All stories by Michael Billington on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Regeneration review right time to bring Pat Barker's war novel to stage by Michael Billington

Royal and Derngate, Northampton Predominant note is of infinite sadness at the idea of men being "cured" in preparation for near-certain death Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:08PM[SHARE]
Monday, September 1, 2014

Retiring, the Telegraph's theatre critic Charles Spencer? You must be kidding by Michael Billington

For a quarter of a century, my Telegraph colleague has been writing forthright and fearless reviews his candour will be sorely missed following his decision to quit Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:54AM[SHARE]
Sunday, August 31, 2014

Toast review Bread-factory drama brings out the best in Bean by Michael Billington

Park theatre, LondonRichard Bean vividly captures the blitz spirit of earning a crust, with strong performances from Matthew Kelly, Simon Greenall and John Wark Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:30PM[SHARE]
Friday, August 29, 2014

Pitcairn review what happened after mutiny on the Bounty by Michael Billington

There are problems in paradise in Richard Bean's ingenious look at a failed attempt to create an island utopia Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:05AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Hay Fever review hysteria rules as Felicity Kendal does Coward by Michael Billington

Theatre Royal, BathThis faithful revival of Noël Coward's durable comedy of bad manners is smartly performed by Kendal and Michael Simkins Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:00PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Bad Jews review scalding rhetoric between hissing cousins by Michael Billington

Ustinov Studio, BathJoshua Harmon's provocative play raises questions about what it means to be Jewish in today's global culture Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:55AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Sommer 14: A Dance of Death review engrossing and controversial war play by Michael Billington

Finborough, LondonThe German writer Rolf Hochhuth blames Winston Churchill for the sinking of the Lusitania in this skilful and provocative piece Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:28AM[SHARE]
Monday, August 11, 2014

Edinburgh festival 2014 review: The James Plays Munro's trilogy is full of topical resonance by Michael Billington

Festival theatre, EdinburghThe Killing's Sofie Gråbøl rules the stage in Rona Munro's stories about James I, II and III Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:34AM[SHARE]
Sunday, August 10, 2014

Edinburgh festival 2014 review: The War art theatre with a vengeance by Michael Billington

The staging is ingenious, the music fiercely eclectic, but it's hard to make out the central ideas in Vladimir Pankov's hyper-stylised first world war spectacular Playwright breaks Russian s…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:37AM[SHARE]
Friday, August 8, 2014

Thérèse Raquin review Pippa Nixon seems destined for stardom by Michael Billington

Theatre Royal, BathEmile Zola's feverish, intense novel is exactly realised in this ultra-theatrical production Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:43AM[SHARE]
Thursday, August 7, 2014

The White Devil review putting the patriarchy on trial by Michael Billington

The Swan, StratfordMaria Aberg update of the Webster play foregrounds its gender politics but ultimately loses as much as it gains Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:36AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 6, 2014

My Night With Reg review fine revival for caustic study of gay manners by Michael Billington

Donmar Warehouse, LondonKevin Elyot's breakthrough 1994 piece is well played, catching the secret fears and surface buoyancy of a group of companions 'His subject was the longing for love': …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:07AM[SHARE]
Friday, August 1, 2014

Dessa Rose review too complicated for its own good by Michael Billington

Trafalgar Studios, London Ahrens's treatment of race relations is more exhausting than spiritually enlightening Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:42AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, July 30, 2014

The Nightmares of Carlos Fuentes review an Iraqi's identity crisis by Michael Billington

Arcola, LondonThis story of a Sunni man who flees sectarian Iraq for a life in Britain is more striking in individual scenes than as a whole Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:19AM[SHARE]
Monday, July 28, 2014

A Streetcar Named Desire review Powerful insight into incomplete people by Michael Billington

Young Vic, LondonAlthough this modern update of Tennessee Williams's play isn't always plausible, Gillian Anderson's performance is stellar Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:33PM[SHARE]
Friday, July 25, 2014

The Nether review disturbingly sensationalist digital dreamlands by Michael Billington

Royal Court, LondonJennifer Haley's prizewinning play triggers a fascinating debate about online fantasy it's just a shame she sets out to shock us Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:04AM[SHARE]

Nicholas Hytner: 'No one's filling my shoes, I'm taking them with me' by Michael Billington

