London Theatre Reviews

REVIEW: Jersey Boys - LONDON
I had heard about Jersey Boys but not too much. I knew some of the songs in it but that was about it. When Andrew went to Melbourne last year he saw it and really like it. For a show to get Andrew’s tick of approval I knew there must be something good about it. WOW! This is such a fantastic show. Good story, good music, awesome band. Although it was a “jukebox Musical” it actually told a real story – similar to The Boy From Oz and nothing like Mamma Mia!

I didn’t really know anything about Frankie Valli or The Four Seasons. I knew most of the music but didn’t know anything about them so it was a great history into a very influential music group, especially in American Music and the development of a “white pop / soul” type of sound.

Once again, the show is very minimalistic with it’s sets. This seems to be the trend in all new musicals. The less set there is the less stage crew to pay to shift it! Fly towers and hydraulic stages can allow you to do some pretty impressive things!

This show was so good! The harmonies of the four leads were fantastic. Everything in this production was so solid and tight. The standard of shows I have seen so far has been amazing. Everything is so professional with all of the actors and performers committed to it. Even the Band have to commit to choreography and costumes in this show!

REASON FOR SEEING: Was this or Phantom… have organized to go to Melbourne to see Drowsy Chaperone and wanted to see if this would be worth seeing as well - YES
BEST OF: Took title away from HAIR as best band! Tightest and slickest production. FANTASTIC!
*On everywhere – could have seen it in Chicago and Toronto and New York if I wanted to! That could have been a really interesting contrast but 5 productions in 2 months may have been a little over board…


REVIEW: The Lion King - LONDON
I saw The Lion King in Sydney a couple of years ago and was amazed by everything. I saw The Lion King in London a couple of days ago and have never been so disappointed in my life! The show was terrible. It was long and boring. The actors looked bored, they sounded bored. I am convinced I knew the dialogue and songs better than some of them. There was no enthusiasim in the cast at all. I hop I am getting the point across that this was the most boring show I think I have ever seen – and I have sat through lots. I actually considered walking out at interval (I had even thought of leaving once or twice before interval. But I had paid full price for this ticket. This was one of the shows I was really wanting to see and after my stuff up in New York with not reading the performance schedule properly, I really wanted to see it.

I actually can’t even think of anything that impressed me about the show at all. Obviously the costumes and sets were still pretty amazing but the people operating them weren’t. I know it was a Wednesday matinee and it was snowing outside and there were lots of school groups in the theatre but they are PROFESSIONAL actors.

Anyway, as you can see I wasn’t really impressed with this at all and won’t write any more because it will all be the same…

REASON FOR SEEING: Wanted to see it again. It has been here for 10 years
BEST OF: Nothing.


REVIEW: Avenue Q - LONDON
Lion King was the first show that I saw for the second time and was very disappointed, but thought Avenue Q would be a good way to cheer up but was hesitant as it would be the second time I was seeing it within 10 days…

YAY! It was fantastic. I would even say better than what I saw in New York. The actors were better puppeteers, better singers and looked like they were having more fun. They even voiced the characters much better.

It was fun picking up on some of the subtle differences between the two productions. Some include Gary Coleman – played by a man, but also having to explain a lot about him. Different Strokes didn’t really make it big in London and they don’t really know who Gary Coleman is and instead of being the ‘Superintendant’ he is ‘The Handy Man’. It must be hard re-writing a show that is based on a lot of American pop-culture and trying to adapt it to international audiences. I am sure there will be some changes when I see it in a couple of weeks in Brisbane. There were some other things but talking about them would spoil the show for you so you will just have to wait until you have seen it and THEN ask me!

The New York theatre was more like the Powerhouse so it suited the contemporary style of the show, this very old and grand theatre that we saw it in London, felt a bit strange to be laughing about racism, internet and in general how much life sux!

Rob came along as well and it was his first time seeing it. He hadn’t heard any of the songs before so didn’t know what he was in for… a show with puppets - what has this Nutley feller got me into? Must of liked it because he is going to take Kate there before it closes in March because HAIR is moving into that theatre after it finishes on Broadway.

REASON FOR SEEING: To see it in three places in three months! And it was so good the first time!
BEST OF: Even funnier than Broadway.



REVIEW: Blood Brothers - LONDON
I had heard stories about how good this show was and figured if it had been running for 21 years it must being doing something right… It isn’t working for Lion King but moving on…

Blood Brothers tells the story of a mother who decides to give up one of her twin boys as she can not afford to keep both of them. The story then develops with the one she gives away leading an amazing life and the other one struggling just to make ends meet. However they become best friends and the story goes from there. I don’t want to give too much away incase you haven’t seen it yet.

