All stories by Matt Wolf on BroadwayStars

Monday, February 3, 2025

'Play On!' review — this all-swinging, all-dancing musical take on Shakespeare's comedy is a jazz-hot joy by Matt Wolf

Earl Gregory plays the Duke in inspired musical transposition of Shakespeare's buoyant comedy

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 12:47PM

February on the London Stage: A Shakespearean Jonathan Bailey, Billy Porter as the Emcee and Patti LuPone in Concert by Matt Wolf

February may be the shortest month but it is packed with enticing offerings on the London stage. The weeks ahead promise not one but two star-laden Sophoclean tragedies, and two comparably s…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 11:42AM
Wednesday, January 29, 2025

'The Gift' review — this hilariously zany poo-dunnit uses the hunt for a harasser to spark an existential crisis by Matt Wolf

Nicholas Burns gets gifted with a surprise lump of excrement in Dave Florez's existential comedy

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 12:25PM
Friday, January 24, 2025

'Cymbeline' review — women rule in this astonishingly smart gender-flipped take on Shakespeare's late play by Matt Wolf

Martina Laird and Gabrielle Brooks shine in shrewd, witty Shakespeare reappraisal

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 11:14AM
Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Best of 2024: Theatre by Matt Wolf

BEST OF 2024: THEATRE The classics reclaimed afresh, the acting often astonished The classics were reclaimed afresh, and the acting more often than not astonished It's the images that linge…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 02:42PM
Friday, January 3, 2025

What to See on the West End This Winter by Matt Wolf

Some recommendations for visitors and residents who want to get the most from the city’s varied theater scene.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:06AM
Thursday, January 2, 2025

January on the London Stage: A Brand-New Producers, a Stoppard Classic, Céline Dion at Sea and More by Matt Wolf

January can be a sleepy time for stage activity in some cities. Not London, though, which is riding high from a wealth of high-profile, pre-Christmas holdovers, alongside a trio of dynamic i…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 10:12AM
Saturday, December 28, 2024

Best of 2024: Theatre (London) by Matt Wolf

The classics were reclaimed afresh, and the acting more often than not astonished

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 06:35AM
Friday, December 20, 2024

‘The Tempest’ Review: A Weak Wind Blows for Sigourney Weaver by Matt Wolf

The veteran actress, playing Prospero in her West End debut, is strangely absent from Shakespeare’s narrative.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:02AM
Wednesday, December 18, 2024

'The Invention of Love' review — Tom Stoppard's exquisite portrait of unrequited passion cracks open the heart by Matt Wolf

Tom Stoppard's dense 1997 play is dazzlingly served by director Blanche McIntyre and two formidable leading men in Matthew Tennyson and Simon Russell Beale as the younger and older AE Housma…

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 11:46AM
Thursday, December 12, 2024

The Devil Wears Prada, Dominion Theatre review - efficient but rarely inspired by Matt Wolf

Relaunch of Elton John musical needs further tinkering still It's second time only quasi-lucky for The Devil Wears Prada, the stage musical adaptation of the much-loved Meryl Streep film fr…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 05:02PM

The Highs and Lows on London Stages in 2024 by Matt Wolf and Houman Barekat

Our critics discuss which A-lister performances on the West End were worth the ticket price, and why so many new musicals struggled this year.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:36AM
Monday, December 2, 2024

December on the London Stage: Devils in Prada, Churning Tempests and a Christmas Classic by Matt Wolf

December may be the time of year when people switch off and embrace the holidays. But there's very little rest in the ever-busy world of London theater, which is more crowded this year than …

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 11:54AM
Friday, November 29, 2024

Review: This ‘Importance of Being Earnest’ Is a Fabulous Romp by Matt Wolf

A new production in London, starring Ncuti Gatwa, releases Oscar Wilde’s 1895 comedy from period convention and brings it stunningly into the 21st century.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:54AM
Monday, November 25, 2024

'The Purists' review — worlds collide in this dynamic play about rap, musical theatre, race and grief by Matt Wolf

An outstanding Sule Rimi joins Emma Kingston and Jasper Britton in UK premiere of Dan McCabe's play set in Sunnyside, Queens

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 01:01PM
Friday, November 22, 2024