The National Theatre's director steps down next year, after introducing live broadcasts, cheap tickets and a wealth of new writing. How does he reflect on his tenure? Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:01AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Shakespeare in Love review a heady celebration of the act of theatre by Michael Billington

Noël Coward theatre, LondonMany of the best lines may come from the film, but the play manages to be a warm and witty paean to life on the stage Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:25PM[SHARE]

The Two Gentlemen of Verona review delightful dip into the power of love by Michael Billington

Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonDirector Simon Godwin eagerly explores the light and dark sides of romance in a striking RSC debutIt is astonishing to think it is 45 years sinc…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:03AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Galway arts festival, where dragons roam the streets by Michael Billington

Mythical creatures and Frasier's dad jostle with the crowds enjoying a surprising mix of art, music and new Irish playsThe Galway international arts festival is full of surprises. On Sunda…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:33AM[SHARE]

Medea review Carrie Cracknell's play is a tragic force to be reckoned with by Michael Billington

Olivier, LondonHelen McCrory excels in this modern-dress take on Euripides that is alive with complexity and psychological astutenessAfter her success wth Ibsen's A Doll's House, Carrie Crac…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:37AM[SHARE]
Monday, July 21, 2014

Ballyturk review Cillian Murphy and Stephen Rea are in fine comic form by Michael Billington

Black Box, GalwayEnda Walsh's new manic physical comedy is like Under Milk Wood as interpreted by Buster KeatonThere's plenty of ballyhoo around Ballyturk. Written and directed by Enda Walsh…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:54AM[SHARE]

Ballyturk review " Cillian Murphy and Stephen Rea are in fine comic form by Michael Billington

Black Box, GalwayEnda Walsh's new manic physical comedy is like Under Milk Wood as interpreted by Buster KeatonThere's plenty of ballyhoo around Ballyturk. Written and directed by Enda Walsh…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:54AM[SHARE]
Friday, July 18, 2014

Amadeus review Rupert Everett's Salieri darkly rages at God by Michael Billington

Chichester Festival TheatrePeter Shaffer's spectacle of Mozart's mediocre rival distorts historical reality but remains compelling and stylishly presentedFew living dramatists write big star…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:05PM[SHARE]
Thursday, July 17, 2014

The Importance of Being Earnest review trivialises sublime Wilde by Michael Billington

Harold Pinter, LondonIf it stripped away the daft framing, this staging could capture Wilde's deft commentary on class, money, marriage and moralsIf visitors to Paris's Père Lachaise …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:00PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, July 15, 2014

In Lambeth review Blake v Paine in lively imaginary encounter by Michael Billington

Southwark Playhouse, LondonIn this well-acted revival, the poet and the philosopher face off in a slow-moving but stimulating debateDid William Blake ever meet Thomas Paine? It is not imposs…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:44AM[SHARE]
Friday, July 11, 2014

Miss Julie/Black Comedy review sprightly Strindberg, sublime Shaffer by Michael Billington

Minerva theatre, Chichester Strindberg's Miss Julie is well directed, but it's Shaffer's dark comedy that illuminates in this contrasting double billAugust Strindberg's tragedy Miss Julie an…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:04AM[SHARE]
Thursday, July 10, 2014

Laurence Olivier: still the actor's actor 25 years after his death by Michael Billington

He was one of theatre's most daring stars, whose best films bear witness to a talent many never had the chance to see on stageIt's a shock to realise that it is 25 years since the death of L…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:41PM[SHARE]

Perseverance Drive review first-rate family drama tackles modern religion by Michael Billington

Bush theatre, LondonRobin Soans's play about a Pentecostal family at odds with each other shows the power of faith while exposing the failings of its followers Bush theatre's Madani Younis: …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:00PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Richard III review Martin Freeman accomplished, but it's not quite enough by Michael Billington

Trafalgar Studios, LondonJamie Lloyd's latest Shakespearean staging is inventive, but it's missing the monarch's lurid sexiness and demonic exuberance Before Richard III: Martin Freeman on s…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:00PM[SHARE]
Friday, July 4, 2014

The Crucible review full of raw, visceral power by Michael Billington

Old Vic, LondonYaël Farber's extraordinary production of Arthur Miller's tale of the Salem witch hunt retains its disturbing relevance todayProductions of Arthur Miller's re-creation of t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:44AM[SHARE]

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