Any must see west end shows right now?

[kasim]

Posted: 8/6/19 at 11:41pm

 

Heading to london this week, we are going to watch the bolshoi ballet while there.

Debating if there are any other good unique shows in west end, many of the ones also on broadway i've seen already.

[ggersten]

Posted: 8/7/19 at 1:26am

I don't know what you mean by unique. 

Evita at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is a unique venue - but also the production, itself, is "different" or so I read on theatreboard.

Present Laughter has lots of positive comments. But it apparently was filmed for NT Live to be broadcast next November.

Then there is John Malkovich in David Mamet's Bitter Wheat.  It's probably not a "must see" unless you really want to see Malkovich. It did not get the best reception early on, but apparently, it's still playing.
Not "must see" but I enjoyed The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 12 1/2.  The show is kind of Matilda Lite.  I thought it creative, even though I haven't read the books it is based on.  It won't be coming to the US.  I think there are plenty of discounts available - I got a "day seat" for reduced price and, as I was a single, got to sit fourth row center.  Stage is very high if you are too close.

My spouse saw Everybody's Talking About Jaime.  She enjoyed it but wasn't overwhelmed. We watched the filmed version in the movie theatre here and it was good, but that original cast is gone. Supposedly, there is a film version going to be made.  You can see what some of the current cast is like from West End Live performance. So, I don't think it's coming to the US.  Also, it is in the theatre where part of the roof collapsed back in 2013.  

Updated On: 8/7/19 at 01:26 AM

[kasim]

Posted: 8/7/19 at 2:53am

Thanks for your recommendations. I wouldnt mind seeing Malcovich, but if the reviews are bad i might pass

I saw the Evita one that fascinated me, i think i saw Evita like 10 years ago in London.

FWIW by unique i meant shows not available in the US or shows that are running in the West End first that could make it to broadway. 

[ukpuppetboy]

Posted: 8/7/19 at 3:15am

Blues in the Night at the Kiln Theatre has a fantastic cast and has been getting some very good reviews.

Also, slightly off West-End The Barbershop Chronicles is running at the Roundhouse in Camden which is a wonderfully interesting venue - though that did have an American tour last year. 

[Impossible2]

Posted: 8/7/19 at 4:42am

Jamie and Fiddler are must sees oh and Six of course but it’s totally sold out for August.

Lehman is also brilliant.

[ShowStop2]

Posted: 8/7/19 at 5:17am

The concert version of Les Mis is opening on the 10th which has a great cast. 

If you like Hamilton, the current Westend cast is the best I have ever seen. 

[ggersten]

Posted: 8/7/19 at 11:57am

kasim said: "Thanks for your recommendations. I wouldnt mind seeing Malcovich, but if the reviews are bad i might pass

I saw the Evita one that fascinated me, i think i saw Evita like 10 years ago in London.

FWIW by unique i meant shows not available in the US or shows that are running in the West End first that could make it to broadway."

Oh, the reviews for Bitter Wheat were definitely not positive! (The reviews and TheatreBoard commentary had me skip the show when I was in London in June) Some brilliant writing, however, by the reviewers.  My favorite:

 

The Reviewer and the Editor  

 

[lotiloti]

Posted: 8/7/19 at 12:47pm

Avoid Malkovich, it's so so bad. Left at interval. Painful, watching him trying to remember the lines!

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/7/19 at 1:11pm

Asking for OP since sadly I don’t have any planned trips to London coming up:

Has anyone seen the London productions of Equus or The Night of the Iguana.

The Lehman Trilogy is certainly intriguing as I’ve heard great things about it and it’s not certain it will transfer to Broadway beyond the off-broadway production that played earlier this year.

[ggersten]

Posted: 8/7/19 at 1:17pm

Miles2Go2 said: "Asking for OP since sadly I don’t have any planned trips to London coming up:

Has anyone seen the London productions of Equus or The Night of the Iguana.

The Lehman Trilogy is certainly intriguing as I’ve heard great things about it and it’s not certain it will transfer to Broadway beyond the off-broadway production that played earlier this year."

 

Go to Theatreboard for comments. Equus is a transfer.