I'd like to think there's a reason I haven't blogged the last three things I've seen other than laziness. Well, four actually. But even so...
RAM Showcase Concert - students, friend had a friend in, and it was long. Very long. As in it started at lunchtime and let out for dinner.
Casanova @ Kings Head - I hadn't planned on going to the aforementioned concert, and didn't know about it until about 90 minutes before it started. As such I hadn't done silly things like eat, grab water to take, etc. and the result was that I left quite tired and dehydrated with a killer low water/sugar headache. Needless to say that despite wolfing down a fast dinner in between events, I was in a far from useful state of mind and body as was my companion who hadn't slept the night before. The result? The first act felt like 120 minutes instead of 75 and we bolted rather than risk passing out. Were I alone I'd have likely toughed it out, but it's not fair to review a show in that condition, especially after just the first act. I'm going to try and make it back, but the next two weeks are solidly booked for me so we'll see...
Dick Whittington: Another Dick in City Hall @ Kings Head - A charity gig and one that is likely sold out for its second and third performances this Sunday. Despite being a song-free show this very (extremely) gay themed and political work made for some excellent adult panto with the right blend of sharp satire and crudeness. It was also pleasantly short - about 100 minutes including interval. Tickets are likely to be scarce or nonexistant for the last two performances this Sunday, but go if you can.
Avenue Q - I already saw the show in New York and avoided the London production due to the changes made (and subsequently put back into New York) and a dislike for the idea of a male Gary Coleman. What dragged me back, however, was having a friend in the cast making her debut as a cover. At least 20 of us showed up and it was a grand event, but I don't review shows with friends in.
And what's on the upcoming agenda? Next week looks to be a 5 show wonder with one show for official press, one by request of the press office, a return to AveQ, and two more! So much to see, and so little time.
On an unrelated subject, do any of the loyal (or disloyal) readers out there play City of Heroes? Other than the spambots, of course. It would be fun to have a theatre geek supergroup.
Showing posts with label Lazy Post. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lazy Post. Show all posts
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Catching Up: Four More...
As the RZ finds his will to live (or at least his will to make an effort on projects that don’t pay) sapped by job hunting hell, his posts are likely to be sporadic and minimal unless he finds something reaaaaaaalllllllly interesting to post about - like some recent things in the Graduion blog. But that’s another post.
After all, you’re here for reviews. And the RZ has been very, very lazy lately with posting those. So, without further ado, here’s four quick bites before running off to see Shit Mix tonight...
A Patriot For Me @ New Players - Solid production of a rarely-performed John “Look Back in Anger” Osborne play. Big cast, interesting historical subject (gay officer in the late-Habsburg Austrian army succumbing to blackmail), but the second act drags (literally and figuratively) and everybody is so damn smug that it detracts from the tension. That said, it’s never boring even it does meander. See it if you’ve got a free night.
A Skull in Connemara @ White Bear - Either you love Martin McDonagh or you loathe him, as his plays (excepting The Pillowman) tend to follow a similar formula. The RZ loves McDonagh’s works, and the sharp, witty writing in Skull makes for a short, biting play that’s paired with creative design in the White Bear’s space.
Hans Teeuwen (Comedian) - The RZ saw Mr. Teeuwen at BAC doing a gig in anticipation of his upcoming run at the Leicester Square, and found his act hit or miss. It’s much closer to German Kabarett than what most people would expect from Anglo-American stand-up. The press have made favourable comparisons to Eddie Izzard (who the RZ is not fond of as a stand-up) though a cross between Izzard and Bill Bailey would be more accurate since Teeuwen sings as well. Teeuwen’s act jumps from biting material on FGM freedom of speech to absurdist skits (some of which go on far too long) and songs with the mandatory use of dick jokes to break up the bits. Good at BAC prices, not so much for the West End.
Betwixt! in Concert - It’s hard to say a lot about this as 1)it’s a charity gig and therefore hard to rag on regardless and 2)other than some song rehearsals the whole thing only had 24 hours to rehearse as a whole. The show is still great, there have been a few revisions (including one song getting slightly repositioned), and word on the street is that Off-Broadway is the next stop for this charming piece.
--------------
And now we’re all caught up. Just in time for four shows in the next week...
After all, you’re here for reviews. And the RZ has been very, very lazy lately with posting those. So, without further ado, here’s four quick bites before running off to see Shit Mix tonight...
A Patriot For Me @ New Players - Solid production of a rarely-performed John “Look Back in Anger” Osborne play. Big cast, interesting historical subject (gay officer in the late-Habsburg Austrian army succumbing to blackmail), but the second act drags (literally and figuratively) and everybody is so damn smug that it detracts from the tension. That said, it’s never boring even it does meander. See it if you’ve got a free night.
A Skull in Connemara @ White Bear - Either you love Martin McDonagh or you loathe him, as his plays (excepting The Pillowman) tend to follow a similar formula. The RZ loves McDonagh’s works, and the sharp, witty writing in Skull makes for a short, biting play that’s paired with creative design in the White Bear’s space.
