All stories by Paul Vale on BroadwayStars

Monday, September 30, 2019

Zeus on the Loose review at Fire, London – ‘fails on practically every level’ by Paul Vale

The twins Aphrodite and Ilithyia are completely unaware of how powerful they are. So powerful in fact that the mighty Zeus himself

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:20AM
Friday, September 27, 2019

Valued Friends review at Rose Theatre, Kingston – ‘unclear whether it’s a morality play or a comedy’ by Paul Vale

It seems ludicrous to imagine that a fledgling stand-up comic, an academic, a music journalist and an admin assistant might be able

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:52AM
Thursday, September 26, 2019

Angela’s Ashes – The Musical review at Fairfield Halls, Croyden – ‘gorgeous vocals and superb staging’ by Paul Vale

Author Frank McCourt faced criticism about the accuracy of Angela’s Ashes, even from his own family. He later redefined the work as

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:25AM
Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The Entertainer review at New Victoria Theatre, Woking – ‘riveting Shane Richie was destined to play Archie Rice’ by Paul Vale

Originally played against the backdrop of the Suez Crisis in 1956, John Osborne’s The Entertainer used the bickering family of fading showman

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:03AM

Mamma Mia! The Party review at O2, London – ‘sets new standards for immersive dining shows’ by Paul Vale

The fictional plot: ex-pat Kate (Steph Parry) worked in the costume department of the Mamma Mia! movie when it was filming on

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:14AM
Friday, September 20, 2019

Midlife Cowboy review at Pleasance Theatre, London – ‘patchy and surprisingly underpowered’ by Paul Vale

Tony Hawks is probably best known as a successful radio comedian and author of quirky novels such as Round Ireland With a

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:18AM
Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Eigengrau review at Waterloo East Theatre, London – ‘nuanced performances’ by Paul Vale

The really sad thing about Penelope Skinner’s tragicomic Eigengrau is that, in the nine years since it opened at London’s Bush Theatre,

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:02AM
Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Now and Then review at Above the Stag, London – ‘engaging play about love across the decades’ by Paul Vale

Ronnie Larsen’s previous plays include Making Porn and Sleeping With Straight Men. Possessing a less provocative title, Now and Then is an

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:40AM
Friday, September 13, 2019

Fame the Musical review at Peacock Theatre, London – ‘show-stopping performances’ by Paul Vale

Alan Parker’s seminal 1980s movie Fame introduced us to the highs and lows of triple-threat training at New York’s High School for

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:32AM
Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Razzamataz Theatre Schools and The Stage Scholarship winners 2019 by Paul Vale

Next year, Razzamataz Theatre Schools will be celebrating its 20th anniversary providing classes in dance, drama and singing to thousands of keen

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:00AM
Monday, September 9, 2019

Torch Song review at Turbine Theatre, London – ‘confident production of a pioneering play’ by Paul Vale

When Harvey Fierstein conceived his original Torch Song Trilogy in the late 1970s the gay liberation movement was still very much in

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:06AM
Thursday, August 22, 2019

West End Producer – Free Willy review at Assembly Checkpoint, Edinburgh – ‘insightful and entertaining’ by Paul Vale

The audition process can be one of the most raw and uncompromising components of an actor’s life, laced with stiff competition and

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:49AM
Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The Professor review at Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh – ‘softly spoken satire of fake news’ by Paul Vale

There has been a change to the advertised lecture today and the professor seems more than usually enthusiastic to explain why. He

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:09AM

Leave a Message review at Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh – ‘excellent cathartic writing’ by Paul Vale

For Ed Coleman’s new play, which originally saw the light at this year’s Vaults Festival, the author questions how much we will

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:39AM

(I)sland (T)rap – The Epic Remixology of the Odyssey review at Assembly Checkpoint, Edinburgh – ”utterly persuasive’ by Paul Vale

Austin wakes up on a beach and reimagines himself as Black Ulysses, thirsty for adventure but ever fearful of the problems that

