Archive for the 'Sondheim' Category
Thursday 14 June 2007
Andrew got terribly excited when he found out there would be a revival of David Storey’s play In Celebration. As a Storey virgin he felt it was time he dipped his toe into fresh waters. Storey’s plays are described as having “long descriptive passages detailing many items that appear at least superficially to play no role in furthering the plot”. Andrew claimed he was completely sold on the idea and dispatched Phil to the Duke of York’s Theatre to book before the stampede.
Of course Phil didn’t fall for Andrew’s enthusiasm for a minute. Could Andrew have been seduced by the West End debut of Hollywood heart-throb Orlando Bloom? Despite Andrew’s protestations Phil remained deeply suspicious. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Anne Reid, Betrayal, Daniel Radcliffe, David Storey, Equus, In Celebration, Into the Woods, Larry Lamb, London, National Theatre, Orlando Bloom, Saint Joan, Sondheim, The Five Wives of Maurice Pinder, The Hothouse, The Pain and the Itch, theatre, Triangle, west end | Leave a Comment »
Tuesday 22 May 2007
These are nerve-racking days for theatre producers.
If the Whingers can’t make it to the theatre, you can be sure their agents will. Having thoroughy enjoyed Side by Side by Sondheim, the Whingers wondered how much better it might be without the shambolic narration of Christopher Cazanove. Spies were swiftly dispatched to check out the wonderful Barry Cryer who took over the role until last Saturday. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Angela Rippon, Barry Cryer, London, Lord of the Rings, musicals, Pacific Overtures, review, showtunes, Side by Side by Sondheim, Sondheim, west end | Leave a Comment »
Saturday 19 May 2007
The pastiche of 1920s musical theatre featured in The Drowsy Chaperone reminded us that there’s a terrific revue waiting to be commissioned (Hey, Mr Producer. We’re talking to you, sir.) based around songs from shows within shows or shows within films. Or films within shows. Or films within films. Or just musical performances portrayed in a naturalistic context.
Anyway, anyway. Here are the Whingers’ Top Ten parodies and pastiches. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Bette Davis, broadway, Calamity Jane, Cole Porter, Frank Loesser, Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, Henry Mancini, Kiss Me Kate, Lionel Bart, London, Mel Brookes, movies, musicals, Oliver!, Sammy Fain, showtunes, Sondheim, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Producers, theatre, Victor/Victoria | 21 Comments »
Tuesday 1 May 2007
It was all very side by side for the Whingers last night.
Seated in the front row with Andrew and Phil to see Side by Side by Sondheim at The Venue were novice Whinger and self-confessed Sondheim groupie Michael with the now quite experienced would-be whinger Sharon.
Seated (symbolically?) one row behind was Phil’s sometime stand-in and wannabe, Agency Phil who often attends the theatre with Andrew when the real Phil is not available.
Thankfully, Andrew’s theory that if both Phils were to turn up in the same place that the universe would implode on itself turned out to be incorrect. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Adam Cooper, general whinging, London, musicals, review, Sondheim, theatre, west end | Leave a Comment »
A West End Whinger 