Theatre Reviews

YES, PRIME MINISTER – Manor Pavilion Theatre, Sidmouth

______ 15 July 2024 ______ 3*** ______ The TV series Yes, Minister and sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, were pivotal situation comedies of their time; garnering support and praise from politicians to critics to the man on the street. Running collectively through the best part of the 1980s whilst Margaret Thatcher was in Number 10 Downing […]

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PERFECT CRIME – Manor Pavilion Theatre, Sidmouth

______ 8 July 2024 ______ 2.5      **½ Opening in 1987 at an Off-Broadway Theatre, ‘Perfect Crime’ is still running; a younger equivalent to London’s ‘The Mousetrap’ (now in it’s 70th year!). More astonishing is the fact that (apart from a small handful of performances), the leading role of the psychiatrist, Margaret Thorne Brent,

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THE MASSIVE TRAGEDY OF MADAME BOVARY – Exeter Northcott Theatre

______ 20 June 2024 ______ 4**** ______ I have followed Cornwall-based Ha Hum Ah Theatre Company for some years now and their growth has been a joy to watch. In collaboration with the Minack Theatre, they are currently touring in ‘The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary’, an adaptation (of sorts) by John Nicholson. Now, Nicholson

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DINNER – Exeter University Theatre Company – Exeter University

______ 4 June 2024 ______ 5***** ______ The dinner party from hell is a tried and trusted setting for writers, from Shakespeare’s ‘Titus Andronicus’ to Graham Greene’s novel ‘Doctor Fischer of Geneva’ to Peter Greenaway’s film, ‘The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover’  – hosts setting up to humiliate their guests whilst offering

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THE ARTIST – Theatre Royal Plymouth

______ 20 May 2024 ______ 3*** ______ The 2011 film ‘The Artist’ broke many of the techniques of 21st century film making, playing homage to the silent era of cinema in its production as well as its story-telling. Covering the same ground as ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ along with attendant love story, ‘The Artist’ became

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HOUDINI’S GREATEST ESCAPE – Exeter Northcott Theatre

14 May 2024 ______ 3*** ______ There seems to be a plethora of small-scale shows around at the moment; tiny casts playing multiple characters, some based on classic stories and historical figures – indeed this the fourth such I have seen at Exeter Northcott Theatre in a few months. The concept has been made so

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HELL’S BELLS – Exeter Northcott Theatre

______ 20 March 2024 ______ 4**** ______ Cornwall-based, Miracle Theatre, have a long-standing reputation for inventive theatrical productions, often performed outdoors, so it is good to see them on tour to over 25 venues throughout the South West. Their current offering is a multi-charactered production but with only three actors in the cast. Now, I

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