A small group of Whatsonstage.com theatregoers made their way to Hammersmith last night for Sean Holmes’ first production as artistic director of the Lyric Hammersmith. Choosing to revive Trevor Griffith’s 1975 classic Comedians Holmes’ directed a stellar cast in a really entertaining evening of theatre.

A play in three acts, Comedians asks big questions about what it is to be funny, what is at the heart of the comedian’s art and how to push the boundaries of that art. Matthew Kelly plays Eddie Waters the retired comic training the six aspiring comedians while David Dawson does justice to the role of Gethin Price the one comic most willing to question the established norms. Reese Shearsmith, Mark Benton, Simon Kunz, Billy Carter and Michael Dylan as the other aspiring comics are all funny and touching by turns and play their specifc characters with striking honesty. Keith Allen as the formidable talent scout plays the cynic with style and is a fantastic counter to Matthew Kelly’s  ideas of comedy as truth. (more…)

Last night Whatsonstage.com theatregoers were treated to a classic revival at the Young Vic as the wild West came to London with Irving Berlin’s 1946 Broadway hit, Annie Get Your Gun. There was shooting, dancing, a chicken, a plethora of well known songs and four pianos to name but a few of the treats in last night’s truly entertaining performance.

This is a classic love story, the great hurdle to overcome being Annie Oakley’s abilty to shoot better than the man she loves, Frank Butler. It may not be the most politically correct story (Annie cannot win at shooting if she wants to win Frank) but the fantastic music and lyrics and the very heart of the piece allow you to enjoy this show for what it is, a wonderful piece of very entertaining theatre! Julian Ovenden plays Frank Butler with real panache and with his beautiful voice and fantastic costumeshe has us all the ladies wishing that they were Annie! Jane Horrocks plays a marvelous Annie Oakley. Her vocal range is astounding and her Annie is honest and engaging throughout.

This is a massively stripped down prodution with only four pianos and a fantastic ensemble cast who play a variety of roles showing amazing skill. The set design is impressive and a simple stage is by turns an inn, a train and a boat. After this enchanting show we were treated to a really entertaining Q&A attended by the Young Vic artisitc director David Lan, Julian Ovenden, Jane Horrocks and many of the other members of the cast as well which was a real treat! Edited highlights from this Q&A will appear on the news section of the site shortly so please check those out!

Please do feel free to email your comments and thoughts about the play, as well as any photos you have of the event and the evening through to  feedback@whatsonstage.com, we love to hear from you.

Thanks for joining us for this event, and do check the homepage to keep up to date on all of our upcoming Outings.

Laura Norman

Club Manager

Last night over one hundred Whatsonstage.com theatregoers braved the first chill of winter to see Speaking in Tongues at the Duke of York’s Theatre and I for one can assure you that it was well worth the trip.

Andrew Bovell’s play asks a lot of the audience but if you are willing to give it you are sure to be rewarded. Telling the seperate but extraordinarily linked lives of four couples we are taken through a plethora of emotions and asked questions of love, truth, fidelity, dreams and the very way we live our lives. With only four actors playing nine parts, they work hard to deliver the very complex and emotional pieces but all four actors, John Simms, Ian Hart, Kerry Fox and Lucy Cohu are more than up to the challenge. The set is minimal but effective and use of filmic elements adds a haunting quality to this thought provoking piece. Under Toby Frow’s direction not a movement is wasted and every step has weight. (more…)

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An unusual sort of excitement came with last night’s Group Outing as more than 100 Whatsonstage.com theatregoers took to Wyndham’s Theatre to see the iconic film The Shawshank Redemption come to life on the stage. Can a film, so well-known and well-loved, transfer to the stage? The critics in Dublin earlier this year certainly seemed to think so and by the end of the play we had to agree.

Taking on the roles of Andy and Red, Kevin Anderson and Reg E Cathey did justice not only to these complex parts but to their dynamic relationship. While certain scenes are missing and some have been added the power of this story is not once lost and Peter Sheridan’s skillful direction makes this a moving piece of theatre. We were lucky enough to be joined by Peter Sheridan, Reg E Cathey and one of the writers Dave Johns after the show for a really interesting Q&A. They tell us of the drafting process, the plays difference from the film and of forming their own versions of Andy and Red.

