Musical, with music by Damon Intrabartolo and lyrics by Jon Hartmere (they also wrote the book), started out as a pop opera. It premiered in Los Angeles in 2000 and a newer version recently finished an Off-Broadway season in February. This is its professional European premiere. The show has similar themes to the […]
