Review: 1984

Hey readers!
It's time for my review of 1984.
1984 ran at the Playhouse Theatre in London's West End a year ago, where I did have an interest in seeing it, but for reasons I cannot actually remember I did not get around to watching it. One reason may have been that the show featured graphic violence and I may have been too squeamish to go at that moment in time. Despite this though, I did not miss my chance to see 1984 on Broadway! One of my favourite TV shows, Big Brother, is based off the novel 1984, so I was intrigued to know what had inspired the TV show. I was also a fan of another of George Orwell's novels, Animal Farm, so I was very hyped to see this. I had heard of people vomiting and fainting during this show, so it was a little nerve-wracking, but I didn't let that put me off seeing it. I am pleased to say that I survived the entire show without vomiting or fainting. 1984 was certainly a unique and extremely strange experience; I had never encountered anything like it before. Based on the popular George Orwell novel, 1984 depicts a dystopian future where critical thought is suppressed under a totalitarian regime. 1984 is really interesting due to the fact that it helped me to see into the mind of George Orwell and what he imagined the future to be. Luckily for Earth, the majority of his predictions were incorrect, but it's still fascinating to see what he had envisioned. Having said that, George Orwell did correctly predict that there would be cameras everywhere, which is true without a doubt. Wherever I go, there are cameras everywhere. Security cameras, people videoing you in public, random people taking pictures of others, it really is quite scary if you truly think about it. George Orwell also predicted that humans would be capable of torturing others, something which is sadly true. Luckily though, Big Brother did not take over Earth, so he didn't get everything right! 1984 is excellently adapted to the stage by Robert Icke and Ducan Macmillan. They have written it in a way that builds tension throughout and has the audience on the edge of their seats. George Orwell would be proud! Parts of the show drag a little bit, but what makes the show is just one scene... Room 101. This is an extraordinary scene unlike anything I have ever seen before. Room 101 is where those who disagree with Big Brother are taken, where they are tortured until their beliefs change. It shows graphic torture with no censorship. Reed Birney and Tom Sturridge are excellent throughout this scene, which demands a lot from both actors. I admire the writers courage to be edgy in putting on such a scene, even if it had made people very uncomfortable. At the performance I was at, several people left during this scene (some running at the speed of light). When I think of this show, Room 101 is what I will remember. Tom Sturridge, as Winston, Olivia Wilde, as Julia, and Reed Birney, as O'Brien, all give brilliant performances in what must be very demanding roles. The lighting design was noteworthy, and stood out above other production aspects. The lighting design was particularly good during Room 101. My criticism with this production of 1984 was that I felt that the use of screen was largely overused. In 1984, certain scenes are filmed live backstage and shown to the audience on a screen. I understand what they were trying to achieve, but I personally wasn't a fan. If I wanted to watch actors on a screen, then I would choose to see a movie. To avoid using the screens so often instead of live acting, perhaps what they could try is to perform the scenes live in front of the audience, but still show them on the screen to keep the effect. My next point is not so much a criticism, but a recommendation: I believe that 1984 could have benefited from having a prologue to help people understand what was going on, as I have to admit, for the first 20 minutes or so I was a little bit confused. That's just a recommendation though, and others may feel differently.

The featured star of 1984 is, drum roll please... TOM STURRIDGE!

I did originally have the idea to give Reed Birney featured star, but after a lot of thought I have chosen Tom. Both Reed and Tom give memorable and phenomenal performances, and they are mostly on a parr. The reason I have chosen Tom is because the role of Winston is an extremely challenging and demanding role, it requires a lot from the actor portraying him. It's amazing to think that Tom does 8 performances a week, it must be very tiring!

Now for my final verdict on 1984. I give 1984...

This decision comes on the basis that it is a unique and very well written play, but has one or two flaws. 1984 will be playing on Broadway until October, so if you want don't want to make Big Brother angry, don't miss your chance to see it!

Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.

Thanks for reading!

