Now I am in London I can indulge in another of my interests - going to the theatre. With Shaftesbury Avenue and the West End a few stops away on the Underground, Theatreland is a new playground for me. As I go along to new plays I will put my reviews on here and see if you agree. If you dont, write into my guestbook.
  
   
MY OVERALL REVIEW
WICKED

Kerry Ellis, Dianne Pilkington, Oliver Tompsett, Susie Blake, Nigel Planner, James Gillian, Andy Mace, Katie Rowley Jones

The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Central London

Oh my God! That's all I could say after seeing this show. Its is seriously the best show I have ever seen...and more than likely will be the best show I will ever see! Wicked is the untold story of the Witches of Oz...long before Dorothy came. After seeing this show you'll never look at the old classic 'The Wizard of Oz' in the same light again. It's pure magic! The show was very impressive as well as the theatre, I walked in an was amazed at the sheer size of the place. The show is suitable for all ages and younger kids won't really get the gist of the story but they'll be spellbound by the lights, songs and old favourites like Glenda, Scarecrow and The Wicked Witch of the West. I was just as amazed by the lighting and sound, how it filled the theatre, because as I mentioned before, its a huge place. We were sat up in the Grand Circle and to be honest, even though we were far back, we had an amazing view. I really recommend this show and I urge you all to go and see it before it finishes in London. There is so much I could tell you, but it would so spoil the story. If yo do go and watch it, prepare to be shocked by a shocking twist at the end of the show...it will leave you thinking :-P. Also it changes your views on who was really the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz.

     
     
AVENUE Q

Julie Atherton, Jon Robyns, Simon Lipkin,
Delroy Atkinson, Jennifer Tanarez, Sion Lloyd

Noel Coward Theatre, West End

This has got to be one of the best shows I have seen in a long time! It has got everything that an all time classic should have. I honestly have never laughed so much in a theatre, it started to hurt after a while lol. The story basically follows just out of college Princeton, who is looking to start his new life on Avenue Q. He endures the highs and lows of life and meets new friends and lovers: Kate Monster, Trekkie Monster, Rod, Nicky, Christmas Eve, Brian, Lucy the Slut, Ms. Thistletwat, The Bad Idea Bears and Gary Coleman. This is basically an adult version of Sesame Street, Princeton is trying to find his purpose and he ends up finding a lot more :-P The songs are so funny, and so clever...they creased me up. Its one of the only theatre shows I would go and see again and again. Its as one of the reviews says, "Its so funny it should be on the NHS"...guess what, they are damn right! I really did love the Bad Idea Bears, especially "Its only an Absinthe Daiquiri"...lol that's my favorite line from the show...you'll have to see it to find out :-P
LINK TO SEE VIDEO CLIP

     
     
FAME: THE MUSICAL

Ian 'H' Watkins, Natalie Cassidy

Shaftesbury Theatre, West End

WOW, I've never seen Fame the film or original series but I now know I was really missing out! I was probably one of the only gay boys who hadn't seen Fame, I was a Fame virgin! I so wanted to get my leg warmers on and dance on a car...probably not in London cause I would have got arrested and sectioned! Unfortunately Natalie Cassidy wasn't able to play the part of Serena but her understudy was just as good, Ian 'H' Watkins (former Steps member) was also in it, and was actually alright! One of the songs made me cry, which I was laughed at by the girl I went to see it with...cheeky cow! For those unfortunate enough to have not seen Fame: The Musical, I'll give you a brief overview. Basically you follow a group of students who are entering the New York School of Performing Arts, and you see what is expected of them as students. The 'main' characters are Serena and Nick, who are in a funny love story...but you mainly follow the gripping story of two different characters, Carmen and Tyrone, who aren't connected by stories, as they have two different things happening to them. The play looks at different things that effect daily social life, i.e. dyslexia, drugs and self image. I really enjoyed the last song, which of course, was the ever popular 'Fame'...in which the whole theatre was up dancing away...well I was :-D

     
   
EQUUS

Richard Griffiths, Daniel Radcliffe, Jenny Agutter

Shaftesbury Theatre, West End

This play has Harry Potter naked - what more can I say? No really, seriously now, I really enjoyed this play. It was quite dark and mysterious and the twist at the end was rather spooky. Harry Potter (aka. Daniel Radcliffe) didn't do that strong a performance in my opinion on the night I went and was rather weak as Alan Strang (that's Daniel's character name)! The set was really minimalist and quite effective. I especially liked the horses (yummy), no, I'm not into bestiality, the guys who played the horses were buff ;-P The horses heads were really good, quite spooky in fact. Alan Strang is basically a boy who is psychologically disturbed and obsessed with horses and the only person who can help him is Martin Dysart (Richard Griffiths). Alan went from being a young obedient child to blinding six horses with a hoof pick one night...why? Martin has to find out, and along the way questions his own sanity. It's a really captivating play and a must see!