All stories by Marianka Swain on BroadwayStars

Friday, August 9, 2019

Evita, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre review - a diva dictator for 2019 by Marianka Swain

Both literal and figurative fireworks in Jamie Lloyd's innovative musical revival Following a triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ Superstar, now playing at the Barbican, the Park works i…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 12:24AM
Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Blues in the Night, Kiln Theatre review - hard times, hot tunes by Marianka Swain

Sharon D Clarke leads a steamy, soulful musical revue It’s too darn hot, BoJo is in Downing Street, and we’re all going to Brexit hell – so we might as well sing the blues. Or at least…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 08:03PM
Tuesday, July 23, 2019

The Bridges of Madison County, Menier Chocolate Factory review - Iowan romance fizzles by Marianka Swain

Trevor Nunn's busy production competes with Jason Robert Brown's exquisite score Robert James Waller’s bestselling, though critically panned, 1992 romance novel was reincarnated in the Cli…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 08:54PM
Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Jesus Christ Superstar, Barbican review - Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical lives again by Marianka Swain

The Regent's Park revival is just as spectacular indoors Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s 1970 musical had a heavenly resurrection at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre three years ago, w…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 09:03PM
Friday, June 28, 2019

On Your Feet!, London Coliseum review - Gloria Estefan bio-musical hits familiar notes by Marianka Swain

The rhythm is gonna get you – even if the drama doesn’t This well-meaning biographical jukebox musical about icons Gloria and Emilio Estefan, which did two years on Broadway and a US tou…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 01:36AM
Monday, June 24, 2019

Cash Cow, Hampstead Theatre review - timely look at pushy tennis parents by Marianka Swain

Are the family of a flamed-out prodigy at (double) fault? “How much does she owe us?” So ponder the now estranged parents of a former tennis pro, as they calculate the very literal inves…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 07:06PM
Wednesday, May 29, 2019

BWW Review: THE STARRY MESSENGER, Wyndham's Theatre by Marianka Swain

A decade after originating the lead role Off Broadway, Matthew Broderick returns to Kenneth Lonergan's play to make his West End debut. His devotion to the material is certainly understandab…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 09:06PM

BWW Review: RUTHERFORD AND SON, National Theatre by Marianka Swain

Rain gushes down the front of the Lyttelton stage, a pitiless wall of water trapping and framing the Rutherfords - a clan very much defined by their environment. It's an arresting image to o…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 08:04AM
Tuesday, May 28, 2019

London's Top 10 Family-friendly Theatres by Marianka Swain

Continuing our London Theatre Guides series, we're celebrating half-term by highlighting some of the capital's most welcome and exciting venues for younger audiences.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 07:48AM
Monday, May 27, 2019

BWW Interview: Charles Busch Talks NATIVE NEW YORKER by Marianka Swain

Actor, playwright and cabaret entertainer Charles Busch's work includesDie Mommie Die,Vampire Lesbians of Sodom,Psycho Beach PartyandThe Tale of the Allergist's Wife.He's returning to London…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 10:56AM
Sunday, May 26, 2019

EUROPE Leads June's Top 10 New London Shows by Marianka Swain

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a drama about Europe to immersive Shakespeare and open-air opera, here are so…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 02:16PM
Wednesday, May 22, 2019

BWW Review: ANNA, National Theatre by Marianka Swain

The audience plays surveillance state in this pioneering collaboration between playwright Ella Hickson and sound designers Ben and Max Ringham. We experience the action through individual se…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 08:01AM

BWW Interview: Tim Howar Talks THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA by Marianka Swain

Canadian actor and singer Tim Howar's past work includesLes Miserables,The Who'sTommy,Chess, and the 10th Anniversary production of Rent. He's also in the bandMike The Mechanics. Currently, …

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 03:54AM
Friday, May 10, 2019

BWW Review: DEATH OF A SALESMAN, Young Vic by Marianka Swain

Seventy years on from its Broadway opening, Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell present Arthur Miller's masterpiece afresh in an inspired, shattering revival. One key change - making the 1…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 06:42AM
Saturday, May 4, 2019

BWW Review: ROSMERSHOLM, Duke of York's Theatre by Marianka Swain

As politicians and pundits dissect the local election results, Duncan Macmillan serves up a blistering new adaptation of an 1886 work that feels eerily like a 2019 commentary. Move over, Jam…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 08:18AM
Friday, May 3, 2019

