Tag Archives: The Alexandra

Book: Craig Lucas Music: Daniel Messé Lyrics: Nathan Tysen & Daniel Messé Reviewer: Selwyn Knight Amélie the Musical is a sweet and quirky story of a French girl. Brought up by a distant father and neurotic mother, she is isolated from the world and retreats into her own imagination. When her mother is killed in a freak accident, Amélie leaves ...

Book: James Lapine Music and Lyrics: William Finn Director: Mehmet Ergen Reviewer: Selwyn Knight The Hoover family is one dysfunctional family. As the programme notes suggest, while the characters may seem to have little in common they are glued together by that single familial bond.  Olive Hoover is the youngest family member. She’s bullied at school and harbours dreams of ...

Creator: Adrian Grant Director:  Gary Lloyd Reviewer: Gemma Fincher Despite the controversy and unwanted headlines that plagued him during his life, and that haven’t abated since his premature death in 2009, the enduring strength of Michael Jackson’s musical legacy is undeniable. Still widely regarded as the undisputed King of Pop, Michael Jackson enjoyed unparalleled worldwide success and, thanks to his ...

Book, Music and Lyrics: Richard O’Brien Director: Christopher Luscombe Reviewer: Gemma Fincher Still packing out theatres in its 46th year, the iconic cult classic musical, The Rocky Horror Show is back in Birmingham with an all-star cast. Initially written as a stage play in 1973 by Richard O’Brien, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was produced largely as a parody of the science fiction/B horror movies ...

Book and Lyrics: Gerome Ragni and James Rado Music: Galt McDermot Director: Jonathan O’Boyle Reviewer: James Garrington One of the sad things about Hair the Musical is that it is famous – or infamous – as much for its nudity as for its themes and music. When it first appeared in 1967 for a brief run in New York this was ...

Writer: David Mamet Director: Sam Yates Reviewer: Selwyn Knight Four glib and fast-talking salesmen are increasingly desperate to sell what is frankly undesirable real estate to unsuspecting prospects. Their worldview is concentrated on getting to the top of the office leaderboard and winning a Cadillac. They’ll do anything to clinch the deal. But their fates are also in the hands ...

Book: Jeff Whitty Music and Lyrics: Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx Director: Cressida Carré Reviewer: Nicole Craft Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist, right? If such an idea offends, then Avenue Q might not be the show for you. With the stage arranged like a children’s TV show's friendly neighbourhood street, complete with screens to each side of the stage just ...

Writer: Mike Leigh Director: Sarah Esdaile Reviewer: James Garrington When it was first written in 1977 Mike Leigh’s masterpiece was very much a commentary of the time. This was a time when social mobility started to become a real ambition for many, when the aspirational middle-classes wanted to have the latest and best of everything and would do everything they ...