All stories by John Chapman on BroadwayStars

Friday, July 23, 2021

‘Uncannily accurate’: QUENTIN CRISP: NAKED HOPE – Stream Theatre (Online review) by John Chapman

The fourth and final Cultural Recovery Fund funded show from production company Seabright has been, like its predecessors, filmed at Wilton’s Music Hall before a live audience and is being…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Thursday, July 22, 2021

‘It is an experiment which OTC should consider repeating’: A COLD SUPPER BEHIND HARRODS – Original Theatre Company (Online review) by John Chapman

In what I think may be a first, Original Theatre Company has released a filmed-as-live, onstage rehearsed reading in the shape of A Cold Supper Behind Harrods.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Monday, July 19, 2021

‘Valuable additions to the expanded series’: QUEERS – Old Vic (Online review) by John Chapman

The first new piece for Queers references a moment in history while the second takes a broader more contemporary sweep of recent events but what unites them is that they present the experien…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Thursday, July 8, 2021

‘Deservedly gets a standing ovation’: BLACK IS THE COLOR OF MY VOICE – Stream Theatre (Online review) by John Chapman

What makes Black Is The Color Of My Voice stand out from the crowd is Apphia Campbell’s performance which is multi-layered, dynamic and assured and, when she’s singing, spine-tingling.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Tuesday, July 6, 2021

‘Timely piece that deserves to keep having success’: A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) – Silent Uproar (Online review) by John Chapman

Silent Uproar’s cabaret style show A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) is a highly sensitive and nuanced performance which nails the debilitating effects of what is still a misun…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Saturday, July 3, 2021

‘A crack team of acting talent has been assembled’: THE GIRL NEXT DOOR – Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough (Online review) by John Chapman

The piece in question is Alan Ayckbourn’s The Girl Next Door which harks back to earlier plays such as Whenever, Miss Yesterday, Surprises and especially Communicating Doors in its central…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Monday, June 28, 2021

‘Chance for a wider audience is undoubtedly a good thing’: LEATHER – Finborough Theatre (Online review) by John Chapman

The Finborough Theatre’s latest show to hit the ether is Leather which is now available on demand. It is a play which isn’t for the faint hearted and comes trailing clouds of notoriety a…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Thursday, June 24, 2021

‘Concentrate on the actual experience which is thoroughly enjoyable’: KNOT – Darkfield (Online review) by John Chapman

Simply called Knot, this is a three-part play which requires the listener to be at a specified (though general) location at a certain time, then to connect to an app and let Darkfield do the…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Friday, June 18, 2021

‘Beautifully memorialised’: ODE TO JOYCE – Jermyn Street Theatre (Online review) by John Chapman

Ode To Joyce is an enjoyable 75 minute celebration of the wit and wisdom of a self-effacing performer who did much to pave the way for a later generation of women to seize the comic nettle.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Monday, June 14, 2021

‘Challenging preconceptions’: DARLING / A PASSION PLAY – Written On The Waves (Online review) by John Chapman

45 North’s audio play series Written On The Waves kicked off Season 2 with a trilogy Lifted a couple of weeks ago. This has swiftly been followed by a second play from one of the same writ…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Saturday, June 12, 2021

‘Will give pause for thought’: THE CLOAK OF VISIBILITY – The Space (Online review) by John Chapman

While The Cloak Of Visibility from The Space may not particularly break any new ground thematically or stylistically it is a solid enough piece which plays well and will give pause for thoug…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Tuesday, June 8, 2021

’It was good to see some fresh perspectives’: Am I A Terrible Person? / Doody (Online review) by John Chapman

Following a rather busy week there was only time yesterday to dip a toe into the waters at the Brighton Fringe (see what I did there?). Quite by chance I came across a pair of short solo pla…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Saturday, June 5, 2021

‘Pushing the boundaries of audio work’: LIFTED – Written on the Waves (Online review) by John Chapman

45 North’s second series of Written On The Waves has opened with a trio of short plays under the collective title of Lifted. They are performed by the writers themselves who are all relati…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Wednesday, June 2, 2021

‘A diverting enough play to enjoy late at night’: BROKEN LINK – Brighton Fringe (Online review) by John Chapman

Noga Flaishon’s immersively creepy piece Broken Link for Harpy Productions uses Zoom and other modern tech to generally good effect to tell what is, essentially, a good old fashioned ghost…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, May 28, 2021