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:11AM
Tuesday, August 20, 2019

From Judy to Bette: The Stars of Old Hollywood review at Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh – ‘upbeat but unfocused tribute show’ by Paul Vale

This is Rebecca Perry’s third visit to the fringe and may be better known to some as the Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl. This

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:34AM

Yours Sincerely review at Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh – ‘well-meaning but convoluted’ by Paul Vale

Will Jackson has accidentally stolen 300 second-class stamps. The reason why is explained in his new show Yours Sincerely, but the important

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:03AM

Scottee: Class review at Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh – ‘brutal confrontation of the iniquity of the class divide’ by Paul Vale

Scottee is troubled by his childhood. He grew up on a council estate in London, with no positive role models and no

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:36AM

Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula, the Sea Witch review at Underbelly, Edinburgh – ‘playful staging and enjoyable score’ by Paul Vale

The team behind the vibrator musical Buzz turns its attention to the Disney canon. Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula, the Sea

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:58AM

Definitely Louise review at Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh – ‘impassioned debut but the writing lacks complexity’ by Paul Vale

Louise is mad. Mad at fellow actors who rub her up the wrong way, mad at her flatmate who is really needy,

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:36AM

A Partnership review at Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh – ‘engaging new two-hander’ by Paul Vale

This new play by Rory Thomas-Howes confronts the spectre of internalised homophobia in gay men. Ally and Zach have been together for

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:51AM
Monday, August 19, 2019

Adventures of Butt Boy and Tigger review at TheSpace on the Mile, Edinburgh – ‘hasn’t aged well’ by Paul Vale

Adventures of Butt Boy and Tigger originated in 2008 as a short play from Australian writer Steven Dawson. It tells the story

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 01:19PM

Meatball Seance review at Bar Bados, Edinburgh – ‘a big heart behind its absurdist sensibility’ by Paul Vale

John Michael is on a roll. Not only has he got a new boyfriend, but it’s the first time he’s ever had

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:23AM
Friday, August 16, 2019

Anything With a Pulse review at Zoo Playground, Edinburgh – ‘fresh and smile-inducing’ by Paul Vale

Many plays explore our basic human need for companionship but Eliana Ostro’s Anything With a Pulse chooses to examine the games we

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:13AM

Smoke review at Zoo, Edinburgh – ‘thrillingly acted S&M drama’ by Paul Vale

With Smoke, US playwright Kim Davies has created a fascinating and vaguely uncomfortable exploration of sado-masochism. John is an intern to an

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:51AM
Thursday, August 15, 2019

Fudge review at Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh – ‘look at celibacy lacks dramatic insight’ by Paul Vale

Charlie is trying to change his ways. He is fed up of his endless string of meaningless sexual encounters and has instead

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 01:07PM

Heroin(e) for Breakfast review at the Pleasance, Edinburgh – ‘surely outshines Trainspotting’ by Paul Vale

It’s been 10 years since Philip Stokes’ award-winning Heroin(e) For Breakfast first appeared at the Fringe. A powerful, flamboyant drama on the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 01:06PM

A Wake in Progress review at Underbelly, Edinburgh – ‘interactive funeral play’ by Paul Vale

Fine Mess Theatre offers a new take on death. With A Wake in Progress, it presents an interactive piece of theatre that

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:52AM

Ripped review at Underbelly, Edinburgh – ‘devastating drama exposing toxic masculinity’ by Paul Vale

Jamie is desperate to prove that he’s a real man. Real men can do 40 press-ups in a row and drink beer

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:39AM
Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Scream Phone review at the Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh – ‘smartly observed spoof musical comedy’ by Paul Vale

For those not in the loop, the Dream Phone was a board game in which girls got to chat to the guy

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:49AM

An Evening Without Kate Bush review at Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh – ‘joyous celebration of fandom’ by Paul Vale

There’s a lot of fan-love out there for Kate Bush. The eclectic singer-songwriter who emerged in the 1970s with her debut single

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:20AM

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