All stories by Gary Naylor on BroadwayStars

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre review - a spectacular show that hits and misses by Gary Naylor

★★★ CINDERELLA, GILLIAN LYNNE THEATRE A spectacular show that hits and misses A good night out, but with unrealised ambition to be rather more than that Belleville has lost its Prince…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 09:36AM
Saturday, August 14, 2021

2:22 A Ghost Story, Noël Coward Theatre review - unconvincing, sporadically amusing, genre play by Gary Naylor

★★ 2:22 A GHOST STORY, NOËL COWARD THEATRE A big name cast wring all they can from a flawed script A few shocks and laughs but lacking in character-led credibility Danny Robins tells u…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 09:06AM
Friday, August 6, 2021

Big Big Sky, Hampstead Downstairs review - a perfectly realised character study by Gary Naylor

★★★★★ BIG BIG SKY, HAMPSTEAD DOWNSTAIRS A wonderful play about decent people This poignant, uplifting play is just what we need right now Get to Swiss Cottage early because Bob …

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 09:06PM
Saturday, July 17, 2021

South Pacific, Chichester Festival Theatre review - gloriously revived and also refreshed by Gary Naylor

★★★★★ SOUTH PACIFIC, CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE Rodgers and Hammerstein classic given renewed relevance  Rodgers and Hammerstein classic is given renewed relevance in a spectacu…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 02:54AM
Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Pippin, Charing Cross Theatre review - happy-clappy vibe by Gary Naylor

Light up a joss stick for this pared-back version of Stephen Schwartz 's 1972 musical If Time Magazine’s Man of the Year in 1966 was anyone under the age of 25, why couldn’t a teenage…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 08:48PM
Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Raya, Hampstead Downstairs review - a richly fraught reunion by Gary Naylor

Deborah Bruce's play puts multiple topics on the table Thirty years on, Alex and Jason meet at a university reunion and cab it back to Jason’s old student house where Alex is thinking “…

SOURCE: theartsdesk.com at 11:03AM
Friday, May 31, 2019

BWW Review: VENICE PRESERVED, Swan Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon by Gary Naylor

Prasanna Puwanarajah's revival of Venice Preserved brings the look of the show right up to date - its narrative is very 21st century, so needed nothing.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 05:06AM
Tuesday, May 28, 2019

BWW Review: TOSCA, Royal Opera House by Gary Naylor

Gorgeous and gruesome, this revival of Jonathan Kent's production fills the Royal Opera House with emotion and passion - and a warning of what chaos can ensue in a failing state.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 05:50AM
Friday, May 24, 2019

BWW Interview: Tom Brennan Talks EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION at Trafalgar Studios by Gary Naylor

Tom Brennan explains that what you want, what you really, really want, is a comedy set in a school in May 1997.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 06:15AM
Thursday, May 23, 2019

BWW Review: USER NOT FOUND, The CoffeeWorks Project, Battersea Power Station by Gary Naylor

USER NOT FOUND plunges us into the very contemporary and very real issues concerning one's digital legacy. Do you hit the big red button and kill that person again Or do you let them live on…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 05:06AM
Tuesday, May 21, 2019

BWW Review: VINCENT RIVER, Trafalgar Studios by Gary Naylor

When Davey musters the courage to go speak to Anita instead of merely stalking her, both have to confront psychological trauma that can no longer be denied.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 06:06PM

BWW Review: ANDREA CHENIER, Royal Opera House by Gary Naylor

Andrea Chenier is a feast for eyes and ears with Roberto Alagna, Sondra Radvanovsky and Dimitri Platanias magnificent in the tale of the poet who stays true to love as the world descends int…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 06:44AM
Friday, May 17, 2019

BWW Review: HAPPY JACK, Jack Studio Theatre by Gary Naylor

Happy Jack is an early play by John Godber full of working class warmth tempered with a hard edge of social criticism.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 05:32AM
Thursday, May 16, 2019

BWW Review: UTE LEMPER: RENDEZVOUS WITH MARLENE, Arcola Theatre by Gary Naylor

Ute Lemper Rendezvous with Marlene sees a living legend portraying a now lost legend - up close and personal and a privilege to see.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 07:16AM
Monday, May 13, 2019

BWW Review: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF BORIS JOHNSON, Park Theatre by Gary Naylor

Jonathan Maitland delivers a satirical take on Brexit in general and Boris Johnson in particular, that lacks the insight and the jokes required to do justice to its source material's rich po…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 07:24PM
Friday, May 10, 2019

