All stories by Miriam Gillinson on BroadwayStars

Monday, May 22, 2023

The Comedy of Errors review – full of wit and pizazz by Miriam Gillinson

Shakespeare’s Globe, LondonAmped-up visual gags and a cast that brings its own distinctive comic gifts to the Bard’s dialogue ensure a contemporary feel to the classic comedy Sean Holmes…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:24AM
Wednesday, March 22, 2023

The Three Billy Goats Gruff review – captivates right to the final bleat by Miriam Gillinson

Unicorn theatre, LondonMusical for over-threes revels in belting solos, full-throttle yodelling and an operatic troll with a whiff of Lloyd Webber’s Phantom A mum sitting next to me whispe…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:30AM
Monday, March 20, 2023

Patsy Ferran on pairing up with Paul Mescal in Streetcar: ‘The nerves just skyrocketed’ by Miriam Gillinson

The actor had just a week to rehearse for A Streetcar Named Desire. Fortunately, her turn as tragic belle Blanche DuBois has audiences enchanted I nudge the recording device a bit closer to …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:00AM
Thursday, February 16, 2023

Right Dishonourable Friend review – nepo baby MP lands in Lancashire in heartfelt comedy by Miriam Gillinson

The Vaults, LondonPhoebe Batteson-Brown is archly comic as the clueless Perdita but it’s the subplot about a queer teenager and the hypocrisy of politics that has real depth to it This sur…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:31AM
Wednesday, February 15, 2023

The Oyster Problem review – the struggle to save Flaubert from himself by Miriam Gillinson

Jermyn Street Theatre, LondonIn historian Orlando Figes’ rather too formal first play, the passionate romantic’s friends try to persuade him to be a little more worldly While researchin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:59AM
Saturday, December 31, 2022

The anti-hibernation culture guide: something to enjoy for every day in January by Rachel Aroesti, Catherine Bray, Andrew Clements, John Fordham, Miriam Gillinson, Jonathan Jones and Lyndsey Winship

You can spend the next few weeks under the duvet and in front of the telly, or enjoy world-class art, theatre, music, film and standup – here’s an event for each of the next 31 days MUSI…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:06AM
Monday, November 21, 2022

Perfect Show for Rachel review – hit the Britney buzzer one more time! by Miriam Gillinson

The Pit, Barbican, LondonFrom a control desk, director Rachel O’Mahony pushes buttons for songs, scenes and games in a fun, carefully crafted show staged by Zoo Co Why can’t more theatre…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:42AM
Friday, November 18, 2022

Pinocchio review – a truly bold take on Carlo Collodi’s classic by Miriam Gillinson

Unicorn theatre, LondonMosquitos, cats and smartly defined morals feature in a complex and well-crafted reimagining of the beloved tale Remember the blue fairy that toy-maker Geppetto wishes…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:12PM
Wednesday, November 9, 2022

From Here to Eternity review – guns n’ poses in a well-drilled musical by Miriam Gillinson

Charing Cross theatre, LondonTim Rice’s lyrics are the most striking aspect of a crisp production which can also feel heavy-handed The members of G Company are going stir crazy in Hawaii. …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:36AM
Thursday, November 3, 2022

Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical review – familiar tale given full voice in fresh voyage by Miriam Gillinson

Theatre Royal BathDirector James Grieve retains just enough of the rough-hewn power of the original sea shanties to offset the razzle-dazzle of the musical setting Perhaps this charming real…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:02PM
Thursday, October 20, 2022

The Solid Life of Sugar Water review – Jack Thorne’s superb drama of love and loss by Miriam Gillinson

Orange Tree theatre, LondonBrilliantly acted, designed and directed, Thorne’s tender but brutally powerful portrait of a couple gets an overdue revival After this play premiered in 2015, J…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:07AM
Tuesday, October 11, 2022

‘Maybe you set the theatre on fire?’: directors on staging the unstageable by Miriam Gillinson

Scenes that skip between universes, 100 eyeballs emerging from the floorboards, whole plays set on a slope … The scripts for Constellations, Wonder Boy and other hits have provided instruc…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:07AM
Friday, October 7, 2022

The Caucasian Chalk Circle review – Carrie Hope Fletcher shines light in Brecht’s epic by Miriam Gillinson

Rose theatre, LondonA striking score and expressive singing carry Christopher Haydon’s production of the wartime classic First there’s the prologue. Then the play-within-a-play. Finally,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:13PM
Thursday, September 29, 2022

Noises Off review – Frayn’s exquisite farce-within-a-farce finds new humanity by Miriam Gillinson

Felicity Kendal, Tracy-Ann Oberman and especially Joseph Millson are comic gifts in this 40th anniversary version that fits our times almost too well Well, here’s a surprise. Michael Fray…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:49AM
Friday, September 23, 2022

Clutch review – drama about driving lessons is a joyful ride by Miriam Gillinson

Bush theatre, LondonWill Jackson’s endearing two-hander pairs a nervous learner driver with an overbearing instructor Driving instructor extraordinaire Max has just three rules. No drinkin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:25AM
Wednesday, September 14, 2022

