Category: Quick Takes

Latest, Quick Takes

Quick Take! (Long Day’s Journey Into Night)

Long Day’s Journey Into Night is one of the greatest portraits of the American family in the early 1900’s. Calling it ‘entertaining’ would be a stretch, as it is a durational piece of almost 3.5 hours, filled with lengthy monologues. As separate entities, all production aspects seem to work. The individual actors are brilliant; the production is minimal, thus highlighting the strength of Eugene O’Neill’s … Continue reading Quick Take! (Long Day’s Journey Into Night)

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Latest, Quick Takes

Quick Take! (London Zoo)

London Zoo is written in the 2020s but set in the 2000s, with costumes from the 1980s and the progressiveness of the 1960s. The story is about the news industry’s trepidation over transitioning from print to web publishing, but it misses the mark as a dark comedy. Farine Clarke, who writes and directs this production, has an earnest voice that wants to convey many ideas. However, … Continue reading Quick Take! (London Zoo)

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Latest, Quick Takes

Quick Take! (Cowbois)

Cowbois is an absolute triumph by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Co-Directors Charlie Josephine and Sean Holmes lean expertly into the multitude of forms to deliver this refreshing and lively story, packed with sensuality and gunslinging chaos.  It is so rare to see a Western unfold on the British stage, let alone one with a queer spin. The celebration of this story and everything it represents, … Continue reading Quick Take! (Cowbois)

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Latest, Quick Takes

Quick Take! (For the Love of Spam)

In this solo piece, Sierra Sevilla charts her life changes, and the sociopolitical developments of her hometown Guam, against the constant and comforting presence of Spam, her favourite food and guilty pleasure.  For the Love of Spam offers a rare yet genuine look into this oft-forgotten part of the world, and the vastness it carries. Sevilla is personable, cheeky and buoyant as she injects sarcasm … Continue reading Quick Take! (For the Love of Spam)

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Latest, Quick Takes

Quick Take! (Potted Panto)

Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner have gained a loyal following since 2005, with their slew of potted adventures. Anyone who is feeling festive but doesn’t want to sit through an entire panto might enjoy this production, as the duo blaze through 7 classic pantos in 80 minutes, culminating in a cheeky mash-up of Aladdin and A Christmas Carol (not a panto). The best parts of … Continue reading Quick Take! (Potted Panto)

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Quick Takes

Quick Take! (Odyssey: A Heroic Pantomime!)

Odyssey: A Heroic Pantomime is the best show small-scale pantomime I have ever seen in my life. Who knew an ancient Greek epic filled with tragedy like Homer’s Odyssey could be so hilarious? This wackadoodle production is filled with Greek-themed puns, without being too niche for the audience. Writer and director John Savournin’s wise decision to present all the characters as women (with a superb … Continue reading Quick Take! (Odyssey: A Heroic Pantomime!)

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Latest, Quick Takes

Quick Take! (Lizzie The Musical)

Lizzie The Musical is essentially a punk rock concert with fantastic music written by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, featuring the mind-blowing vocals of Maiya Quansah-Breed, Shekina McFarlane, Ayesha Patel and Emma Louise Hoey. Despite being based on a riveting true crime story, the book by Tim Maner carries a rather thin plot. Director and choreographer William Whelton’s staging choices are rather flat and … Continue reading Quick Take! (Lizzie The Musical)

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Latest, Quick Takes

Quick Take! (Rip Van Winkle)

Gothic Opera brings mass appeal to opera through a vibrant staging of Robert Planquette’s Rip Van Winkle. Designer Elliott Squire sets the atmosphere by decorating Hoxton Hall with branches, a gentle fire, and a glimpse of the Catskill Mountains. Audiences enter this space as if gathering around a campfire for a lovely evening. What sets this opera apart from others, is that the ensemble’s beautiful voices … Continue reading Quick Take! (Rip Van Winkle)

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Latest, Quick Takes

Quick Take! (Sunset Boulevard)

Sunset Boulevard is perhaps the most stunning musical theatre revival to hit the West End in 2023. Director Jamie Lloyd, whose supposed “minimalist” style may not seem fitting for this genre, surprises with this bold interpretation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s lesser known work. Paying homage to the black-and-white pictures of the 50’s, the whole production is monochromatic with clever uses of live camera feeds and … Continue reading Quick Take! (Sunset Boulevard)

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Latest, Quick Takes

Quick Take! (The Crucible)

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is one of the most famous plays of the 20th century, and a powerful anecdote of how paranoia and false information can lead to society’s downfall. In this day and age, the plot resonates stronger than ever. Unfortunately, this West End version directed by Lyndsey Turner does not carry the same sense of danger. Designer Es Devlin’s spectacular rainfall installation, … Continue reading Quick Take! (The Crucible)

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