-The Reviewer

Review: A Doll's House, Part 2

Hey readers!
It's time for my review of A Doll's House, Part 2.
A Doll's House, Part 2 originally caught my attention when I heard of the great reception that Laurie Metcalf had received when performing in the role of Nora. I would have loved to see Laurie in the role that gained her a Tony Award, however she left the show several days before I arrived in New York. Despite the cast change, I still had an interest in seeing the show, as it sounded very unique. A Doll's House, Part 2 has one or two flaws, but I still found it to be very interesting and enjoyed watching it. Lucas Hnath, the writer of A Doll's House, Part 2, has been extremely daring by writing this play; he really has shown a high level of innovativeness. To take on writing a sequel of a play first written in 1879 is very brave, and I believe the writer should be applauded for being willing to do something so unique and rare. It's something that I doubt Broadway has seen in the past. In the final scene of Ibsen's 1879 ground-breaking masterwork, Nora Helmer makes the shocking decision to leave her husband and children, and begin a life on her own. This climactic event - when Nora slams the door on everything in her life - instantly propelled world drama into the modern age. In A Doll's House, Part 2, many years have passed since Nora's exit. Now, there's a knock on that same door. Nora has returned. But why? And what will it mean for those she left behind? It's an extremely interesting concept and it's really fun to see it being played out. A Doll's House, Part 2 has the audience on the edge of their seats from beginning to end wondering what on Earth will happen next. With the characters emotions flying high, the show is very unpredictable. Others may feel differently, but I personally had no clue as to what would happen in the end, which made it exciting. Julie White, as Nora, and Stephen McKinley Henderson, as Torvald, had only been performing in those roles for a week when I visited the show and they seemed to be fitting in quite well. The role of Nora is very demanding, so it will take a while for Julie White to become fully comfortable in the role, but I know for sure that she will get better and better as her run continues. Stephen McKinley Henderson very much suited the role of Torvald and he made the character relatable and likeable. For me, Jayne Houdyshell was the star of the show. I've heard a lot about her many Broadway performances and I was very impressed with her performance as Anne Marie. Her comic timing is impeccable! Erin Wilhelmi's performance of Emmy was by no means bad, but I really struggled to understand her character, and I wasn't sure if this was due to her performance or the writing. I hope she will warm to the role as time goes on. I was a big fan of the costume; all characters had excellently designed costumes. They suited the time period nicely. My one criticism for the show is that I had difficulty with some of the writing of the play. There were certain parts where I just couldn't understand the motives of the characters and their thought process. This mostly applies to the final part of the show, where I was left somewhat confused by Nora's final choice.

The featured star of In the final scene of A Doll's House, Part 2 is, drum roll please... JAYNE HOUDYSHELL!

I went back and forth on this decision, as Jayne gave the best performance, however she had a large advantage due to being with the show longer than her co-stars. In the end though, I had to give it to Jayne. This was a hilarious and very memorable performance. She has less stage time than the two leads, but she certainly made an extremely large impact on me. 

Now for my final verdict on A Doll's House, Part 2. I give A Doll's House, Part 2...

There was a part of me which wanted to give A Doll's House, Part 2,4 stars, however with the new star rating system now in place, 3 stars seemed like the appropriate star rating. It is still a terrific show and the new cast will only become better and better!

Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.

Thanks for reading!

