All stories by Elaine Chapman on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

‘A fresh look at a classic’: BRIEF ENCOUNTER – Touring by Elaine Chapman

Emma Rice’s adaptation of Brief Encounter certainly adds a fresh look at the 1945 British romantic film directed by David Lean, which had originally been adapted from the Noël Coward play…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Wednesday, April 5, 2023

‘Outstanding performances’: SUCKER PUNCH – ★★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Sucker Punch by Roy Williams delivers more than one or two physical and emotional punches throughout the play. Set within the boxing club environment throughout the production. Every battle …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Sunday, April 2, 2023

‘Fun, educational & interactive’: GEORGIA & THE ICEBERG – Touring ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Dorset Bred’s Georgia and the Iceberg is currently on tour. I would highly recommend taking the family to watch this. It’s suitable for all ages and an important topic that we should all…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Tuesday, February 21, 2023

‘The cast brings the classic to life with precision & confidence’: HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES – Salisbury ★★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Alan Ayckbourn’s play How The Other Half Loves is the perfect comedy entertainment to brighten up a winter’s evening. Three couple’s lives and marriages entwine. It’s the morning aft…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Wednesday, February 8, 2023

‘Funny, soul-destroying & entertaining’: TEECHERS LEAVERS ’22– Touring by Elaine Chapman

Everyone remembers that ‘one’ teacher who helped inspire, encourage, or left a lasting impression during their school years. Equally, we all remember the ones who you dreaded encounterin…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Saturday, January 28, 2023

‘Narcissistic behaviour is central to the performance’: PICASSO – Playground Theatre by Elaine Chapman

Grandeous narcissistic behaviour is central to the performance throughout Picasso, which brings the world renowned artist Pablo Picasso to life in the production currently playing at the Pla…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Sunday, January 22, 2023

‘Extremely moving to watch’: ALLEGIANCE – Charing Cross Theatre ★★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Allegiance at Charing Cross Theatre will be one of the musicals that leaves a lasting memory for all the right reasons. Running until April 8th there’s plenty of time to catch a performanc…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Sunday, January 15, 2023

‘One not to be missed’: MY FAIR LADY – Touring ★★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Director Barlett Sher brings 1913 London to life through My Fair Lady in the touring production of the same name. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s novel Pygmalion, the story focused on Eliza…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Tuesday, January 3, 2023

‘Compelling & repelling experience’: ONE MAN POE: A TRIPLE BILL – King’s Head Theatre ★★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Director and performer Stephen Smith bought One Man Poe to our screens during the lockdown. The gothic trilogy The Tell-Tale Heart, The Pit and the Pendulum and The Raven are now being perfo…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Wednesday, December 14, 2022

‘Fantastic balance of humour, singing & special effects’: THE WIZARD OF OZ – Winchester ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

The Wizard of Oz is an all-time family favourite. Dorothy Gale (Abigail Coy) is swept away to the land of Oz after Kanzas is hit by a tornado. Killing the Wicked Witch of the East was never …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Thursday, November 24, 2022

‘I especially liked the slapstick-style comedy’: RAPUNZEL – Watermill Theatre, Newbury ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

There’s nothing quite like reviewing a festive family production when the auditorium is full of excitement from the four busloads of primary school children sitting ready and waiting the w…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Wednesday, November 2, 2022

‘Creating a world for adults & children to travel to’: THE SLEEPING SWORD – Watermill Theatre, Newbury ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Based on the 2002 book by Michael Morpurgo and adapted by Tatty Hennessy, The Sleeping Sword tells the story of the Arthurian legend-obsessed Bun, who has read the story many times. Swept up…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 08:00AM
Friday, October 21, 2022

‘Delves deep into the depths of heartbreak’: THE SOLID LIFE OF SUGAR WATER – Orange Tree Theatre ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

The Solid Life of Sugar Water is an exceptionally strong 75-minute performance from two highly emotive passionate actors. Alice (Katie Erich) and Phil (Adam Fenton) met in the Post Office qu…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Sunday, October 9, 2022

‘Powerful & chilling’: THE CORAL – Finborough Theatre ★★★ by Elaine Chapman

How can such a small item of jewellery create so much chaos and disruption? The blood coloured coral brooch appears to lead the wearer to become obsessed with power and wealth. The Coral mak…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, September 23, 2022

‘I was hooked from the first number’: Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch – Touring ★★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

There’s nothing to dislike about Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch, I was hooked from the first number. As a company, they have set their sights on performing in the We…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Wednesday, September 14, 2022

