LONDON'S
LATEST THEATRE NEWS
Sweeney Todd transfers to New Ambassadors Theatre
from 13 October
[31 August] It has been confirmed today that John
Doyle's production of the Stephen Sondheim musical
Sweeney Todd - which finishes a limited 11 week
season at The Trafalgar Studios at The Whitehall
Theatre on 9 October 2004 - will transfer to The
New Ambassadors Theatre from 13 October 2004. Tickets
for performances at The New Ambassadors are now
on sale through Albemarle of London
This new production of Stephen Sondheim’s
classic musical is presented by the Watermill Theatre’s
company of actor-musicians and comes into the West
End following a successful regional tour.
When the production opened in London The Financial
Times described it as "a fine, tight-knit ensemble
production... splendidly claustrophobic and urgent"
and The Independent said it was a "wonderfully
fresh and fierce, small-scale version," adding
that "what the production sometimes lacks in
technical finesse, it makes up in atmosphere, ensemble
spirit, versatility and acumen." More details....
Caroline O'Connor in Bombshells
opens 6 Sept - now booking
[25 August] Caroline O'Connor stars in Bombshells
opening at The Arts Theatre on 6 September 2004,
following previews from 4 September - tickets are
now on sale through Albemarle of London. The production
will play for an initial two month season.
Bombshells is a series of six monologues especially
written for Caroline O'Connor by Joanna Murray-Smith.
The production comes into London's West End following
a successful season at this year's Edinburgh Fringe
Festival - whre it won a 'Fringe First' award. More
details....
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
delays opening by nine days
[11 August] It has been announced today that the
play One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, which was
originally due to open at the Gielgud Theatre on
7 September 2004 (following previews from 3 September),
has now delayed its opening night in London by nine
days and will now open on 16 September 2004, following
previews from 3 September.
This production, which comes into London's West
End following a season at this year's Edinburgh
Fringe Festival, stars Christian Slater. Unfortunately
Slater came down with a bout of chickenpox two weeks
ago, causing problems with rehearsals and leading
to the cancellation of the first few performances.
A preview performance went ahead in Edinburgh yesterday
and it is hoped now that the rest of the Edinburgh
run will be completed prior to the show's transfer
to London.
Little Women - opens 13 Oct - now booking
[10 August] The play Little Women, adpted by Emma
Reeves from the book by Louise May Alcott, opens
at the Duchess Theatre on 13 October 2004, following
previews from 27 September - tickets are now on
sale through Albemarle of London.
Set in New England during the 1860's, the March
sisters - romantic Meg, fiery Jo, shy Beth and wilful
Amy - grow up in genteel poverty against the backdrop
of the American Civil War. With their father away
at war, the four girls must become 'Little Women'.
This production comes into the West End following
two sell-out seasons at the Lilian Baylis Theatre
at Sadler's Wells in London. More details....
Sweeney Todd:
"a fine, tight-knit ensemble production"
[10 August] John Doyle's production of the Stephen
Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd opened at The Trafalgar
Studios at the Whitehall Theatre on 27 July 2004.
This new production of Stephen Sondheim’s
classic musical is presented by the Watermill Theatre’s
company of actor-musicians and comes into the West
End following a successful regional tour.
Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,
is based on a 19th century legend of a half-mad
London barber, who is driven to crime when a malevolent
judge takes his wife and child from him. His plan
for revenge includes a cut-throat partnership with
Mrs. Lovett, an enterprising bar mistress, who is
soon producing the tastiest meat pies in all London.
When the production opened in London The Financial
Times described it as "a fine, tight-knit ensemble
production... splendidly claustrophobic and urgent."
"This wonderfully fresh and fierce, small-scale
version" The Independent wrote, "What
the production sometimes lacks in technical finesse,
it makes up in atmosphere, ensemble spirit, versatility
and acumen."
The Guardian highlighted that "this version
is strong on melodramatic horror, low on social
resonance," adding that "vital plot-points
get lost in Doyle's pocket-sized staging."
"You may miss the crowds of Londoners gorging
on Ma Lovett’s cannibal pies" commented
The Times, "but the compensation is theatrical
originality and a successful awakening of the audience’s
imaginations."
Sweeney Todd continues up to 9 October 2004, more
details....
Camelot: "an amiably pleasing show"
[9 August] Ian Talbot's revival of the Alan Jay
Lerner/ Frederick Loewe musical Camelot opened at
The Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, on 23 July
2004.
From their first meeting Arthur and Guenevere seem
a perfect match. When Lancelot arrives from France
all three must battle with their emotions in this
powerful love triangle. Meanwhile Arthur and his
knights of the round table try to defend Camelot
from foes with revenge on their agenda.
The cast features Russ Abbot as the lovable fool
'Sir Pellinore'.
When the production opened The Guardian described
it as "an amiably pleasing show" and The
Daily Telegraph commented that "the first half-a-dozen
numbers are catchy, tongue-in-cheek affairs; thereafter,
hokum and unearned sentimentality hold sway."
The Daily wrote: "Seventeen humable songs hung
on a hokey storyline. That's one way to view this
45-year-old musical... Far better, though, to see
Camelot as a light night out, here made memorable
by the comedian Russ Abbot."
"You often wish the show had more bite and,
despite the occasional sharp rhyme, more wit. Still"
said The Times, "there are some nice tunes
and some enjoyable acting."
Camelot continues in repertory up to 4 September
2004, more details....
Billy Elliot The Musical delays opening
now 11 May 2005
[9 August] It has now been confirmed that Billy
Elliot The Musical will have its official opening
on 11 May 2005 at the Victoria Palace Theatre, following
previews from 24 March.
When this production was officially launched in
June 2004 it was scheduled to open for a Christmas
season in December 2004 at a theatre in Newcastle
prior to its London opening at the Victoria Palace
Theatre on 5 April 2005, following previews from
11 March. But then last month it was announced the
proposed pre-London West End run at Newcastle was
being cancelled, the reason given by the producers
being that the project has evolved into one of such
magnitude that constraints of timing and budget
would make it impractical to stage it on a temporary
basis outside London.
Inorder to allow the creative team and the young
casts to have time to work on the production during
the previews, as usually happens, without the pressure
and exhaustion of performances every night it has
now been decided that the show will play a reduced
performance schedule during the seven week preview
period, with performances generally on Thursdays,
Friday and Saturdays only. More details
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