-The Reviewer 

Review: Anastasia

Hey readers!
It's time for my review of Anastasia.
Anastasia was a must-see for me during my time in New York, with a long list of things pulling me towards this production. There has been an extremely large amount of buzz surrounding Anastasia as of late and I had heard many great things about it. In addition, the storyline sounded wonderful and the production looked stunning from the clips I had seen online. When I visited the box office, I found out that Anastasia was largely sold out, however luckily there were two seats left, which my Mum and I quickly bought before they were gone. I am extremely pleased to report that Anastasia is a beautiful tale and is, in my opinion, one of the best shows on Broadway right now. From the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, the new musical, Anastasia, is the romantic, adventure-filled story of a brave young woman attempting to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing young con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family. I adored this storyline; I found it to be both extremely inventive and clever. It's very intriguing and even left me questioning history, so after the show I did further research into the real Grand Duchess Anastasia. I was highly impressed by the book, written by Terrence McNally, due to the fact that the show is well structured and the spoken dialogue is great. The accompanying score is also beautiful, with many wonderful songs (the show has 25 songs in total). The highlight song of the show, which stands out above everything else, was 'Journey to the Past'. This is a delightful song and has remained in my head weeks after seeing the show. Cast members who stood out were Christy Altomare as Anya, Derek Klena as Dmitry, John Bolton as Vlad, Ramin Karimloo as Gleb, Caroline O'Connor as Countess Lily and Mary Beth Peil as Dowager Empress. Every single cast member in Anastasia brings something very special to the show and all these performances were very memorable. It is a very talented cast! On the production side of things, everything is fantastic. The Tony Award nominated costumes were brilliant and the best I have seen in quite a while. They are extremely detailed and help to transport you to the 1900's. A good friend of mine who had seen Anastasia a few months ago criticised the sets due to the heavy use of screens. It is true that Anastasia relies heavily on the use of screens, however I really liked them They helped me to transport to Anastasia's world and they were extremely effective. I wouldn't want screens to be used in every show, but I think they work well in this instance. The lighting and choreography are also superb and I have no bad words to say about either of them. All in all, Anastasia is a brilliant and phenomenal show. The show will be visiting many different countries over the next few years and it is one I recommend to everyone who lives in a country that Anastasia visits. It is not one to be missed!

The featured star of Anastasia is, drum roll please... CHRISTY ALTOMARE!

This decision was easy for me. All cast members are stunning, but Christy gives a performance like no other. Many say she was born to play this role, and I would have to agree with that. She suits this role so perfectly, it's hard to imagine anyone else playing Anya. I am absolutely gobsmacked that she did not receive a Tony nomination. If this performance was not Tony nomination worthy, then I don't have a clue what is!

Now for my final verdict on Anastasia. I give Anastasia...

This was tough, as Anastasia is borderline 5 stars. If I did half stars, Anastasia would receive 4 and a half stars. After a lot of thought, I chose to give Anastasia a 4 star, but I would certainly understand any arguments that would give Anastasia 5 stars.

Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.

Thanks for reading!

-The Reviewer

Review: Bandstand

Hey readers!
It's time for my review of Bandstand.
After seeing a few clips of Bandstand on both the internet and on TV, I had a read of the synopsis to see if it was a show I would be interested in. It sounded like the type of show I would like, so on my second day in New York I headed to the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre and got some rush seats. I am pleased to say that Bandstand certainly lived up to my expectations and I had a brilliant time! Set in the smoke filled, swing fueled night clubs of 1945, Bandstand brings the against-all-odds story of singer/songwriter Donny Novitski and his band of mismatched fellow WWII veterans to the stage. The story is extremely moving and it truly helps people to understand what a difficult time veterans can have when they return from fighting for their country. Bandstand has given me a deep appreciation for what our veterans have done and we must never forget all that they do, and have done, for us. I believe that Bandstand has the power to inspire others and encourage people to follow their dreams, despite what may have occurred in the past. The story is accompanied by a wonderful big band score, featuring many memorable tunes composed by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor. Every single cast member from this show gives an incredible performance, with stand-outs being Laura Osnes as Julia Trojan, Corey Cott as Donny Novitski, Beth Leavel as June Adams, Joe Carroll as Johnny Simpson, Brandon J. Ellis as Davy Zlatic, James Nathan Hopkins as Jimmy Campbell, Geoff Packard as Wayne Wright and Joey Pero as Nick Radel. The cast play their own instruments, which makes Bandstand a great showcase for the cast's talents. All great actors, all great singers and all great dancers! The Tony Award winning choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler is thrilling. I have seen Andy Blankenbuehler's work in both Hamilton and Cats and I am becoming a bigger and bigger fan of his. His movement based choreography is fantastically done, he is one of the best choreographers on both the West End and Broadway at this moment in time. The lighting, costume and set design were all very noteworthy too. They all suit the era that Bandstand is set in extremely well. Sadly, Bandstand posted closing notice the other day which is a real shame as I think this is an outstanding show, but as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. I hope that Bandstand will have a life beyond Broadway; fingers crossed for a West End transfer!