‘A very fine production to revive’: TOUCHING THE VOID – Bristol Old Vic (Online review) by John Chapman

Touching The Void is a very fine production to revive and John Chapman is glad to have finally caught up with this thrillingly staged real life story of facing mortality and winning.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:30AM
Thursday, May 27, 2021

‘As much about life as it is death’: A Brief List Of Everyone Who Died – Finborough Theatre (Online review) by John Chapman

Quite apart from its quirky title, A Brief List Of Everyone Who Died, what immediately strikes the viewer is the elegance of the structure of this piece from American writer Jacob Marx Rice.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Monday, May 24, 2021

‘You will be charmed, entertained & moved’: LOVE IN THE LOCKDOWN (Online review) by John Chapman

One of the first to hit the airwaves is Love In The Lockdown by Clare Norburn featuring the music of medieval music ensemble The Telling.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Sunday, May 23, 2021

‘Ripe with oddball characters & well-crafted dialogue’: SEVERED HEADS (Online review) by John Chapman

Justin McDevitt’s plays for Severed Heads deal with forms of obsession and angst in which someone loses their head – often literally.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Saturday, May 22, 2021

‘Certainly hits the mark’: HERDING CATS – Soho Theatre (Online review) by John Chapman

This is a timely revival of Herding Cats from the Soho Theatre who have pushed back the barriers to find another new way to innovate.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Wednesday, May 19, 2021

‘Maintains a high standard of celebratory storytelling’: RAPUNZEL – Chickenshed Theatre (Online review) by John Chapman

Prompted by the recent retirement of their artistic director – the visionary Lou Stein – I decided to opt for Chickenshed’s latest to video release Rapunzel which turned out to be one …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Tuesday, May 18, 2021

‘Ordinary people living through extraordinary times’: THE LINE – Public Theater (Online review) by John Chapman

Verbatim testimony from New York health workers in The Line demonstrates the problems faced are universal.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Saturday, May 15, 2021

‘Thrilling & chilling’: ROCKY ROAD – Jermyn Street Theatre (Online review) by John Chapman

With some subtle Hitchcock references and more than a hint of Sam Shephard about it, Rocky Road, like its confectionery counterpart, is a sweet moreish treat with some hidden surprises.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Friday, May 14, 2021

‘Perfect fit for an audio production’: FOLK – BBC Lights Up Festival (Online review) by John Chapman

Folk by Nell Leyshon tells the true story of Cecil Sharp, the musicologist and collector of English folk music at the turn of the 20th century who was responsible for kick starting the reviv…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Thursday, May 13, 2021

‘Teeters on the edge of theatre as we used to know it’: Flavour Text / There’s Something Among Us – Chronic Insanity (Online review) by John Chapman

Two intricately constructed online pieces from Chronic Insanity push at the current boundary definitions of theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Monday, May 10, 2021

‘Entertaining viewing’: SUDDENLY / CELLS (Online review) by John Chapman

Sometimes good things DO come in small packages – a pair of mini musicals, Suddenly and Cells, make a pleasurable watch.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, May 7, 2021

‘They definitely get away with murder!’: A KILLER PARTY – Stream.Theatre (Online review) by John Chapman

A Killer Party is a camp musical comedy murder mystery based around the world of showbiz - what's not to like?

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Wednesday, May 5, 2021

‘A fun & diverting change’: THE SECRET CONNECTION (Online review) by John Chapman

For The Secret Connection Dr Will Houstoun has taken his act online and threaded together various tricks and illusions to baffle and delight.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Monday, May 3, 2021

‘Ridley plays with our expectations’: TARANTULA – Southwark Playhouse (Online review) by John Chapman

Philip Ridley’s Tarantula is another stunning showcase for a young actor who commands the stage and leaves the viewer exhausted – in a good way.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Sunday, May 2, 2021

‘Interesting play that just needs a bit of tweaking’: MONEY – represent (Online review) by John Chapman

The practice of “greenwashing” is examined in Money, a pertinent interactive drama from new company represent.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Friday, April 30, 2021

‘The cast bring an urgency to their playing’: J’OUVERT – BBC Lights Up Festival (Online review) by John Chapman

The vibrant culture of the Notting Hill Carnival is celebrated and examined in Yasmin Joseph’s play about three young women, J’Ouvert.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards