“Isn’t that the problem with political theater, too much directness?” queries one of Anne Washburn’s characters in her new play – which, in meta fashion, and over a leisurely three hours, not only addresses Trump head on, but also painstakingly … Continue reading
This London premiere of Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe’s 2010 musical (based on Daniel Waters’ oh-so-Eighties cult classic movie, starring Christian Slater and Winona Ryder) had a development period at The Other Palace – no critics allowed – before cruising into the West End … Continue reading
Gerard Alessandrini is not throwing away his shot. The creator of satirical revue Forbidden Broadway realised that the unprecedented success of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical warranted a standalone show, and thus Spamilton was born. A 2016 Off-Broadway hit, the affectionate spoof now follows Hamilton over the pond. Read my … Continue reading
From buzzy Shakespeare productions and satirical opera to Sideways and dance at the Old Vic. Read my full BroadwayWorld article here
It trashed Olivia Newton-John’s film career, halted the movie-musical revival, and was so critically reviled it led to the creation of the Razzies. How, then, could the stage version of hubristic 1980 flop Xanadu become a 2007 Broadway hit? The answer, … Continue reading
Polo played in surplus First World War tanks; zeppelin shooting as a gentlemanly leisure pursuit; mighty vessel RMS Tyrannic, proud host of the Grand Ballroom Chariot Race and so safe “that she carries no insurance”. These are just some of … Continue reading
Morris Honeyspoon is a monster. In editorial conference, he halts objections with a blast of his air horn, and when a puppyish staffer challenges his blanket anti-immigration policy, Roman helmet-clutching Morris takes sadistic pleasure in ritually humiliating him. It’s not … Continue reading
“Fury Over Sharia Law For Toddlers!” No, not a prime example of spoof headline generator Daily Mail-o-matic, but the latest piece of fantastical scaremongering from the Clarion, a 125-year-old (semi-)fictional rag that’s upped sales by splashing on immigration every day … Continue reading
While seven-way debate rages, broadcaster and debuting playwright Jonathan Maitland takes us back 25 years to a radically different political landscape: a time of regents, and of regicide. It’s 1990 – Thatcher the leader claiming divine right to rule, Geoffrey … Continue reading
