'Rock of Ages' Garrick Theatre ****

The musical presentation of 'Rock of Ages' most definitely lifts the spirits of rock music fans everywhere. Currently wowing audiences at the Garrick Theatre since January 2013 I must admit it is a masterpiece of a production. The show written by Chris D'Arienzo depicts the effect that rock music had on people across the world and how commercialised pop music has ruined original music creation. The plot is wonderfully performed by all the company especially Simon Lipkin as Lonny. His portrayal is nothing more than brilliant as he conveys a bar worker fully besotted by women's charms but as the production moves swiftly on we learn that he has been hiding in the closet and comes out as a gay man. In another instance the performances by Ross Hunter as Drew and Natalie Andreou as Sherrie were lovingly conveyed as you could feel the emotions of their romance story that's exuded through the incredibly clear and concise narrative. The shows director Kristin Hanggi has created an outstanding production that exudes the 1980's rock anthems in a completely new interpretation that engages with all audiences of different ages.  The set designed by Beowulf Boritt and costumes designed by Gregory Gale are lovely to see and they have listened to the directors vision for the show and a lot of research has been taken to achieve this level of perfection. I liked the mixture of the old and the new when it came to the costumes and set. The band were superb and the use of the world renowned rock anthems to convey emotion and humour were brilliantly thought about. Great choices of music were chosen here. No wonder audiences come and see this show time and time again as it has entertained me. 'Don't Stop Believin'' in your dreams. When you are out and about in London make sure you schedule 'Rock of Ages' in there somewhere.  

'Once' Phoenix Theatre *****

The musical adaptation of the 2006 film has only been on the West End stage just this year but I must admit it is a triumphant production indeed. The musical is about and Irish man desperate to succeed in the music business, who at the moment works for his father fixing vacuum cleaners stumbles upon a Czech girl and this certain girls changes his life forever in a matter of days. Written superbly by Irish playwright Enda Walsh, he creates a heartfelt journey which would even make the grown man cry and most certainly engages with a wide range of audiences due to the themes exuding through Walsh's amazing dialogue. The performances by David Hunter as Guy and Phoebe Fildes as Girl were exceptional as they delivered a moving but amusing relationship which all couple should identify and engage with. In addition the rest of the company also acting as musicians captured the essence of community. This nearly moved me to tears as it was incredibly heart wrenching. The music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová were beautifully crafted as the production itself is a whirlwind of emotional content and enables the singing to really come alive. I thought that the execution of the orchestrations and music supervision by Martin Lowe were extraordinary and working with the company instead of an orchestra was very intriguing to witness and the company played the instruments with such panache. A great directorial decision by the director John Tiffany. As well as, Tiffany has directed a musical production with a definitive vision of rare heartfelt emotion with a high community spirit. The scenic and costume design by Bob Crowley is outstanding as he has crafted a traditional Irish pub on the stage which can be quickly transformed in a matter of seconds with the brilliance of Natasha Katz's lighting. The production is definitely brilliant an if you want another musical like 'Les Misérables' to have a good cry to then 'Once' is the show for you and an experience I enjoyed immensely.

'Relatively Speaking' Wyndhams Theatre ****

Alan Ayckbourn's 1967 play 'Relatively Speaking' has to be the comedy production to see this summer. Ayckbourn's narrative of a confusing and highly amusing Buckinghamshire home where a young couple meet with a old married couple soon become the most confusing scenario you would imagine where Ginny (Kara Tointon) travels to The Willows to end an affair she has been having with married man Philip (Jonathan Coy). The production staring the legendary 'The Good Life' actress Felicity Kendall as the stereotypical housewife Shelia and I must say she was brilliant in this part as she conveys this character with tenacity and comedic value that you become enthralled by what she is going to say next. The relationship between her and her husband Philip were highly believable and conveyed with such humour that the audience couldn't stop lauging at their personal scenes. I thought that the two younger characters Ginny (Tointon) and Greg (Max Bennett) were just as comedic as the older characters and performed and delivered beautifully. Lindsay Posner's direction of Ayckborn's play was technically and brilliantly sound and thought of with tenderness and ease. In addition I thought that the design by Peter McKintosh was extraordinary due to the intense scale of The Willows house where the married couple Shelia and Philip live. I particularly liked the transition between the London flat to the The Willows in rural Bucks quickly and proficiently. The lighting by Howard Harrison and sound by Matt McKenzie complimented to Posner's direction and McKintosh's design amazingly well and on par to the attention to detail to the performance portrayed by the company. This production has to be seen this summer and I must congratulate Cardiff Theatrical Services for their amazing set and one to be admired as the design must have posed a challenge to the scenic constructors. I Had a wonderful experience here and when speaking to fellow audience members that they enjoyed it as much as I did.  

