Notes from an overwhelming theatrical weekend plus my reviews of Table 17, The Last Ship, Jane Eyre, and more
OHMYGOD HEY!
Welcome back to my weekly collation of the various reviews, opinion pieces and theatre news updates I’ve shared across multiple social media platforms.
Back when I was a teenage theatregoer, I would schedule the majority of my trips on Saturdays, working for a few hours in the morning at a local library before sprinting onto a London bound train for a show or two. Nowadays, the press night calendar tends to keep me busier midweek while the weekends are reserved for catching up on editing or perhaps even relaxing.
This weekend however, after spending a few days seeing The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (newly reimagined), Table 17, and Sting’s The Last Ship, I was back in London with nonstop activity on the agenda. An afternoon at Shedinburgh, the pioneering new Fringe venue which has popped up for a temporary season at the Young Vic, was followed by the first preview performance of a new revival of Rent at the recently renamed Tom Stoppard Theatre. Of course I can’t share my thoughts about the production until after it opens, but my expectation is that tickets will soon be even more scarce than they already are.
As if this wasn’t nostalgic enough, Jonathan Larson’s cultural phenomenon having been a show I discovered in my mid teens, the next day brought the 20th anniversary gala performance of Wicked, one which my partner Aeron and I attended in appropriate green glamour. To be in the room (alongside dozens of witchy alumni) 20 years after I first saw the show, as a wide-eyed 11-year old back in 2006, was extraordinarily special.
Finally, after finishing an emerald cocktail and pocketing a deflated balloon, we dashed over to the Stage Debut Awards in time for the ceremony to start, where I chatted with the evening’s winners. Stay tuned for their thoughts on their shows, their ambitions for the future, and the collaborators who made such successful onstage and creative debuts possible.
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I met the original West End GLINDA! A chat with Helen Dallimore for WICKED’s London Anniversary
Ahead of Wicked‘s 20th anniversary celebrations this weekend in London, I met the West End production’s very first Glinda – Helen Dallimore.
Having seen Helen and Idina lead the show, which was the first West End musical I ever saw, it was hugely special to ask her about her memories of the audition process, rehearsals and opening night performance.
I also spoke with the Australian leading lady about commercial musical theatre on the other side of the world, her recent performance in Grey Gardens, and her role in the revival that changed my life…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
The best (and worst) musicals by popstars: Ranking original theatre scores from recording artists
Over the past 25 years, more and more original scores for stage musicals have been written by recording artists turned first time composers.
From Sir Elton John and Dolly Parton to Hadestown and Spring Awakening, find out which I think the best (and worst) popstar penned original scores are…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
This Week’s Reviews
Jane Eyre at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, London
★★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night-Time at Woking Theatre, Woking (UK Tour)
★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
The Last Ship at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End, London
★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Table 17 at Kiln Theatre, London
★★★★ Review available YouTube / Instagram / TikTok
A week of London musicals – Theatre Vlog ft Million Dollar Quartet, Thelma & Louise, and Jane Eyre
Check out another week in our life of seeing theatre around the UK!
This week, Aeron and I headed to the opening night of Million Dollar Quartet as well as the new musical adaptation of Thelma & Louise. I also hosted a post show Q&A for Jane Eyre at Southwark Playhouse.
Join us vicariously in this brand new vlog to find out what a week in our lives looks like!
What’s coming up this week?
After a weekend of musicals, the next few days promise major plays, including a new offering from James Graham, The Standard of Living, and revivals of Noël Coward’s Hay Fever, and Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? which happens to be a favourite of mine.
I’ll also be sharing some fuller thoughts on the first preview performance of Rent, so stay tuned to have any potential questions about this revival answered…
Until next week, I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey… week! – Mickey-Jo
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