The featured star of Bandstand is, drum roll please... LAURA OSNES!

For Bandstand, the option of featured star was between Corey Cott and Laura Osnes, who are both equally talented. At the end of act one, I would have most likely chosen Corey, however by the end of the show Laura's performance left a really big impression on me so I decided to choose her. Laura was perfectly cast in the role of Julia. Her acting and singing was utter perfection, it was a mesmerising performance.

Now for my final verdict on Bandstand. I give Bandstand...

Bandstand is a definitive four star in my eyes. It is a high quality show and I would definitely recommend that people see it before it closes on September 17th.

Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.

Thanks for reading!

-The Reviewer

Review: War Paint

Hey readers!
It's time for my review of War Paint.
The first thing to grab my attention from this show was the stunning performance that Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole gave at the Tony Awards, back in June this year. Despite the Tony Awards ceremony not being as great as usual, War Paint gave a phenomenal performance and left me really wanting to see the show. After just a few hours in New York, I made my way over to the Nederlander Theatre, where I was able to get some well priced rush tickets. War Paint is an extremely sophisticated and classy production and has the feeling of an old classic, despite it being a new show. The force behind the show and what puts it above other shows on Broadway right now are the phenomenal performances of Patti LuPone as Helena Rubinstein and Christine Ebersole as Elizabeth Arden. They give wonderful characterisations that truly help the audience understand every thought and feeling of their characters. When Patti and Christine are united they are unsurpassed! They make the perfect team, that I doubt many people would be able to match. Adding to their terrific performances are John Dossett as Tommy Lewis and Douglas Sills as Harry Fleming. They also give faultless performances and are a great addition to the show. Despite both characters making poor decisions, I could still understand their thought process, which was due to the superb performances given. The rest of the cast are all also excellent; the show features many stunning actors, singers and dancers. The storyline of War Paint follows the two women responsible for make-up becoming so popular and it is absolutely fascinating. Against all odds, these two women changed the world for better or worse, whilst competing with each other to become the best in the business. Every song from the show is brilliant and I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to the cast album. War Paint has a large amount of memorable tunes; I would be very surprised to hear if someone had disliked the score. I have personally found 'Face to Face' a moving and memorable song; it's been in my head ever since I saw the show a week and a half ago. The set, lighting and costume design were all done to the best extent possible and were extremely impressive. In my eyes, this show is perfect in all aspects. The cast is great, the music is great, the storyline is great and the design is great. All round, it's a terrific show!

The featured star of War Paint is, drum roll please... PATTI LUPONE!

Patti and Christine's performances are practically equal and it was really hard to choose a favourite. However, having to choose only one, I had to go with Patti. Patti LuPone is someone I have heard so much about. Before seeing War Paint, I had most likely heard or read her name over 100 times! I was really struck by her performance, she translated Helena very well to the audience. I felt that I could understand all of what Helena had gone through and all of her motivation to do what she does. In addition to this, I was extremely impressed at Patti's ability to sing with a Polish accent. 

Now for my final verdict on War Paint. I give War Paint...

This decision was easy for me. A 4 star is a standard good show which I give high recommendation to; War Paint fits this category perfectly!

Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.

Thanks for reading!

-The Reviewer

Important Notice: A Change To My "Star Rating System"

Hey readers!

It's rare for me to post anything other than a review on this blog, but I just wanted to let all of you know that I have had a recent change of heart towards my "star rating system" which will impact my reviews and the types of ratings I give.