'The Cripple of Inishmaan' Noel Coward Theatre ****

The Michael Grandage Company's opening season has produced two fantastic productions and the third one is just as brilliant. 'The Cripple of Inishmaan' by Martin McDonagh is about a crippled teenage boy Billy, living on the small Irish island of Inishmaan dreams for a better life for himself and when there's a film being made on another island Billy decides to leave Inishmaan to try a make a career in the movies. Billy is conveyed by the world renowned 'Harry Potter' actor Daniel Radcliffe and his performance is nothing but brilliant  as the attention to detail of the disfigured movements were superb and the Irish dialect was spoken with such clarity that I couldn't recognise the actors voice. I think that he has understood and researched his character with a high level of knowledge and portraying Billy with humour and emotion. The performances by Billy's two adopted aunties Kate Osbourne (Ingrid Craigie) and Eileen Osbourne (Gillian Hanna) were incredibly comical and the comedy from their lines seemed not too false and this added to the professionalism of this revival. As well as, I liked the protective qualities that conveyed at both the serious and comedic scenes. The fraught relationship of Johnnypateenmike (Pat Shortt) and Mammy (June Watson) were hilariously conveyed so that we could understand the stupidity of Shortt's character and the drunken persona of Watson's character. I thought that their jibes towards one another reflects on how families today still have arguments that turn out funny in the end. The company's director, Michael Grandage is a master in the art of directing as he directs this production brilliantly because I could see that he has scheduled enough rehearsal time for each of the five productions with the same level of quality. Grandage has created an emotional and amusing production that would appeal to audiences of fifteen plus and works with McDonagh's narrative with such tenacity.  In addition to this,  Grandage and the set and costume designer Christopher Oram seemed to have worked with one another amazingly well and Oram's vision of creating a small Irish island and a small community on what I assume to be on a low budget and on the West End stage was nothing more than extraordinary.  I think the saying three is a magic number can be identified with this production and I do hope that the forth production in the season ' A Midsummer Night's Dream' wll be on par to this one.

'A Season in the Congo' Young Vic ****

The Young Vic's production of Aimé Césaire's play 'A Season in the Congo' is a show to be seen this summer. The acting by Chiwetel Ejiofor as the Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumber was superb as he portrayed a character dealing with a dictatorship from the Belgian government with such sincerity that I found this to be highly emotive and poignant at points throughout the play. I thought that the work and performance by Kabongo Tshiense as Likembe Player was extraordinary as he spoke in the native Congolese language throughout the entire production which makes me understand how much time he has taken to fully embody this character to the highest quality possible. Absolutely wonderful to witness and his character exuded comedy throughout his performance.  I thought that the performances by all the company were superb and highly believable especially English actors portraying Congolese people.  In addition I found the use of puppetry to convey the government figures in a grotesque way was highly amusing as I was able to understand the playwrights political context that he was trying to convey even further. I liked this feature very much and the wonderful work by the company's Puppet Director Sarah Wright and beautifully crafted by Lyndie Wright, Julia Jeulin and Rebekah Wild. The directing by Joe Wright was out of this world as he ensured that he captured the essence of the Congolese way of life throughout the difficult decade and I think that his research trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo was inspired. I liked how he worked with the unconventional Young Vic proscenium arch format and the design by Lizzie Clachan was very intriguing as I was sitting on an actual outdoor seat rather than a general theatre seat.  I liked the simplicity of the set but also the high edge detailing of the insight I received of how Congo was like during their struggle of freedom. Black Theatre has definitely found its place this summer in on and off West End theatre work.   

'The Amen Corner' National Theatre, Olivier ****

'The Amen Corner' is a masterpiece of creativity and definitely suggests and shows how Black Theatre has progressed over the past five to ten years. The performances by the company were impressive to say the very least. Marianne Jean-Baptiste's interpretation of Margaret Alexander was outstanding as she has worked so technically on the characters personal journey from running away from her ex husband and turning to the church as a sanctuary to change her own life and others in the slums of Harlem, New York. In addition to this, the other two leading female characters Odessa played by Sharon D Clarke and Ida Jackson performed by Naana Agyei-Ampadu were superb as you could see the passion the characters have for their community and religion. I think that Rufus Norris' direction from James Baldwin's 1954 play was brilliant as I could see the religious and racial issues exuding through the very good dialogue that Baldwin wrote nearly sixty years ago. I was pleased with Norris' work on this production. I particularly liked how Set Designer Ian MacNeil has worked with the Olivier Amphitheatre format through the use of levels where the church is positioned directly in level with the circle and the basement apartment in line with the stalls. This was a superb creative decision and choice to make as the Olivier poses a difficult challenge. The musicians Tim Sutton, Bryon Wallen and Joseph Roberts were brilliant throughout the production as they entwined the gospel attributes of  to the jazz Harlem social background.  I found aspects of the play to be highly emotive and highly amusing especially the performances by the three female leads.  I liked my experience at 'The Amen Corner' and I would recommend it to you.