Reviewer: Mark Clegg Debuting in 1990, Once On This Island is best described as a cross between The Little Mermaid (Hans Anderson’s original tragedy, not Disney’s softened version) and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set on a Caribbean island. It is based on Rosa Guy’s 1985 novel My Love, Mt Love or, The Peasant Girl. The story is overseen by the ...
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Book: Terence McNally Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Reviewer: Scott Matthewman EL Doctorow’s 1975 historical novel,Ragtime, set in the early years of the 20th Century, sees three (predominantly New York-based) communities – Harlem’s African-Americans, Jewish immigrants and a WASP family based in the genteel community of New Rochelle – intertwining with each other and a series of real-life figures ...
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By: SCOTT MATTHEWMAN andMARYAM PHILPOTT With increasing pressure on West End theatre space and a greater reliance on digitised music, it’s rare to hear a full 40-piece orchestra play London’s musicals as they were intended. In their place, a fashion for the concert performance has emerged, celebrating the longevity of a specific show or the work of one composer. For ...
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Music and Lyrics: Alan Menken &Lynn Ahrens Book: Mike Ockrent &Lynn Ahrens Original story: Charles Dickens Director: Kyle Davies Reviewer: Matt Forrest Panto season is in full swing at this time of year, but fairytales and jolly japes aren’t everyone’s cup of tea so, if you’re looking for something a little different to get your festive juices flowing, then ...
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Book and Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Music: Stephen Flaherty Director: Andrew Keates Reviewer: Paul Couch In this game you get to see quite a lot of dross, especially in the West End, which these days seems to be a recycling facility for mass appeal juke-box musicals and star name vehicles – no artistic integrity required. Occasionally, however, you come across ...
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Reviewer: Ian Foster Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty have enjoyed a prolific writing career stretching over three decades and in celebration of their 30 year working relationship, held a series of concerts at 54 Below which have now been immortalised on their double CD Nice Fighting You: A 30th Anniversary Celebration Live at 54 BELOW. The collection looks back at ...
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Writers: Thomas Meehan and Sylvester Stallone Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Director: Alex Timbers Reviewer: Stephen Bates In the blue corner we have musicals, traditionally romantic, emotional and more than a little bit camp; in the red corner there is boxing, traditionally brutish, blood-spattered and very macho. A mismatch for sure, but the fact that this show’s two key ...
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Writers: Mike Ockrent &Lynn Ahrens Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Director: Lee Greenaway Reviewer: Alice McGuigan [rating:3.5] “Isn’t it nice that once again it’s Christmas Eve?” chime the joyous ensemble in the opening track A Jolly Good Time. This sentiment could not lie further from the man who hates Christmas. Selfish and bitter, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ...
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