Reviews Archive Part 2
HIS DARK MATERIALS till 18 April
HIS DARK MATERIALS, based on the Philip Pullman books: Adapted by Nicholas Wright.
Birmingham Rep: www.birmingham-rep.co.uk.
Runs: Part 1 and Part 2, 3 hours each, one interval – see website for playing dates. 13 March – 18 April.
Review: Rod Dungate, 24 and 25 March 2009.
Well worth a visit.
KAFKA'S MONKEY To 9 April.
London.
KAFKA’S MONKEY
by Franz Kafka (A Report to an Academy) adapted by Colin Teevan.
Young Vic Theatre (The Maria) 66 The Cut SE1 8LZ To 9 April 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Wed & Sat 3.45pm.
Runs 50 minutes No interval.
TICKETS: 020 7922 2922.
www.youngvictheatre.org
Review: Carole Woddis 19 March 19.
Swinging performance aping human foibles.
TWELFTH NIGHT. To 28 March.
London.
TWELFTH NIGHT
after William Shakespeare.
Barbican Theatre To 28 March 2009.
7pm
Runs 3hr 30 min One interval.
TICKETS: 0845 120 7511 (booking fee).
www.barbican.org.uk/bite (reduced booking fee online).
Review: Timothy Ramsden 25 March.
Grand scale and colour, and a wondrous Maria.
THE MAID OF BUTTERMERE To 18 April.
Keswick.
THE MAID OF BUTTERMERE
by Melvyn Bragg adapted by Lisa Evans.
Theatre By The Lake To 18 April 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 28 March, 4, 18 April 2pm.
Audio-described 16 April.
Captioned 9 April.
Post-show Discussion 2 April.
Runs 3hr One interval.
TICKETS: 017687 74411.
www.theatrebythelake.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 23 March.
A lot of plot and little else.
MADAME DE SADE. To 23 May.
London.
MADAME DE SADE
by Yukio Mishima translated by Donald Keene.
Wyndhams Theatre To 23 May 2009.
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed, Sat 2.30pm Sun 3pm.
Runs 1hr 45min No interval.
TICKETS: 0844 482 5120 (24hr)
www.donmarwestend.com (£1.50 per ticket booking-fee by ‘phone and online).
Review: Timothy Ramsden 19 March.
De Sade – the women’s cut.
JAMAICA HOUSE. To 11 April.
Lancaster.
JAMAICA HOUSE
by Paul Sirett.
Duke’s (The Round) To 11 April 2009.
Mon-Sat 8pm. Mat 11 April 3pm, 1 April 10.30am no performance 10 April.
Audio-described 27 March.
Runs 1hr No interval.
TICKETS: 01524 598500.
www.dukes-lancaster.org
Review: Timothy Ramsden
Yet another odd couple occupy an hour without hitting the heights.
ENGLAND PEOPLE VERY NICE. To 9 August.
London.
ENGLAND PEOPLE VERY NICE
by Richard Bean.
Olivier Theatre in rep to 9 August 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 16, 18, 25, 29 April, 8 Aug 2pm, 9 Aug 2.30pm.
Captioned 15 April 2pm, 1 June.
Runs 2hr 50min One interval.
TICKETS 020 7452 3000.
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Review: Carole Woddis 23 March.
Comedy is a great release valve; it also invites outrage like no other.
DIMETOS. To 9 May.
London.
DIMETOS
by Athol Fugard.
Donmar Warehouse To 9 May 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Audio-described 25 April 2.30pm (+ Touch Tour 1.30pm)
BSL Signed 16 April 7.30pm.
Captioned 20 April.
Runs 2hr 10min One interval.
TICKETS: 0870 060 6624 (no booking fee).
www.donmarwarehouse.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 28 March.
A play more engineered than alive.
DARWIN'S WORMS.
Manchester.
DARWIN’S WORMS
bent architect at Contact Theatre.
Runs: 1hr 5min No interval
TICKETS: 0161 274 0600.
www.contact-theatre.org
Review: Stoon 18 March 2009
Would’ve been more entertaining if he’d kept Head Lice.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream. To 26 July.
Newbury/Tour.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
by William Shakespeare.
Propeller Theatre Company at Watermill Theatre In rep to 2 May.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm except 2 May at 1.30pm & 6.30pm.
then tour to 26 July 2009 (in rep with The Merchant of Venice).
Runs 2hr 35min One interval.
TICKETS: 01635 460944.
www.watermill.org.uk (Watermill).
Review Mark Courtice 19 March.
Not so nimble.
