REVIEW: Side by Side by Sondheim at the Jack Studio Theatre

This rich and varied show focusing on the talents of Stephen Sondheim is filled with warmth and humour that doesn’t fail to win you over as the evening progresses.

Narrated by Musical Director Stuart Pedlar, the evening is also fascinating with the numerous antidotes about Sondheim and the shows that he was involved with creatively. It seems appropriate for Pedlar to narrate the evening as he has had long experience with both this show when it originally appeared in the West End and other Stephen Sondheim works.

REVIEW: Miss Leading Ladies at the St. James Studio Theatre

This wonderfully funny show takes a nostalgic look at some of the greatest ladies to have graced the stage and screen.

As the audience steps into the studio, they are immediately transported into what spears to be a smoky jazz club, helping the audience to get in the mood for what they were about to see. But it also allows them to focus on brother and sister duo Ceri Dupree and Ria Jones constantly without ever losing our attention.

REVIEW: Twelfth Night at the Space Theatre

The intimate surroundings of this converted church is a perfect setting for Pell Mell’s production of Twelfth Night, allowing the audience to feel as though they are intimately involved with the events in the play.

Set in and around a Victorian music hall, this production combine’s dance with circus acts that can be distracting to watch and makes certain sequences such as the opening scene feel overly long and unnecessary – despite how creative it is.  The dance opening the play although well choreographed feels out of place in this Shakespeare play.

However because of the intimate nature of the production, it allows the audience to purely focus on the characters and what is happening. But director Natalie York has also added a darker element to the play that changes the perspective thanks to the circus setting – scenes such as when Malvolio is being taunted by Maria, Sir Toby and others bring to mind bear baiting and other similar activities which adds a cruel streak, making it hard to watch at times.