In the past, I would give a show 1-5 stars (having said that, I've never given a show 1 star). I plan to keep that the same, however I will be changing the method in which I choose how many stars a show deserves. Prior to this post...

• A 5 star would be something that stunned be beyond words
• A 4 star would be any show I thought to be good
• A 3 star would be a show I wasn't a fan of
• A 2 star would be a show I despised
• A 1 star would have to be something I would walk out of (but that's never happened)

There were a few flaws with this system, with one being that the 4 star rating covered far too many shows. 4 covers anything from "good" to "great, and in most cases they were very far apart and something it just didn't seem right for shows I enjoyed much more than others to get the same rating. And therefore, here is my new system of rating...

• A 5 star is a show that is exceptional and flawless. Something that is very, very special
• A 4 star is your standard good show, which I would give high recommendation to
• A 3 star is something which is a little less than a 4 star due to one or two flaws, but still good
• A 2 star is a flawed production which I feel could do with much improvement 
• A 1 star is a show I did not like in the slightest and regretted seeing

I think this new star system will work well, and I hope all of you approve it. If anybody has any further comment on it, please feel free to either leave a comment below or send me a message on Twitter (@TheReviewer23). This change is just in time for the beginning of my reviews of American shows, which will include reviews from New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago! 

That's all for now!

-The Reviewer

Review: Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story

Hey readers!
It's time for my review of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story.
I first saw Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story over 6 years ago, which I have a distinct memory of as it was the day before my Birthday. I really enjoyed the show 6 years ago and I am happy to say that I have come away with the same thought after seeing it second time around. I'd actually forgotten large portions of the show, so it was nice to refresh my memory. There are many things that I love about this musical, but the main one is that I personally feel that when you see Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, a good time is guaranteed! The show is able to achieve getting the whole audience up on their feet dancing at the end of the show, which is an extremely hard task to achieve. It's the type of show with a high level of 'feel-good factor' and will be enjoyable for all ages regardless if you are familiar with the music. A leading cause of the show being so fun is the use of audience interaction. There are a few points throughout the show where the actors require audience interaction, such as seeing which section of the audience are able to cheer the loudest. It was a really nice addition and kept the audience on their toes throughout. The songs are phenomenal; it's truly amazing to think that Buddy Holy wrote such a large amount of songs in such a small amount of time. My favourite songs from the show were 'Johnny B. Goode' and 'La Bamba' (even though La Bamba wasn't performed by Buddy). The music is excellently performed by an absolutely amazing cast. All cast members are multi-talented and they all excelled in their roles. There are some phenomenal musicians amongst them! I found the storyline to be really interesting, and even found parts of it to be somewhat inspiring. Rock 'n' roll was ahead of its time, but Buddy followed his heart and continued to create the music that he loved playing. Despite the odds being against him, he achieved this and created a successful career out of this. The set, lighting and costumes were all designed very well and had no apparent faults. If I had to pick a criticism of the show, I would say that, whilst the book is mostly well written , it could do with some fixing in certain places. In really life, Buddy Holly died in a tragic plane crash age only 22, which had a big impact on the music world. This was an extremely big event, but I felt that the show glossed over it a little too much. I was really eager to see what the aftermath would have been, but none of it is shown. Having said that, I understand why it isn't featured, as they try and maintain a good vibe within the show. Another small critique I have is that there were a few sound issues, but that wasn't a major issue.

The featured star of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story is, drum roll please... GLEN JOSEPH

Glen is incredible in the role of Buddy; he nailed literally every aspect of the role. He acted the part really well, he was an amazing singer and was phenomenal at playing the guitar. Glen was the perfect choice to play Buddy, his performance was utter perfection!

Now for my final verdict on Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story. I give Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story...

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story didn't quite achieve my 5 star rating, but it was very close. It's a show filled with lots of fun and I would recommend it to anyone of any age looking for a fun afternoon/night out.

Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.

Thanks for reading!

-The Reviewer