BWW Review: THE PROVOKED WIFE, RSC Swan Theatre, Stratford upon Avon by Gary Naylor

The Provoked Wife combines tremendous comedy with a hard-edged look at human nature and the institutions that underpin society - as relevant today as when it was written over 300 years ago.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 09:06AM
Wednesday, May 8, 2019

BWW Review: AMOUR, Charing Cross Theatre by Gary Naylor

Amour is a delightful fable that bathes you in the warmth of Legrands music and Sams' lyrics, brilliantly realised by a hardworking cast under the sure direction of Hannah Chissick. Musical …

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 07:35PM

BWW Interview: Ute Lemper Talks RENDEZVOUS WITH MARLENE at the Arcola Theatre by Gary Naylor

Ute Lemper talks to BroadwayWorld UK about her role in Rendezvous with Marlene, her 'personal homage to that great lady', at the Arcola Theatre

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 04:04AM
Friday, May 3, 2019

BWW Review: SHADOWLANDS, Chichester Festival Theatre by Gary Naylor

Shadowlands can feel a little outdated, but it wins you over with the warmth and wit of the characters and two wonderful performances from Hugh Bonneville and Liz White.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 04:36AM
Wednesday, May 1, 2019

BWW Review: HELL YES I'M TOUGH ENOUGH, Park Theatre by Gary Naylor

Ben Alderton takes swipes at every stripe in the political rainbow, but lacks the precision required to bring a plague on all their houses.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 11:12AM
Tuesday, April 30, 2019

BWW Review: EMPTY ROOM, Camden People's Theatre by Gary Naylor

Miriam Gould's portrait of herself and her parents is as personal as one would expect, but its also beautifully judged and accessible, weaving music in and out of its narrative to great effe…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 06:24AM
Friday, April 26, 2019

BWW Review: MARKET BOY, The Union Theatre by Gary Naylor

Market Boy takes us back to the days of George and Andrew with plenty of bad boys in Romford. And it tells us a fair bit about 2019 en route.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 08:10AM
Thursday, April 25, 2019

BWW Review: AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', Southwark Playhouse by Gary Naylor

Ain't Misbehavin' crashes through the gloom of Brexity Britain with bangin' tunes and bubbly bantz. Looks good, sounds good and makes you feel good.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 08:33AM
Wednesday, April 24, 2019

BWW Review: OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, Southwark Playhouse by Gary Naylor

Other People's Money shows us that the misogyny and avarice scrawled on social media and polluting today's politics, can trace its roots back 30 years at least.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 06:34AM
Tuesday, April 23, 2019

BWW Review: SS MENDI: DANCING THE DEATH DRILL, Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House by Gary Naylor

Isango Ensemble's SS Mendi Dancing the Death Drill is a sad lament for needlessly lost lives and a celebration of the cultures from which the men had sprung. And it's ever so emotional.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 09:09AM
Monday, April 22, 2019

BWW Review: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD LIVE!, Pleasance Theatre by Gary Naylor

Night of the Living Dead Live pays homage to its inspiration, the George A. Romero cult classic movie, while generating laughs and shocks aplenty

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 10:52AM
Sunday, April 21, 2019

BWW Interview: Mike Bodie and Mari McGinlay Talk NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD LIVE! at Pleasance London by Gary Naylor

Mike Bodie and Mari McGinlay talk about the comedyhorror play, Night of the Living Dead LIVE and their roles in this movie homage.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 08:33AM
Friday, April 19, 2019

BWW Review: ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, Cadogan Hall by Gary Naylor

There are many Beatles shows around the world, but few will be as successful as this one, the orchestral arrangements complementing the accomplished band up front.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 08:26AM
Thursday, April 18, 2019

BWW Review: A MAN OF GOOD HOPE, Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House by Gary Naylor

Isango Ensemble bring their unique storytelling skills to show us the life of a Somali boy, alone and running away to a place that barely differs from the hell he leaves behind.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 09:22AM
Friday, April 12, 2019

BWW Review: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES, Upstairs at The Gatehouse by Gary Naylor

The Marvelous Wonderettes is a jukebox musical that does exactly what it says on the tin - the four singers vocally splendid in front of a fine band.

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 08:23AM

Back to School: The National Theatre's Creative Choices Programme by Gary Naylor

BWW's Chief London Reviewer spent a morning at the National Theatre with 12-14 year olds finding out about how studying STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects can hel…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 06:04AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards