Playhouse
Here You Come Again
★★★☆☆ Unexpected
If you think you know what the Leeds Playhouse’s touring production of Here You Come Again will be like, think again. This is no standard jukebox musical and – while it does not all come off – it is a heartening and surprisingly emotional affair.
Grease
★★★★☆ Still hopelessly devoted
Grease is the word once more at Edinburgh Playhouse this week and there’s no better way to fill those summer nights.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
★★★★☆ High-flying
The classic children’s story of the flying car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, swoops down to the Playhouse this week to delight audiences anew.
The Drifters’ Girl
★★★☆☆ Stories still unsung
The Drifters Girl, at the Playhouse this week as part of a UK tour, provides plenty of Drifters hits, hung around the story of Faye Treadwell, who managed the group up until 2001.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong
★★★★☆ Fizzing
Peter Pan Goes Wrong, at the Playhouse until Saturday, can – much like its title character – apparently never get old. Instead, it remains fresh, funny and great fun on almost every level.
The Wizard of Oz
★★★★☆ Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
We’ve been to see The Wizard, and oh what a Wizard it was. Yes, the Yellow Brick Road leads to Edinburgh Playhouse this week for a spectacular new production of The Wizard of Oz, the beloved 1939 musical movie based on L Frank Baum’s series about the wonderful land of Oz.
Jesus Christ Superstar
★★★★☆ Rock-tastic
It’s back to basics for the Regents Park Open Air Theatre’s Jesus Christ Superstar, at the Playhouse to Saturday, in a production that soars and roars in all the right places.
Shrek the Musical
★★★★☆ Fully rounded
Shrek the Musical’s return in a new production, with a new director and choreographer, is a case of more of the same in terms of plot and songs, but with vibrant new details and framing to their presentation.
Disney’s Aladdin
★★★★☆ Spectacular
Flying onto the Playhouse stage on the magic carpet of Disney, the big touring production of Aladdin which sets off on a 15 month UK tour is a big, sparkling concoction of fun.
The King and I
★★★★☆ Spectacular
Bartlett Sher’s opulent production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic The King and I calls at the Edinburgh Playhouse this week as part of its on-going UK tour.
