London > London Attractions

Advantages: Hilariously entertaining stage comedy
Disadvantages: You need a seriously open mind to watch this

...heard a lot about Jerry Springer - The Opera, not least of all the controversy recently caused when BBC2 showed a televised recording of the stage show. The biggest complaint by far was about the number of swear words contained within the show, followed closely by the religious morality of the production, but I have to take my hat off to Auntie, who stuck to her guns and broadcast the show anyway. If, like me, you've not been able to work out whether ...
...you through the world of Jerry Springer - The Opera and right now recommend that you try to get to see the show before it closes on February 19th. (According to the show's dedicated website, however, it will begin a tour of UK theatres in October 2005.) Like most good theatre productions, Jerry Springer - The Opera is split into two acts, the first depicting a Jerry Springer TV show, the second a Jerry Springer special: Jerry Springer In Hell. As ... Read review

Advantages: Totally and utterly entertaining!
Disadvantages: Prices for the seats at the back!

...to see Amanda Holden in Thoroughly Modern Millie in the West End.” “OK. That’s settled then – anything else?” “Nope. I think that’ll do for now, that’s probably quite enough for you to be getting on with!” She’s getting more fanatical than me – I’m actually really rather worried… ***THE THEATRE*** The Princes Theatre was the last theatre to be built on Shaftesbury Avenue and it opened on Boxing Day in 1911 with a production of ‘The Three Muskateers’. ...
...stayed in my head! THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE – the title song sung by Millie and the company. THE SPEED TEST – a sung typing test which just gets faster and faster with the stenographers (typists) tapping tap shoes in the background to simulate the noise of a typewriter. FORGET ABOUT THE BOY – sung by Millie after being hurt by Jimmy. I’M FALLING IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE – sung by Mr Graydon and Miss Elizabeth. Hilarious as this is the song where ... Read review

Advantages: It's a night out?
Disadvantages: It isn't very good!

...to Lloyd-Weber’s latest “epic” – the “Woman in White” last night which was an interesting but sadly disappointing experience. Having seen a few of his previous shows – Cats, Starlight Express, Joseph, Phantom, Sunset Boulevard, I had thought that the quality was improving, and his shows are usually entertaining if nothing else, so I was looking forward to a pleasant evening and forked out for 2 top price tickets. Quel erreur! Based on the novel ...
...mysterious, suspenseful psychological thriller, which the press quotes would have you believe is a well written masterpiece full of lush romantic melodies. To be fair – one should always ignore the press quotes though. For example the quotes from the Telegraph are:- 1) "Big, lush romantic melodies" from this sentence:- “It therefore gives me no pleasure at all to report that The Woman in White is a terrible disappointment. Yes, there are moments ... Read review

Advantages: Act 1 is a laugh a minute
Disadvantages: Slows down a little in Act 2

...there. Knowing that it's a Monty Python musical, at least for the most part, sets the anticipation up a notch, as do all the quotes on the posters you see all over the Tube (assuming you're a Londoner) and on the internet and everywhere even if you're not. If you've ever seen the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", you have an idea of what to expect as well, and that seemingly assures you of a good time. The problem with having this much anticipation ...
...with the theatre decorated in Monty Python style; the cartoon pictures of King Arthur matching those from the films and some amusing mock advertising slogans. Even the concessions are in on the joke; next to fairly standard fare, such as programmes and t-shirts, you can buy killer rabbit puppets, stress cows, or a Black Knight doll with removable arms and legs and Spam. If one look at the price list of "Ye Olde Rippey Offey Shoppe", as it has been ... Read review

Advantages: Great songs, set etc
Disadvantages: Awful script, some weak performances.

How can I refuse when the wife says, “I’m working in London soon – shall I go to the half-price ticket booth in Leicester Square to get some theatre tickets for the evening?” She’s quick to learn my lass – or just incredibly good at pandering to my wants… I’d never thought that from our very first date as a bona fide couple to see ‘The Complete Works of Shakespeare’ by the Reduced Shakespeare Company up in Sheffield, she’d be so eager to keep going ...
...working and soon there’ll be another member of the family to educate!! Actually, it will probably be a member of the family through whom Daddy can live all his childhood dreams of being an actor on the West End stage..! Anyway – when theatre is suggested, you lot know I’m not one to refuse... That would be just plain rude! And so it came to pass that we went to see ‘Tonight’s the Night’ at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London’s West End. ***THE ... Read review