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Tag Archives: Park Theatre

Cry Havoc, Park Theatre – Review

“What is your relationship to this man?” It’s a question that recurs through Tom Coash’s play, and it’s one that neatly keeps the focus on the two central characters. These are Nicholas (Marc Antolin), a British academic working in Egypt, and his native lover Mohammed (James El-Sharawy). His name having been “on a list” since some political cartoons in his student days drew him to the attention of the authorities, the play begins with Mohammed, newly released from police custody, ...

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My Dad’s Gap Year, Park Theatre – Review

The naked arse and abs on the marketing material and on the cover of the play text don’t belong to the actors in this production. Presumably they were cast after the publicity deadline, so stand-ins were required. The gays like topless twinks, don’t they, so any pecs will do the job, right? It’s sad that this crude and demeaning strategy continues to pervade the presentation of gay theatre productions, and that prominent voices in the queer community are content to ...

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The Dame @ Park Theatre – Review

Pros: Peter Duncan captivates as a Panto Dame sparkling with allure and panache. As the limelight dies down, glad rags are shed and greasepaint is wiped off, vivid memories take centre-stage. Cons: A performer treads the boards, then succumbs to dressing room blues. It’s a lyrical but familiar story: underneath a wild grin, the tears of a clown. The Park Theatre, hidden right behind Finsbury Park station in North London, was glittering on a cold January night as cheerful crowds ...

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RETURN OF THE REGGIES (Part 1)

Such was the reaction to last year’s Reggies, we felt compelled to beg Brian to stage a sequel; so yes, we are proud to announce that the Reggies are back. Newly expanded to a ridiculously comprehensive seven categories, it’s a barometer of the best in London theatre during 2018. There may be only one person bestowing the Reggies, but there is a slavish dedication to fairness; sleepless nights agonising over who should be in, who should be out; yes Brian ...

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Honour, Park Theatre – Review

Pros: Outstanding performances bring passion to an effervescent script. Cons: Written 15 years ago, some of the sexual mores can seem outdated. An older man leaves his wife for a younger woman. It’s a story we’ve seen dozens of times before – but in Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith’s hands this age-old tale becomes something entirely new, through well-rounded characters and thought-provoking dialogue. George, in a compelling performance by Henry Goodman, is a celebrity intellectual, who dispenses his wisdom through TV ...

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The Other Place, Park Theatre – Review

Pros: A tremendous lead performance by Karen Archer. Cons: Although billed as a psychological thriller, it’s neither surprising nor subtle enough to properly fit that bill. The Park Theatre is modern, comfortable, and only a couple minutes’ walk from Finsbury Park station. Also, they have pizza. Why don’t more theatres do pizza? It’s two of my favourite things in the world, combined. The Other Place focuses on Juliana Smithton, a high-flying neurologist whose life starts to unravel when she is diagnosed ...

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Distance, Park Theatre – Review

Pros: The solid sound and lighting design. Cons: This pessimistic portrayal of mental illness doesn’t contribute to fighting the stigma, and risks sending out a discouraging message. The soaring incidence of suicide in British men under 45 has recently become one of the most recurrent topics in fringe theatre. This reflects an attempt to make sense of the phenomenon, raise awareness and, in many cases, try to suggest solutions. Playwright Alex McSweeney’s decision to explore this subject matter came after ...

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The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Park Theatre – Review

Pros: A brilliant cast and a magnificently scripted story provide the perfect combination. Cons: The musical interludes are all too brief, and annoyingly clipped to make way for more detail in the script. The Rise and Fall of Little Voice was released as a film in 1997 and featured a starry cast including Michael Caine and Brenda Blethyn, with Jane Horrocks in the title role. There’s always a dilemma seeing the stage version after you’ve seen the film: you naturally miss the  expansive ...

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