Book: Fiona English Music and Lyrics: David Eaton Director: Benji Sperring Reviewer: Karl O'Doherty “Do it, then ask for permission later.” It can come across aggressive, but really it just means having the confidence of your convictions. When you’re on a stage, it’s important to present to the audience an attitude of “this is our best work, we’re confident in ...
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Book: Fiona English Music and lyrics: David Eaton Director: Benji Sperring Reviewer: Stephen Bates Lin Manuel Miranda’s smash hit Broadway musical Hamilton has already been followed across the Atlantic by the off-Broadway parody Spamilton and now, within a matter of weeks, comes this new variation, based loosely on the life and career of Britain’s World Formula 1 champion. What next ...
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Writer: Joe DiPietro and David Bryan Director: Benji Sperring Reviewer: Richard Maguire Finally, the 2016 Southwark Playhouse production of The Toxic Avenger gets its London transfer. Based on the cult classic film of 1984, this musical, penned by the writers who gave us the underrated Memphis the Musical, is chaotic, messy and irreverent – to quote some of its lyrics, ‘it kicks ass, ...
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Book: Carter Brown Music: Richard Hartley Lyrics: Richard O’Brien Director: Benji Sperring Reviewer: Stephen Bates “I’m interested in her deeply on a superficial level” a lascivious cop confides to the audience on first sight of Dolores, the voluptuous stripper of the title. The line places us instantly in the world of film noir and it is a pity that there ...
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Book and Lyrics: Joe DiPietro Music and Lyrics: David Bryan Director: Benji Sperring Reviewer: Stephen Bates The Garden State has little need to import weed killer. Tromaville, New Jersey (pop 15,000) is, we are told, the toxic chemical capital of the world and this spoof rock musical looks set to put it right on the map. The show’s origin ...
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Writer: Phil Park Music: Ivor Novello, Ronald Hanmer Lyrics: Christopher Hassall Director: Benji Sperring Reviewer: Cavelle Leigh [rating:2.5] One might be tempted to call Valley of Song Ivor Novello’s swan song as he died half way through composing it. It was eventually completed by his collaborators and so the Finborough are now able to present it as a world premiere ...
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Writer: Eugene Ionesco Director: Benji Sperring Reviewer: Stephen Bates [rating:3] The grand master of Theatre of the Absurd, Eugene Ionesco, has become rather out of fashion in Britain in recent times. Yet this one-act play, written in 1948 and Ionesco’s first, is the French equivalent to The Mousetrap, having run in Paris since 1957. Romanian by birth, Ionesco spent most ...
Read More »Writer: Matthew Lewis Adaptor and director: Benji Sperring Reviewer: Jonathan Baz [rating:2] As Hallowe'en fast approaches, The Monk is one of several offerings on the London fringe promising a chilling time. Based on Matthew Lewis’s novel from the late 18th century, it is presented at the Baron's Court theatre in a new adaptation by Benji Sperring, who also directs. The ...
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