BWW Review: SMALL ISLAND, National Theatre by Marianka Swain

The 2004 prize-winning novel by Andrea Levy, who sadly passed away earlier this year, has been beautifully translated to stage by adaptor Helen Edmundson and NT head honcho Rufus Norris, usi…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 09:04AM
Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Man of La Mancha, London Coliseum review - an historical work better left in the past by Marianka Swain

Kelsey Grammer leads a muddled musical take on Don Quixote The ENO continues its run of semi-staged musicals, in commercial collaboration with Grade Linnit, with a revival of this vintage od…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 09:06PM
Thursday, April 25, 2019

THE STARRY MESSENGER Leads May's Top 10 New London Shows by Marianka Swain

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From timely plays to the beginning of open-air theatre season, here are some of th…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 08:07AM
Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Ain't Misbehavin', Southwark Playhouse review - a jazz-hot musical revue by Marianka Swain

Dancing, singing and plenty of swinging in this joyful tribute to Fats Waller The joint is jumpin’ at Southwark Playhouse, now hosting an irresistible Fats Waller-inspired, Manhattan-set …

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 07:35PM

BWW Review: ALL MY SONS, Old Vic by Marianka Swain

London's latest foray into Arthur Miller has serious transatlantic star power, with its leading quartet of Bill Pullman, two-time Oscar-winner Sally Field, Colin Morgan and Jenna Coleman. Ho…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 07:51AM
Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Sweet Charity, Donmar Warehouse review - Sixties style over substance by Marianka Swain

Design dominates in Josie Rourke's farewell production For her swansong, departing Donmar Artistic Director Josie Rourke goes Swinging Sixties in this stylish but flawed revival of the Cy C…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 09:12PM

BWW Review: THREE SISTERS, Almeida Theatre by Marianka Swain

Director Rebecca Frecknall and actress Patsy Ferran recently picked up deserved Olivier Awards for their revelatory revival of Summer and Smoke. Now, they're back at the Almeida, bringing th…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 07:12AM
Thursday, April 4, 2019

BWW Review: TOP GIRLS, National Theatre by Marianka Swain

Caryl Churchill's ground-breaking 1982 work comes to the National for the first time - and, also a first, with a full cast rather than actors doubling up, as the playwright had originally in…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 09:41AM
Sunday, March 31, 2019

ALL MY SONS Leads April's Top 10 New London Shows by Marianka Swain

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From Arthur Miller and Caryl Churchill to Don Quixote and zombie gore, here are so…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 01:46PM
Thursday, March 28, 2019

BWW Interview: Debbie Kurup Talks SWEET CHARITY at Donmar Warehouse by Marianka Swain

Debbie Kurup's extensive musical theatre experience ranges fromChicago,West Side Story and Sister Act to originating roles inGirl from the North CountryandThe Bodyguard.She's currently playi…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 04:01AM
Friday, March 22, 2019

BWW Review: EMILIA, Vaudeville Theatre by Marianka Swain

We are only as powerful as the stories we tell. So proclaims poet and activist Emilia Bassano, as she wrestles back her own story in Morgan Lloyd Malcolm's 2018 Globe hit its raw, feminist, …

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 10:59AM
Thursday, March 21, 2019

BWW Review: DOWNSTATE, National Theatre by Marianka Swain

Pulitzer-winner Bruce Norris once again challenges audiences with a play built around a difficult topic in this case, asking whether paedophiles are irredeemable, how they should be punished…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 09:35AM
Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Betrayal, Harold Pinter Theatre review - Tom Hiddleston anchors a bold, brooding revival by Marianka Swain

Jamie Lloyd locates the radical soul of a classic work The grand finale to Jamie Lloyd’s remarkable Pinter at the Pinter season is this starry production of one of the writer’s greatest …

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 08:30PM
Tuesday, March 12, 2019

BWW Review: ADMISSIONS, Trafalgar Studios by Marianka Swain

News emerged today that Hollywood actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin were among 50 wealthy people charged in a college cheating scam dumbed 'Varsity Blues', in which they allegedly…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 07:52PM
Monday, March 11, 2019

CD Review: FOLLIES, 2018 National Theatre Cast Recording by Marianka Swain

The meticulous care of the National Theatre's production is continued in the soundtrack recording, demonstrating the collaborative brilliance of orchestrations from Jonathan Tunick and Josh …

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 03:30PM
Thursday, March 7, 2019

BWW Review: WAITRESS, Adelphi Theatre by Marianka Swain

Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson's 2015 musical adaptation of Adrienne Shelly's film, about a small-town waitress who processes her feelings via her skilful baking, brings its sugar and spic…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 08:07PM

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