Tag Archives: Reviews

From Puppet to Puppetmaster: Patriots at the Noel Coward Theatre

Posted on July 18, 2023 by rageoffstage

Saturday 8th July 2023, matinee We were intrigued at the thought of this new play by Peter Morgan. Previously known for deconstructing British politics and power with TV dramas such as his trilogy about Tony Blair, and of course ‘The … Continue reading →

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Egos, insecurities and narcissism: The Motive and the Cue at the National Theatre

Posted on May 27, 2023 by rageoffstage

20th May 2023, matinee The Motive and the Cue gives us a rare opportunity to find out what happens when one of the biggest film stars in the world decides to take a pay cut to perform one of Shakespeare’s … Continue reading →

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The Storm before the Calm: Pressure at the Park Theatre

Posted on April 17, 2018 by rageoffstage

Saturday 7th April 2018, matinée The English are famous for the pleasure they take in talking about the weather, a pastime which is often seen as trivial and a form of small talk.  In David Haig’s play, we learn about … Continue reading →

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Everyone’s a critic: preview reviews are in for Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet

Posted on August 10, 2015 by rageoffstage

Two of our favourite topics collided this week in the ‘outrage’ at newspapers publishing early reviews of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Hamlet.  Yes, it’s the circular argument about whether it’s OK to review a preview, of which we have already written, and … Continue reading →

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Backwood bachelors: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Posted on July 20, 2015 by rageoffstage

Saturday 18th July 2015, matinée Regents Park Open Air Theatre seems uniquely suited to staging a production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers – whilst not exactly a match for the grandeur of the American West, the outdoor setting certainly helps, … Continue reading →

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Car crash theatre: Why won’t the critics defend quality in the West End?

Posted on December 15, 2014 by rageoffstage

Apparently, Lindsay Lohan has finished her West End stint as Karen in David Mamet’s ‘Speed the Plow’, and she is so delighted with how it all went that she is now contemplating a second Mamet play.  ‘One Mamet down’ she … Continue reading →

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West End previews: Audience-sponsored rehearsals or public performances?

Posted on November 2, 2013 by rageoffstage

With the opening of Tim Rice’s new show ‘From Here to Eternity’, we had the rather interesting juxtaposition of Rice, outspoken as usual, criticising the practice of endless previews, whilst the producers of the show did their best to convince … Continue reading →

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The pain goes on and on: Will it be a ‘Les Miserables’ new year for fans of musical theatre?

Posted on December 11, 2012 by rageoffstage

Ever since Cameron Mackintosh announced that he favoured Alfie Boe to play Jean Valjean in the film version of ‘Les Miserables’, declaring that screeching musical theatre voices wouldn’t work, we have had to face the possibility that this film might not be for … Continue reading →

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Happy Talk is cheap: there is nothing like a rave review for South Pacific at the Barbican

Posted on August 30, 2011 by rageoffstage

Despite reports from the BBC it does seem that the South Pacific production at the Barbican got at least two ‘rave’ reviews.  So the email we received last week from Ambassador Tickets proclaiming that ‘South Pacific opens to rave reviews’ is not technically … Continue reading →

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Lessons in Love: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg at the Geilgud Theatre – Allez!

Posted on March 23, 2011 by rageoffstage

  Firstly, we should clear up a few things:  1) It’s not a musical, it’s a ‘romance that just happens to be sung’, ie, it consists almost entirely of recitative, and that song (‘I will wait for you’), which enjoys … Continue reading →

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“Love Never Dies” versus “Love Should Die” – What exactly is Andrew Lloyd Webber complaining about?

Posted on March 12, 2011 by rageoffstage

So, Mark Shenton, in his blog in The Stage, has reignited the discussion around ‘Love Never Dies’, and in particular the ‘Love Should Die’ campaign.  We are very grateful to Mark for making us aware of this campaigning website, which raised … Continue reading →

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More on critics’ quotes and prison for those who distort them (not!)

Posted on February 25, 2011 by rageoffstage

We started to get curious after receiving a marketing email about ‘The Children’s Hour’ and actually looking at the reviews.  Then a reader gave us a link to an article about EU legislation which threatens prison for anyone who uses … Continue reading →

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What does the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables tell us about the recent history of Musical Theatre?

Posted on January 12, 2011 by rageoffstage

If you are in the West End, it doesn’t take long to see that there’s a marked difference between the way Musicals and ‘straight’ plays are promoted.  If you want to know who is in a play you only have … Continue reading →

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