Please do feel free to email your comments and thoughts about the play, as well as any photos you have of the event and the evening through to feedback@whatsonstage.com, we love to hear from you.

Thanks for joining us for this event, and do check the homepage to keep up to date on all of our upcoming Outings.

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It isn’t often that a play makes you laugh, cry, question and want to go out and buy a biography but last night a small but enthusiastic group of Whatsonstage.com theatregoers got just that when they came on an Outing to The Mountaintop at Trafalgar Studios 1.

Set in room 306 of the Lorraine Motel the night before King’s assissination Dr King meets a hotel maid who is much more than meets the eye. Deeply emotional this play tells us of King the man rather than the icon. David Harewood plays a believeable and moving King catching King’s vocal range and style with skill while Lorraine Burrough, as the extraordinary maid is captivating with her energy and honesty. (more…)

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Peter Pan, JM Barrie’s enduring family classic came to life last night in Kensington Garden’s specially commissioned Theatre Pavilion which boasts a 360-degree scenic projected design. One can’t help but be swept away in this well known tale of the boy who didn’t want to grow up as Peter and the Darling children soar above you and the London skyline flies around your head.

I am sure that our 250 theatregoers, ranging from 6 to 60 will be able to tell you their favourite part whether it be the versatile but simple set which pirates, lost boys, indians, mermaids, fairies, grown ups and children climb in and out of with ease, or the amazing puppet work, naughty tinkerbell, dashing Peter or dasterdly Captain Hook. (more…)

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Following our hugely successful Outing to the Menier Chocolate Factory to see A Little Night Music we here at Whatsonstage.com were most excited to see this wonderful play at the West End’s Garrick Theatre and were not disappointed. As many of our theatregoers can confirm, this is a play that simply gets better the more often you see it!

A comic tale of love lost and regained with music and lyrics by Steven Sondheim this wonderful piece of theatre had us laughing out loud at the mournful Henrick, exuberant Anne and pompous Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm. Under the skillful direction of Trevor Nunn this play transfers from the small and intimate space of the Chocolate Factory to the larger Garrick Theatre with ease. (more…)

Tom Stoppard’s 1993 modern classic, Arcadia had Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers thinking last night as we enjoyed this thoroughly entertaining comedy of ideas at the Duke of York’s theatre.

Two writers search out the history of the Croom country house; meanwhile the history plays itself out before us in real time. And so the actual story and the history of that story begin to twine before our eyes. Asking questions about the way we understand the world from mathematical therom to poetry and the substance of history this play not only asked us to think but made us laugh aswell. The very impressive cast including Samantha Bond, Neil Pearson and Ed Stoppard are expertly directed by David Leveaux and sustain the pace of this witty, wordy and downright clever play. (more…)

Last night Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers were treated to a night of fabulous dancing, wonderful singing and magnificent costumes as we were whisked away into the world of La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre.

Roger Allam, having recently taken on the role of Albin, plays this tempremental but deeply kind hearted drag queen with real empathy and comedy while Philip QUast does a stunning job as patient and loving Georges. All the cagelles who can-can, twirl and leap across the stage do justice to the fascinating world of La Cage so effectively brought to life by the creative team. This evening of fun which ended in a standing ovation was followed by a Q&A which was both interesting and amusing. (more…)

The Royal Court’s Wallace Shawn season concludes with Shawn’s 1985 play Aunt Dan and Lemon. This unusual tale is told through the prism of Lemon’s memories, particularly of her Aunt Dan who is an important influence in her life. The play centres around memories of one particular summer that Aunt Dan spends with Lemon’s family expounding her views on Kissinger and telling the stories of her life in London.Jane Horrocks plays the difficult character of Lemon with real finnesse while Aunt Dan, a powerful force on stage, is brought strikingly to life by Lorraine Ashbourne. (more…)