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL To 26 September.
London.
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL
book By Stephan Elliot and Allan Scott based on the MGM movie.
Palace Theatre To 26 September 2009.
Mon to Sat 7:30pm, Matinees Thu and Sat 2:30pm.
Runs 2hr 45mins One interval.
TICKETS: 0844 755 0016.
Review: Geoff Ambler 25 March.
The Queen of the Desert rolls into town and brings the fun back to The Palace.
THE LAST CIGARETTE To 11 April.
Chichester.
THE LAST CIGARETTE
by Simon Gray and Hugh Whitemore.
Minerva Theatre To 11 April 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Sat & 19, 25 March, 2, 8 April 2.15pm.
Audio-described 27 March, 28 March 2.15pm, 3 April, 4 April 2.15pm.
Runs 2hr 5min One interval.
TICKETS: 01243 781312.
www.cft.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 18 ~March.
Accomplished performances of excerpts from books, but wouldn’t a revival of a Gray play be better?
TRYING. To 11 April.
London.
TRYING
by Joanna McClelland Glass.
Finborough Theatre above Finborough Road Brasseri8e 118 Finborough Road SW10 9ED To 11 April 2009.
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat & Sun 3pm.
Runs 1hr 50min One interval.
TICKETS: 0844 847 1652 (24hr no booking fee).
www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 29 March.
Secretary takes on judge in finely-portrayed drama.
GATES OF GOLD. To 11 April.
Manchester.
GATES OF GOLD
by Frank McGuinness.
Library Theatre To 11 April 2009.
Mon-Thu 7.30pm Fri-Sat 8pm Mat 2, 4, 9, 11 April 3pm.
Audio-described 8 April, 11 April 3pm.
BSL Signed 9 April.
Captioned 10 April.
Runs 1hr 35min No interval.
TICKETS: 0161 236 7110.
www.librarytheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 24 March.
Strong central pairing are play and production’s strength.
PARLOUR SONG To 9 May.
London.
PARLOUR SONG
by Jez Butterworth.
Almeida Theatre To 9 May 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 3pm.
Audio-described 2 May 3pm (+Touch Tour 1.30pm).
BSL Signed 15 April.
Captioned 25 April 3pm, 7 May.
Post-show Discussion 27 April.
Runs 1hr 35min No interval.
TICKETS: 020 7359 4404.
www.almeida.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 27 March.
Shortish dark night of the suburban soul.
BILLY WONDERFUL. To 4 April.
Liverpool.
BILLY WONDERFUL
by Nick Leather.
Everyman Theatre To 4 April 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 4 April 2pm.
BSL Signed 27 March.
Captioned 4 April 2pm.
Runs: 1hr 20min No interval.
TICKETS: 0151 709 4776.
www.everymanplayhouse.com
Review: Stoon 21 March 2009.
Match of the Day? Not really Lawro.
The African Company Presents Richard III To 28 March.
Tour.
THE AFRICAN COMPANY PRESENTS RICHARD III
by Carlyle Brown.
Collective Artistes Toiur to 28 March 2009.
Run: 2hr.
Review: Alan Geary: 26 March at Lakeside Arts Centre Nottingham.
Clear evidence that a right-on message won’t carry a play.
The Merchant of Venice. To 26 July.
Newbury/Tour.
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
by William Shakespeare.
Propeller Theatre company, in association with The Watermill Theatre and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse.
Watermill Theatre in rep with A Midsummer Night's Dream To 2 May
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm except 2 May 1.20pm & 6.30pm.
Runs 2hr 25min One interval.
then tour to 26 July 2009.
TICKETS: 01635 46044.
www.watermill.org.uk (Watermill).
Review Mark Courtice 19 March 2009.
Jail House Merchant suggests crime can pay dividends.
THE CARETAKER. To 28 March.
Bolton..
THE CARETAKER
by Harold Pinter.
Octagon Theatre To 28 March 2009.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm 28 March 2pm.
Audio-described 25 March.
BSL Signed 26 March.
Runs 2hr 25min One interval.
TICKETS: 01204 520661.
www.octagonbol;ton.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 17 March.
Thought and care taken with Pinter’s play.
THE CHERRY ORCHARD. To 28 March - Review 2.
Touring.
THE CHERRY ORCHARD
by Anton Chekhov aadapted by Bart Lee.
Blackeyed Theatre Tour to 28 March 2009.
Runs: 2hr 15min One interval.
Review: Alan Geary 17 March at Palace Theatre Mansfield.
A very free adaptation which works well in its own terms.