‘Thought-provoking production delivered by a strong cast’: LANDSCAPE WITH WEAPON – Cockpit Theatre ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Landscape with Weapon at the Cockpit Theatre focuses on Ned (Danny Szam) whose deadly vision is to create a flock of drones capable of taking out enemies that are hiding in buildings or unde…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Wednesday, August 24, 2022

‘There’s nothing to dislike about Karp’s feline alter ego’: HOW TO LIVE A JELLICLE LIFE – Edinburgh Festival Fringe ★★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Linus Karp’s deconstruction of the relatively unpopular movie adaptation of Cats, How to Live a Jellicle Life: Life Lessons from the 2019 Hit Movie Musical CATS, is a one-person cabaret sh…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Sunday, July 31, 2022

‘Memorable production’: WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND – Watermill Theatre, Newbury ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

The Watermill’s bespoke setting and compact stage wouldn’t be my first choice of venue for a revival production of the musical Whistle Down the Wind based on the book by Mary Hayley Bell…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Monday, July 18, 2022

‘An intriguing life’: THE WOMAN WHO AMUSES HERSELF – Brockley Jack Studio Theatre ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Victor Lotado’s story The Woman Who Amuses Herself is based on true events which took place back in 1911 when Vincenzo Peruggia stole the famous painting Mona Lisa from the Louvre in Paris…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Tuesday, July 12, 2022

‘Suspending your disbelief is an imperative requirement’: THE THRONE – Charing Cross Theatre ★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Finding yourself stuck in a portaloo toilet with Her Majesty the Queen would be nerve-wracking enough for anyone, add a bomb into the equation and an anti-Royalist and The Throne at the Char…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Sunday, June 19, 2022

‘The immersive experience is a must’: Fawlty Towers The Dining Experience – President Hotel ★★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

The President Hotel located in Russell Square is currently the home to Fawlty Towers The Dining Experience. Situated a few minutes walks away from Russell Square tube station it’s convenie…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Saturday, June 11, 2022

‘The ensemble precision & attention to detail are superb’: CHICAGO – Touring ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

New Wimbledon Theatre presented the latest touring production of the “sleek and sassy” successful West End musical Chicago. Set in the heart of 1920s America, the inner moral compass has…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Saturday, June 4, 2022

‘Humorous & bawdy’: BLEAK EXPECTATIONS – Watermill Theatre, Newbury ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Anthology Theatre productions and David Wolstencroft have adapted the BBC Radio 4 comedy production Bleak Expectations and bought it to the stage. Its cast of nine brings many of the famous …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Wednesday, May 25, 2022

‘A perfectly balanced & in sync production’: DIRTY DANCING IN CONCERT –Touring ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Marking the 35th anniversary of the popular iconic film Dirty Dancing written by Eleanor Bergstein which starred Jennifer Grey and the late Patrick Swayze, Dirty Dancing The Movie in Concert…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Sunday, May 22, 2022

‘This complicated murder mystery unravels before us’: THE DA VINCI CODE – Touring ★★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

This touring version of The Da Vinci Code maintains the storyline of the original book where the codes come thick and fast and the dialogue is clear and concise allowing you to follow the st…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, April 22, 2022

‘Unrushed & sympathetic performances’: THE RED – Original Theatre (Online show) ★★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Back in 2019 when Marcus Brigstocke premiered The Red at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I was lucky enough to meet him at one of the food venue vans and was personally flyered by him.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Thursday, April 14, 2022

‘Throughout the play, I felt personally caught up in this family battlefield’: THE FEVER SYNDROME – Hampstead Theatre ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

The first thing you notice upon entering the auditorium is the impressive dominating cross-section of the Myers' family's four-storey, ageing townhouse based in Manhattan.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Saturday, April 9, 2022

‘Christina Bianco doesn’t fail to deliver with an incredible range of voices’: THE RISE & FALL OF LITTLE VOICE – Touring ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Suffering, poverty, grief and alcoholism predominantly run through the entire performance of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Wednesday, February 9, 2022

‘Rich, funny & heart-rending’: SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR – Touring ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

Sarah Kempton in the role of Doris and Kieran Buckeridge as George embark on two extremely challenging roles in Same Time, Next Year.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Wednesday, December 22, 2021

‘For Alan Bennett fans such as myself, it is a real treat’: HABEAS CORPUS – Menier Chocolate Factory ★★★★ by Elaine Chapman

In 1973 when Habeas Corpus was first staged, it reflected attitudes and behaviour indicative of its time.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Saturday, October 30, 2021

‘A touch of 1920s glamour & toe-tapping musical entertainment’: TOP HAT – Sonning by Elaine Chapman

Jack Butterworth as Jerry Travers and co-star Billie-Kay as Dale Tremont dance their way through the confusion of mistaken identity as to whether they will or won’t get together.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 15, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
TBA: Titanic