All stories by Jonathan Baz on BroadwayStars

Sunday, September 6, 2020

‘Takes the audience into another world of stereo soundscapes’: C-O-N-T-A-C-T – Various London locations ★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

C.O.N.T.A.C.T is an opportunity to reacquaint oneself and make contact with an art form so close to so many, on a whole new level.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Friday, June 5, 2020

‘A stunning look back at our musical past’: One Voice by Siobhan Dillon ★★★★ (Album review) by Jonathan Baz

Dillon rose to public prominence in 2006, competing in TV’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and from there has gone on to leading roles in musical theatre. Away from the spotlight, …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 10:00AM
Friday, March 6, 2020

‘Simply exquisite musical theatre’: THE LAST FIVE YEARS – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Jonathan O’Boyle’s production of The Last Five Years has to be a definitive production of this complex and unusual work.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Saturday, February 29, 2020

‘Only really springs to life in the musical numbers’: THE PRINCE OF EGYPT – West End ★★ by Jonathan Baz

Who knows, in years to come a Fringe theatre may manage to hit the right tone with The Prince of Egypt. In the meantime, this production could do with a little more creative flair and re-wri…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Monday, February 24, 2020

‘Kaye’s enthusiasm for Elton is infectious’: ELTON JOHN IT’S A LITTLE BIT FUNNY – Upstairs at the Gatehouse ★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Clever and entertaining, Elton John It’s A Little Bit Funny is a musically brilliant tribute to one of our greatest showmen.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 01:00PM
Monday, February 3, 2020

‘Fails to hit its target’: FAUSTUS: THAT DAMNED WOMAN – Lyric Hammersmith by Jonathan Baz

There is fine work from Jodie McNee as Johanna Faustus in Faustus: That Damned Woman but the piece is overshadowed by a disappointing structure that sidelines real, factual female achievemen…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Friday, January 24, 2020

‘A night of world class musical theatre’: LES MISÉRABLES – Sondheim Theatre ★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Above all it is Kretzmer’s stunning lyrical treatment of those soaring French melodies (on press night, immaculately delivered under Steve Moss’ baton) woven around a story that is breat…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Monday, January 20, 2020

’A show for lovers of great music’: BEAUTIFUL THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Simultaneously an homage to talent, love and friendship – with others and oneself – Beautiful – The Carole King Musical is a masterclass in musical theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 01:00PM
Friday, January 17, 2020

‘A fine example of Off-West End musical theatre’: RAGS – Park Theatre ★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

In Rags director Bronagh Lagan has assembled some gifted talent in her Park Theatre company with Carolyn Maitland as Rebecca driving the show.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Friday, January 10, 2020

‘Outstanding entertainment’: LEXICON – Roundhouse ★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Traditional circus but with a defiantly modern, cutting edge, Lexicon’s live music sets a stunning pulse to the evening, with a backing that ranges from folk, to rock to balladry.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Saturday, December 21, 2019

‘Sure to leave you with a smile on your face’: CURTAINS – West End ★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

With dazzling choreography, slick humour and top-notch performances musical whodunnit Curtains is well worth seeing this Christmas.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Wednesday, December 18, 2019

‘An evening of world class entertainment & dance’: THE RED SHOES – Sadler’s Wells & Touring ★★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes returns to Sadler’s Wells three years after it first premiered – and while the score and dance remain exquisite, there is a depth to this ballet that has…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Wednesday, December 11, 2019

‘A standout evening of entertainment’: THRILLER LIVE – West End ★★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

For the run up to Christmas, Peter Andre takes over the leading performance in Gary Lloyd’s Thriller Live.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Wednesday, November 20, 2019

‘Best appreciated by students & Shakespeare enthusiasts’: MEASURE FOR MEASURE – Barbican Theatre ★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Greg Doran has translated the play’s Viennese setting to the 1900s, but while there has clearly been an imaginative attempt at a credible interpretation of the yarn, this production is ham…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Friday, November 15, 2019

‘Too much of what occurs on stage is simply invisible’: TOUCHING THE VOID – West End by Jonathan Baz

The true story behind Touching The Void and the endeavours and trials that befell mountaineer Joe Simpson and his climbing partner Simon Yates on the Siula Grande mountain in the Peruvian An…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Sunday, November 10, 2019

‘Perfectly timed’: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW – Barbican Theatre ★★★ by Jonathan Baz

