John Shand Posts

October 8, 2014 / Theatre Reviews - Archive

Reginald Theatre, October 3  What an idea James Lapine had. Stephen Sondheim’s collaborator conceived of a show in which arguably the cleverest song-writer and lyricist of the last 60 years would be filmed talking about writing this song or that show, about his childhood and his art. Between snatches of…

October 3, 2014 / Concert Reviews - Archive

St Stephen’s Uniting Church, City, September 27  Writing liturgical music in the Tudor age obliged a certain flexibility. Thomas Tallis was England’s preeminent composer as the state faith flicked back and forth between Catholicism and Protestantism, and burning archbishops was much in vogue. Andrew Robson exhibited a flexibility of his…

September 28, 2014 / Theatre Reviews - Archive

Theatre Royal, September 24  Is David Suchet as perfect a Cardinal Benelli on stage as he was a Hercule Poirot on television? No. But this production is studded with moments denoting an exceptional actor, capable of imbuing his character’s power and gravitas with charm. And Benelli needs a layer of…