The Cherry Orchard review – Chekhov in space by Miriam Gillinson

The Yard, LondonVinay Patel’s sci-fi adaptation boldly goes into the future on a rickety starship while exploring entrenched hierarchies and class There is still a cherry orchard in this C…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:55AM
Thursday, September 8, 2022

Rehab: The Musical review – 90s pop star hits the road to recovery by Miriam Gillinson

Playground theatre, LondonFeaturing Keith Allen as a scheming PR man, this heartfelt comedy drawn from songwriter Grant Black’s own experiences is often great fun Opening with a song named…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:55AM
Friday, September 2, 2022

Gary Barlow: A Different Stage review – Could it be magic? No! by Miriam Gillinson

Duke of York’s theatre, LondonThis one-man, one-note show is a blandly sanitised history of Take That. While it won’t thrill you with its drama, its slightly smug star does have one hell…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:54AM
Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Great British Bake Off: The Musical review – sweet treat with a soggy bottom by Miriam Gillinson

Everyman theatre, CheltenhamThe TV show invites a large helping of satire but Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary serve up a sugary plot with over-egged characters The exquisite joy of Bake Off on…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:07PM
Sunday, July 31, 2022

The Tempest review – the bard in budgie smugglers by Miriam Gillinson

Globe theatre, LondonSean Holmes’s gleefully comic take is a riot of holiday colour and fun, featuring luminous lilos, stag do bantz and a playful Prospero in eyewateringly tight trunks Co…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:12PM
Sunday, July 24, 2022

Billy Elliot the Musical review – the boy who just wants to dance is back in an electric new production by Miriam Gillinson

Leicester CurveNikolai Foster’s new version is more like a play with dance and songs, giving ideas around love and loss, community and isolation, passion and violence room to breathe In di…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:03AM
Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Bugsy Malone review – splurge guns at the ready for a twinkling revival by Miriam Gillinson

Theatre Royal BathWith charismatic performances and playful effects, Sean Holmes’ slick touring production is escapist fun Here is a chance to press pause on the difficult business of bein…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:03AM
Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Never fear! Mo Willems’ spectacularly unscary monster is gobbled up by kids by Miriam Gillinson

Manual Cinema’s stage version of Leonardo the Terrible Monster is heading for the Edinburgh fringe – and its adaptors hope it inspires audiences to create their own creatures Mo Willems�…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:42PM
Monday, July 11, 2022

No strings attached: new wave of puppetry storming London’s West End by Miriam Gillinson

Sophisticated productions of Life of Pi and 101 Dalmatians are pushing the art of puppetry into new and sometimes surprisingly dark directions The Olivier-award-winning puppets in the new st…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:42AM

The Anarchist review – an innocent sense of humour amid political unrest by Miriam Gillinson

Jermyn Street theatre, LondonThe first winner of the Woven Voices prize for migrant playwrights is an open-hearted play that layers a Belarusian woman’s past and present Leather jackets an…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:24AM
Friday, July 1, 2022

9 Circles review – unflinching appraisal of a wartime atrocity by Miriam Gillinson

Park theatre, LondonJoshua Collins is magnetic as a US soldier awaiting trial for murder in this hard-hitting drama hamstrung by its loose grip on reality The title is a riff on Dante’s In…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:33PM
Friday, June 17, 2022

A Doll’s House, Part 2 review – Ibsen’s Nora returns for second round by Miriam Gillinson

Donmar Warehouse, LondonNoma Dumezweni is a compelling lead in Lucas Hnath’s sequel, which is well drawn but a little too tightly controlled A dark and heavy house fills the stage. Just b…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:03AM
Tuesday, June 14, 2022

The False Servant review – deception, disguise and filthy lucre by Miriam Gillinson

Orange Tree theatre, LondonMartin Crimp’s crisp translation of Marivaux’s comedy never feels overplayed and highlights the seductive allure of money A spiralling maze has been painted ac…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:06AM
Friday, June 10, 2022

Starcrossed review – gay romance riff on Romeo and Juliet is a giddy delight by Miriam Gillinson

Wilton’s Musical Hall, LondonRachel Garnet’s reframing ditches Shakespeare’s lovers for a smitten Tybalt and Mercutio. Can this winning couple alter their fate? Romeo is in a terrible …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:18AM
Monday, May 16, 2022

Revenge is sweet: the music, TV and theatre about getting your own back by Jason Okundaye, Jessica Kiang, Miriam Gillinson, Hugh Morris and Sam Jordison

From Shakespeare’s dithering Dane to Desperate Housewives’ steely-eyed Bree, our critics serve up the coldest revenge dishes In Desperate Housewives, when her gay son, Andrew, sleeps wit…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:54AM
Friday, May 13, 2022

Dom Juan review – Molière’s lothario gets lost in translation by Miriam Gillinson

The Vaults, LondonMarking the French playwright’s 400th anniversary, this chaotic bilingual comedy lacks clarity Tonight we’re listening to Dom Juan’s seductive escapades in English. T…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:33AM

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