Hans Teeuwen (Comedian) - The RZ saw Mr. Teeuwen at BAC doing a gig in anticipation of his upcoming run at the Leicester Square, and found his act hit or miss. It’s much closer to German Kabarett than what most people would expect from Anglo-American stand-up. The press have made favourable comparisons to Eddie Izzard (who the RZ is not fond of as a stand-up) though a cross between Izzard and Bill Bailey would be more accurate since Teeuwen sings as well. Teeuwen’s act jumps from biting material on FGM freedom of speech to absurdist skits (some of which go on far too long) and songs with the mandatory use of dick jokes to break up the bits. Good at BAC prices, not so much for the West End.
Betwixt! in Concert - It’s hard to say a lot about this as 1)it’s a charity gig and therefore hard to rag on regardless and 2)other than some song rehearsals the whole thing only had 24 hours to rehearse as a whole. The show is still great, there have been a few revisions (including one song getting slightly repositioned), and word on the street is that Off-Broadway is the next stop for this charming piece.
--------------
And now we’re all caught up. Just in time for four shows in the next week...
Sunday, 3 August 2008
THOUGHTS: Four Shows...
It's that time again. Time for the RZ to go on holiday with a backlog of reviews to post. So, much like with Jay Johnson, this is one of those rushed "get it out as fast as possible" posts. Apologies in advance, but it's this or nothing.
Pygmalion @ The Old Vic - The RZ caught the understudy matinee (yay, free!) and loved it from start to finish. Shaw is a master for a reason, and the Old Vic uphold their reputation for reliable, solid productions. The remainder of the run is sold out as far as the RZ knows, so get returns if you can and they're affordable.
The Chalk Garden @ The Donmar - Closed this weekend. The RZ wasn't as enamoured with this as the Whingers, but he chalks some of that up to going standing room (always a disconnecting force). It wasn't bad by any means, just not the amazing thing he was led to believe. He doesn't regret standing in a queue for over an hour to get his ticket, and at £7.50, standing room at the Donmar is cheaper than most cinemas and a better way to spend one's afternoon or evening.
Elaine Stritch at Liberty @ The Shaw Theatre - Stritch is a Broadway legend, and commands thes tage from the moment she enters until the curtain comes down. While her one-woman is engaging, entertaining, and classy through and through, it dips into excessive sentimentality when she talks of giving up drinking towards the end (something the RZ knows he's seen in a show recently but can't remember which one) and doesn't quite recover with the closing number. It's a brilliant show, but not worth the £60 (or even more galling £75) they're charging for it at the Shaw, especially when you understand that most people in the US saw it for half that even when they paid full price.
A Conversation With Edith Head @ The Leicester Square - This venue is still under partial rennovation, particularly the gents' (which resembles a military barracks) and the air conditioning (if there will be any) is still down. As a result, this tedious piece is compounded in its dullness by the heat as it drags on for its last 20 minutes. Unlike Elaine Stritch, Susan Claassen lacks the stage presence to keep the audience on her side, and the use of a planted audience member shouting out dates and questions gets annoying with little haste andonly gets worse as the audience's frustration grows with the character's. There's some interesting knowledge in here and some witty bits, but it's better to skip this piece on the whole.
Pygmalion @ The Old Vic - The RZ caught the understudy matinee (yay, free!) and loved it from start to finish. Shaw is a master for a reason, and the Old Vic uphold their reputation for reliable, solid productions. The remainder of the run is sold out as far as the RZ knows, so get returns if you can and they're affordable.
The Chalk Garden @ The Donmar - Closed this weekend. The RZ wasn't as enamoured with this as the Whingers, but he chalks some of that up to going standing room (always a disconnecting force). It wasn't bad by any means, just not the amazing thing he was led to believe. He doesn't regret standing in a queue for over an hour to get his ticket, and at £7.50, standing room at the Donmar is cheaper than most cinemas and a better way to spend one's afternoon or evening.
Elaine Stritch at Liberty @ The Shaw Theatre - Stritch is a Broadway legend, and commands thes tage from the moment she enters until the curtain comes down. While her one-woman is engaging, entertaining, and classy through and through, it dips into excessive sentimentality when she talks of giving up drinking towards the end (something the RZ knows he's seen in a show recently but can't remember which one) and doesn't quite recover with the closing number. It's a brilliant show, but not worth the £60 (or even more galling £75) they're charging for it at the Shaw, especially when you understand that most people in the US saw it for half that even when they paid full price.
A Conversation With Edith Head @ The Leicester Square - This venue is still under partial rennovation, particularly the gents' (which resembles a military barracks) and the air conditioning (if there will be any) is still down. As a result, this tedious piece is compounded in its dullness by the heat as it drags on for its last 20 minutes. Unlike Elaine Stritch, Susan Claassen lacks the stage presence to keep the audience on her side, and the use of a planted audience member shouting out dates and questions gets annoying with little haste andonly gets worse as the audience's frustration grows with the character's. There's some interesting knowledge in here and some witty bits, but it's better to skip this piece on the whole.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
