★★★★★ What a difference the sun makes! Although the downpours of last year’s inaugural Downs Festival failed to dampen the enthusiasm of a crowd determined to enjoy a culminating set from Massive Attack, this year’s vibe felt almost beach-like – with warm rays beaming down on a happy 27,000 sell-out crowd.
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★★★☆☆ Sara Kestelman brought the role palpable belligerence, but also convinced with a performance that exposed Shepherd’s vulnerability and potpourri of delusions – where God and the Highway Code seemed to collide – with just enough nouse to hold off officialdom, but at a loss as to her toilet.
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★★★★★ Occasionally, when all the elements that go into making theatre come together successfully, there can be alchemy, an enchantment that lifts a production to a level where it not only delivers delightful story telling, but also elicits a deeply emotional response from an audience. In a production that has been beautifully and lovingly crafted, these ‘flying lovers’ will live on in your memory for a long time to come.
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★★★★★ The play is set in the artist, Lucian Freud’s, studio. At one point he refers to his great grandfather as being ‘the elephant in the room’, but for us in the audience that role is taken by the invisible, naked sitter, his interlocutor who he cajoles, bullies, charms, threatens and seduces to his will . . . Mr Goodman has produced an exceptional, complete, varied and nuanced performance that is the match for any artistic endeavour in any medium.
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★★★☆☆ Sister Act may not be destined to join the ranks of the very greatest musicals, but it has a growing number of faithful devotees. Last night at the Hippodrome there were some in the audience in full nun’s regalia – the habit is catching on
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★★★☆☆ The story takes place during the Vietnam war and revolves around the whirlwind romance between a young barmaid, Kim (Sooha Kim) and the handsome American G.I. Chris (Ashley Gilmour). When the war forces them apart all they can do is think about being reunited . . .
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