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Review of THE DEEP BLUE SEA (follow link) at Bath Ustinov studio with Tamsin Grieg and Oliver Chris. This is quite simply the best version of Terence Rattigan’s greatest play we have ever seen. Read the review.

Dexys

Dexys at Poole Lighthouse, Wednesday 29th May (linked). They are a legend. Kevin Rowland is a tremendous performer and songwriter. The sound wasn’t good. The review contains criticisms. Live with it.

The Outfit

Film review (or rather brief comments with no plot spoiler) on THE OUTFIT, on Netflix. (Follow LINK) It looks like a stage play. It isn’t a stage play. It’s a film. It looks like Hitchcock. It isn’t Hitchcock. It’s set in Chicago 1956 and features three of the greatest British actors: Mark Rylance, Simon Russell-Beale and Johnny Flynn.

This is my second version in two weeks. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING directed by Sean Holmes (link to review). For a welcome change The Globe plays it in (superb) period costume with no significant gender switching. They also have as good a Beatrice and Benedick as I’ve ever seen in Ekow Quartey and Amalia Vitale. A perfect Globe experience – running all summer too.

Review of The Zombies at Poole Lighthouse. I saw them last year. This was even better, plus outstandingly good support from The Wandering Hearts.

Review of the Pulitzer Prize winning play ENGLISH, by Sanaz Toossi (LINKED). This is at the RSC’s The Other Place studio theatre until the end of May, then it moves to The Kiln in London for the month of June. It’s set in Iran, in an English class. It’s a must for ELT teachers but it’s also a very good play on cultural identity. My review goes into a lot of ELT detail too.

Review of THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND (linked), on 16th May at Bournemouth Pavilion with full set list and pictures. They were, as they always have been, astonishingly good. It’s the Funk Finale Farewell tour. You need to catch it.

Review of CAITLIN ROSE at the Railway Inn, Winchester added (follow link). The start of her UK tour, supported by and backed by a British band, Hollow Hands. Not one of my most fulsome reviews sadly. She was way better than her backing.

Review of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at the Watermill Theatre.(Follow link) This one takes place on a 1940s Hollywood film set. The music is great- all of the cast also play instruments. This is a very entertaining and funny version in a beautiful location. Running to 18 May.

Review of THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL at Chichester Festival Theatre (follow link). Mike Poulton (who adapted Wolf Hall for the stage) has switched to Philippa Gregory’s tale of Mary Boleyn … though really of Mary, Anne and George Boleyn. Costume drama doesn’t get better than this … lighting, set, costume, music all enhance the five star acting performances.