Wicked review - overly busy if beautifully sung cliffhanger by Matt Wolf

Musical theatre behemoth becomes an outsized film - and this is just part one "No one mourns the wicked," we're told during the immediately arresting beginning to Wicked, which concludes tw…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 12:48PM
Monday, November 18, 2024

'Wolves on Road' review — two fast-talking friends risk it all in this energetic premiere about the lure of cryptocurrency by Matt Wolf

Baggy and overlong Beru Tessema play, directed by Daniel Bailey, gets a high profile guest appearance from onetime Hamilton himself, Jamael Westman

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 11:20AM
Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Barcelona, Duke of York's Theatre review - Lily Collins migrates from France to Spain by Matt Wolf

The 'Emily in Paris' star surrenders to cliche - or does she? The Catalan capital has given its name to a famous number in the Stephen Sondheim musical, Company. And here it is lending geog…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 11:42AM
Friday, November 1, 2024

November on the London Stage: An Agatha Christie Thriller, a Curious Musical, an Oscar Wilde Romp and More by Matt Wolf

A Victorian classic gets a modern-day makeover, Benjamin Button sings, and a popular superhero gets a London stage outing: Those are among the highlights of a characteristically busy month o…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 11:06AM
Tuesday, October 29, 2024

'Reykjavik' review — Richard Bean's elegiac, eerie drama about trawler fishermen is an unusual catch by Matt Wolf

John Hollingworth gives a movingly indrawn performance in new play from Richard Bean, who wrote "One Man, Two Guvnors"; Emily Burns directs.

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 11:15AM
Saturday, October 12, 2024

'The Fear of 13' review — Adrian Brody gives a soulful, awe-inspiring performance in a real-life tale of injustice by Matt Wolf

Adrien Brody is in magnificent form in his UK stage debut as Nick Yarris in new Lindsey Ferrentino play, directed by Justin Martin, of Prime Face renown

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 08:57AM
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Thursday, October 3, 2024

'Roots' / 'Look Back in Anger' review – this blistering double bill of radical 1950s plays is essential viewing by Matt Wolf

Morfydd Clark and Billy Howle give blazing star turns in this Almeida double bill of onetime Royal Court classics; Diyan Zora and Atri Banerjee direct - brilliantly

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 10:38AM

We pay tribute to Gavin Creel, who has died aged 48 by Matt Wolf

the critic mourns the passing of a Broadway and London star gone way too soon

SOURCE: www.musicalsmagazine.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Dame Maggie Smith — a matchless talent in the West End and on screen by Matt Wolf

An appreciation of the legendary Tony winning actress, an impassioned presence always on the London (and, sometimes, Broadway) stage

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 12:17PM

October on the London Stage: Mark Rylance Leads a Classic, Adrien Brody Makes His London Debut and The Lehman Trilogy Returns by Matt Wolf

From name-heavy West End revivals to bracing new dramas, October in London is giving pride of place to the play. Offerings during the month ahead include several classic titles of ongoing re…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 10:24AM
Friday, September 27, 2024

'Princess Essex' review – this witty and very welcome herstory play is full-throttle entertainment by Matt Wolf

Anne Odeke stars in her own play which has morphed from a solo endeavour into a bustling, capacious rallying cry on the Globe mainstage

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 12:37PM
Thursday, September 26, 2024

What to See on the West End This Fall by Matt Wolf

Some recommendations for visitors and residents who want to get the most from the city’s varied theater scene.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:42PM
Thursday, September 19, 2024

'I Wish You Well' review — the infamous Gwyneth Paltrow ski trial becomes a hoot of a musical by Matt Wolf

Diana Vickers and Marc Antolin in thin if breezy musical send-up of Gwyneth Paltrow Utah ski trial

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 12:12PM

'The Lightest Element' review — a brilliant female scientist battles the patriarchy in this enlightening bio-drama by Matt Wolf

Maureen Beattie stars in Stella Feehily's bioplay directed by Alice Hamilton as the opening show of the new Hampstead season

SOURCE: LondonTheatre.co.uk at 12:12PM
Monday, September 2, 2024

September on the London Stage: David Oyelowo Does Shakespeare, Ramin Karimloo Sings Elvis Costello and Marlow & Moss Are Back by Matt Wolf

Summer is saying its goodbyes, and with that comes the seasonal promise of exciting theater for the fall. That’s nowhere more true than in London, which offers a dizzying array of shows in…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 10:54AM