Category ★★★½☆

REVIEW: Million Dollar Quartet 

Reading Time: 3 minutesSeventy years ago on the 4th December 1956, four of the most popular musicians of their day stumbled quite accidentally into an impromptu jam session at Sun Records’ studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins hung out for one day only and it became known as the Million Dollar Quartet. Backed up by their inimitable producer Sam Philips, whose ear for rock n roll was clearly well tuned, here we find ourselves a concept for a jukebox musical.

REVIEW: The Glenn Miller Orchestra

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Glenn Miller Orchestra brought the unmistakable sound of the swing era to the Oxford Playhouse for one night only, offering an evening of nostalgia, accomplished musicianship and feel-good entertainment. With an auditorium filled with enthusiastic Glenn Miller fans, there was a real sense of shared affection for the music, with audiences clapping along and, during the Frank Sinatra section of the evening, even joining in with the singing.

REVIEW: Jane Eyre 

(c) Victoria Davies

Reading Time: 3 minutesEnjoying its British premiere run at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant, this musical production of Jane Eyre co-directed by John Caird and Megan McGinnis is largely faithful to its literary source. Filled with soaring ballads of hope and self-reflection, this Jane Eyre is as earnest as its heroine but is light on depth.

REVIEW: Badgers

Reading Time: 2 minutesBadgers is a haunting and shape-shifting play that captures the ethics of telling a story that isn’t your own, the power of folklore and the grip of family dynamics. Performed alone by its writer, Malaika Kegode and underscored with music by her long-time collaborators Jakabol, we are taken with smooth ease through the play’s twisting turns.

REVIEW: High Society

Reading Time: 3 minutesHigh Society is a musical about a wedding, and not much else. Although there is a lot of dialogue, it becomes hard to follow as much of it is irrelevant. The score is full of Cole Porter classics and his signature themes of boats and couples who swap between partners are ever present. It is a time-capsule of a show that had the promise of being a fun night if it weren’t for aspects of sloppiness.