The Taming of the Shrew remains an undoubtedly stimulating evening and well worth a visit, if only to witness the script re-imagined and reinterpreted – a pleasing rarity.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Friday, November 1, 2019

‘It’s a gorgeous way of presenting one of the Bard’s most quoted plays’: AS YOU LIKE IT – Barbican Theatre ★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Director Kimberley Sykes embraces the playful text of As You Like It with a diverse and tuneful cast so at ease with the text that off-the-cuff moments and audience interaction are plentiful.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Friday, October 11, 2019

‘One of the finest musical theatre productions in town’: GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES – Union Theatre ★★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Sasha Regan’s revival of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is one of the finest musical theatre productions in town.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Friday, September 27, 2019

‘There really is nothing quite like it’: MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY – The O2 ★★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Forget a four hour flight, airport transfers and the like because now Mamma Mia! The Party is whisking audiences straight into the heart of the Greek island of Skopelos – and all within Lo…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 01:00PM
Sunday, September 8, 2019

‘Elevated by an outrageously good ensemble’: FALSETTOS – The Other Palace by Jonathan Baz

Judging the production at face-value though, Falsettos is well sung, ultra-smart and ultimately gutting. Those who buy a ticket will have plenty to look forward to.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 12:00PM
Wednesday, August 14, 2019

‘A masterclass of contemporary political theatre’: EVITA – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre ★★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

In a production that is as much rally as world class musical, Jamie Lloyd transforms Evita into a commentary on recent times as well as a showcase of some of the finest performing talent to …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Friday, August 9, 2019

‘This youthful cast have captured the brilliantly barbed irony & comment’: PARADE – The Other Palace ★★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

This year’s National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) residency at the Other Palace sees this remarkable theatre company tackle Jason Robert Brown’s Parade, a musical that is as technically de…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Wednesday, August 7, 2019

‘Shelley Maxwell delivers genius in her suggestions of the horses’ movement’: EQUUS – West End ★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Equus remains a fascinating, if dated, piece of writing from Peter Schaffer, exploring the psycho-sexual complexities of the adolescent Alan Strang, a boy who has just, horrifically, blinded…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Thursday, August 1, 2019

‘One of the finest voices to be found in London’: Rodgers & Hammerstein (& Me Too) – Bread & Roses Theatre ★★★ by Jonathan Baz

For this week only, the capital can again savour the vocal excellence of Molly Lynch in her one-woman show Rodgers and Hammerstein & Me Too

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Thursday, July 25, 2019

‘Theatrical magic’: OKLAHOMA! – Chichester ★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Jeremy Sams and his creative team have delivered theatrical magic in Oklahoma! at Chichester Festival Theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Wednesday, July 3, 2019

‘Holds a withering mirror to Hollywood’s vile & vacuous culture’: BITTER WHEAT – West End ★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

There may be a whiff of sensationalised cliché to this world premiere of Bitter Wheat, but no matter. Mamet’s subject is timely and relevant and Malkovich's performance is electrifying.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Friday, June 28, 2019

‘Excellence continues to abound throughout’: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF – West End ★★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

With its first major cast change since opening – as well as a shift across the Thames – Trevor Nunn’s Fiddler On The Roof remains one of London’s musical theatre jewels.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Thursday, June 20, 2019

‘A rare & wonderful evening’: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA – Royal Festival Hall ★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Only on until 4 July before an international tour, The Light In The Piazza is a must see for all who appreciate modern writing and quality musical theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 12:00PM
Monday, June 17, 2019

‘Little in this piece that grabs the audience’: THE STARRY MESSENGER – West End ★★★ by Jonathan Baz

There are momentary gasps and occasional laughs in The Starry Messenger but ultimately this is a stretched out evening at the theatre, albeit one with a starry cast.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 08:00AM
Friday, May 31, 2019

‘Tells us nothing new’: VINCENT RIVER – Trafalgar Studios by Jonathan Baz

Philip Ridley’s tawdry words in Vincent River, at times offering little more than a virtual peep show into graphic descriptions of verbally violent torture porn, tell us nothing new.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Saturday, May 25, 2019

‘For sheer technical theatrical genius, it’s in a class of its own’: THE LEHMAN TRILOGY – West End ★★★★ by Jonathan Baz

Notwithstanding its flawed message, in these times of unparalleled political polarisation The Lehman Trilogy will be lapped up by eager audiences. And for sheer technical theatrical genius, …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM

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