As the show started, I was certain they were still using the original DX7 keyboards the show was written on. The live band were great but the music / sound patches and synth drums have dated more than the original Starlight Express – and that is saying something!

Once yhou get your mind back into the early 80’s and can deal with some really not good keyboard sounds, this is an amazing show. Mel C – former Spice Girls – plays the converted role of the mother – Mrs. Johnson. She sang the role quite well but really didn’t know how to act – luckily the rest of thes cast were brilliant – not one weak link in the whole show.

This is a show that, for a change, relies on a really good story / book. There are no show girls or chorus lines in this show, just well placed songs that help develop the story. It is a really well put together piece of theatre.

When Natalie saw this show she said that she was crying for most of it. But Natalie can cry if a TV commercial is sad so I really wasn’t basing the emotional journey on her report… however, the ending, which I won’t reveal, even made me shed a tear. This is such an amazing rollercoaster of emotion. The show opens with the final scene so you kind of know how it ends but then jumps back to the beginning and takes you on the journey of how it gets there – personally I would have preferred not to know how it ended. But the story is so gripping and quite emotional that when you get to the end you just have to sit in your seat for a moment or two to process it.

The whole concept of debriefing a show is something I have found hard. Normally you go to the theatre with friends and are able to talk about what you just saw – good bits, bad bits etc etc etc and I have really missed that element. That is why I think this blog has been important for me at least, although it is only a one way dialogue – although you can comment on each post or facebook or email me anytime, but it has allowed me to process my thoughts and when I need to talk about something I can go back to some of these notes! 10 shows in 11 days wqas quite a lot to process!

Anyway, back to the show… There is not much more to say except anyone who comes to London who enjoys a musical that has a real storyline and isn’t a Mamma Mia Jukebox style with a loose storyline, really should see this show. If you were only going to do one show in West End – don’t do this one, you will feel miserable after it. If you are going to do two shows in West End DO THIS ONE and then see Jersey Boys or Avenue Q or Priscilla or any number of other FUN shows!

REASON FOR SEEING: Had heard LOTS of good reports about it.
BEST OF: Story. Emotion. Acting.


REVIEW: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – the Musical - LONDON
I was wrecked when I walked out of Blood Brothers, maybe it was a little bit of home sick (now reaching the four weeks away point), maybe it was a bit of a theatre overload (is that actually possible - NO), maybe it was a combination of a lot of things but I needed some cheering up!

I knew the perfect show for this. Some people may disagree, but for me, the most fun I have had at a show was Priscilla in Sydney. It was fun, loud, bright ‘fabulous’ costumes and just a great night. Every song is a hit and every costume is stunning. This production never made it to Brisbane because Andrew Lloyd Webber decided he wanted it in London! Oh Well!

The only members of the original cast to come over were Tony Sheldon and Pricilla (the Bus). Tony Sheldon is still amazing. Late last year he did his 1000th performance as Bernadette and still gets the biggest cheer every night. His is one of the best performances I have seen. He is so natural in the role…

Anyway, Not much has changed – which was good. It was fun to play ‘spot the aussie’ in the audience because they were the ones who would laugh at some of the very Australian jokes or would laugh at the young boy who had a very thick British accent trying to do an Australian accent which turned into a really thick Kiwi accent – Very funny. I actually think they had reduced the amount of lines and on stage time for the boy.

The other hilarious thing was the token dark skinned Londoner tyring to play the aboriginal tracker. He sounded more like David Beckham than Ernie Dingo!

The show previously opened with an outline of the Sydney Harbor Bridge but has now been replaced by the Tower Bridge. Other than some minor dialogue changes the show is unchanged.

Priscilla also stared the token Australian in West End (now that Phillip Quast is about to head home for Mary Poppins and Tamsin Carol is busy with Oliver) – JASON “Scott” DONOVAN! There was one scene when the three were discussing Kylie songs and that went on and on and on and he didn’t say too much except for “I rather fancied Scott myself”. He was the weakest link in the whole show – just wasn’t as into it as everyone else.

This was the perfect answer to Blood Brothers and the perfect way to feel nostalgic as this was the last show I was to see in West End – for this trip anyway!


REASON FOR SEEING: Needed Cheering Up, Support Australian Theatre Internationally and it is a REALLY good show
BEST OF: Costuems, sets, atmosphere!