Monthly Archives: March 2011

THEATRE REVIEW: Terence Rattigan’s ‘Cause Celébre’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – There have been two first-rate West End productions of lesser-known plays by the late British playwright Terence Rattigan, whose centenary is this year, but the Old Vic comes a cropper with the third, an unconvincing … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: Terence Rattigan’s ‘Cause Celébre’

THEATRE REVIEW: Lost Musicals’ ‘The Band Wagon’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – One of the most acclaimed Broadway revues of the 1930s – “The Band Wagon” by George S. Kaufman, Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz – is on show in concert for the first time in Europe, … Continue reading

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: Lost Musicals’ ‘The Band Wagon’

THEATRE REVIEW: Clifford Odets’s ‘Rocket to the Moon’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – American playwright Clifford Odets’s 1938 play “Rocket to the Moon” raises more questions than it answers but a captivating performance by Jessica Raine (pictured top), as a young woman who is catnip for every man … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: Clifford Odets’s ‘Rocket to the Moon’

THEATRE REVIEW: David Eldridge’s ‘The Knot of the Heart’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – An engrossing story of middle-class drug addiction with a committed performance by Lisa Dillon, David Eldridge’s new play The Knot of the Heart suffers from being too middle class for its own good. Dillon plays … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: David Eldridge’s ‘The Knot of the Heart’

THEATRE REVIEW: Neil LaBute’s ‘In a Forest Dark and Deep’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Compelling performances by Matthew Fox and Olivia Williams as battling siblings make Neil LaBute’s new play “In a Forest Dark and Deep”, in its world premiere in London’s West End, more interesting than it really … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: Neil LaBute’s ‘In a Forest Dark and Deep’

THEATRE REVIEW: Terence Rattigan’s ‘Flare Path’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – It’s hill of beans time in Terence Rattigan’s wartime drama Flare Path as three little people realize what their problems amount to in a world made crazy by nightly bombing raids as Britain fights alone … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: Terence Rattigan’s ‘Flare Path’

OLIVIER AWARDS: ‘Clybourne Park’, ‘Legally Blonde’ winners

By Ray Bennett LONDON – “Clybourne Park”, a comedy by Bruce Norris that deals with racism in Chicago over 50 years, was named best new play and “Legally Blonde – The Musical,” based on the movie, won as best new … Continue reading

Posted in Music, News, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on OLIVIER AWARDS: ‘Clybourne Park’, ‘Legally Blonde’ winners

THEATRE REVIEW: Noel Coward’s ‘Blithe Spirit’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Noel Coward’s spirited drawing room comedy “Blithe Spirit” is as ticklish and ephemeral as champagne bubbles but Thea Sharrock’s new production in the West End lets out most of the fizz and allows in all … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: Noel Coward’s ‘Blithe Spirit’

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Wizard of Oz’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – If ever a show was pre-sold it’s the new stage version of The Wizard of Oz with the 1939 movie a perennial favorite and Danielle Hope cast as Dorothy via a 10-week prime time BBC-TV … Continue reading

Posted in Music, Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Wizard of Oz’

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Lightweight, amusing and frothy, Broadway hit musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” seems an odd choice for the serious-minded Donmar Warehouse, but its U.S. high school hijinks and a cast full of fizz … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’