Central Reviews

Writer: Robert Blackwood Directors: Robert Blackwood and Anthony Shrubshall Reviewer: John Kennedy Mystery/suspense/espionage! The Misfits Of London broadcast their very own subtle-as-a-blind-cobbler’s-thumb homage to the Dashiell Hammett/John Buchan late-1940s live radio show thriller genre. Imagine commercial hell inflicted upon the BBC in relentless pursuit of infiltrated plot product placement – try even harder not to. Wry, fly and unabashedly self-referencingly sly, this ...

Music & Lyrics: Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus Book: Catherine Johnson Director: Phyllida Lloyd Reviewer: David Robinson There can be few better ways to beat off the January blues than a trip to Mamma Mia! the stellar feel-good musical, currently bringing some Greek island paradise sunshine to Northampton. There seems little evidence of the warmth folk feel for these classic ...

Conductor: John Wilson Reviewer: Selwyn Knight Although born in Massachusetts, Leonard Bernstein will always be linked with New York: his tenure as music director at the New York Philharmonic and his music inspired by the city: On The Town,Wonderful Town, West Side Story, the score to On The Waterfront all reinforce that link. As soon as one hears his jazzy ...

Writer: Henrik Ibsen, adapted by Patrick Marber Director: Ivo van Hove Reviewer: Selwyn Knight One can’t help wondering what happened to the young Hedda Gabler to make her the woman she is. She appears unpleasant, manipulative and bullying, entirely in charge of her life. She has captured the heart of the affable Tesman and they are now returned to the ...

Writer: Margaret May Hobbs from the book by Ruth Rendell  writing as Barbara Vine Director: Michael Lunney Reviewer:  Selwyn Knight It’s 1990. Five years ago, Nina was kidnapped in Italy and successfully held to ransom. Now, two rich husbands later, she is a virtual prisoner in the marital home, Jareds, a lavish Suffolk country estate, living her life in perpetual ...

Writers: William Shakespeare, ‘Roman de Fruscan’, Jennifer Rigby Directors: ‘Roman de Fruscan’, Nicky Cox Reviewer: Selwyn Knight As 2018 blinks blearily into life, Birmingham’s Blue Orange Theatre brings us two short plays each inspired by Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Full of Sound and Fury, credited to one Roman de Fruscan, and Signifying Nothing, by Jennifer Rigby. Dreamscape Theatre’s Full of Sound and ...

Music and Lyrics: Howard Blake Director: Bill Alexander Reviewer: Maggie Constable There is not a better time to see The Snowman at Milton Keynes theatre than at this foggy, frosty time of year just after Christmas. It brings back the magic that so often seems lost at the start of the January Based on Raymond Briggs’ much-adored book and Diane Jackson’s film of the ...

Writer: Rob Winlow Director: Timothy Trimingham Lee Reviewer: John Kennedy It is a truth universally acknowledged that many a review of Jane Austen adaptations has the misfortune of being in want of a less contrived introduction. Axiomatic as that may be, tonight’s songs celebrate a singular panache for delivering melodies more memorable for their immediate context and sincerity rather than any lasting recollection. The ...