Tom Smithard

Stereophonic @StereophonicLDN - a wholly original concept and one into which I felt entirely immersed in the recording studio. The cast are all awesome. But I was expecting more plot development, more denouement. The band played to a decent beat but I hoped for a few more notes.

After the Act @royalcourt - packs a punch during the verbatim histories of those who lived through Section 28, though the power was in the words rather than the song & dance. Transcripts of political speeches come across as unnecessary padding and occasionally verge on pantomime.

The Frogs @swkplay: was worried this'd croak but nope! The frog chorus are fantastic. Kevin McHale & Dan Buckley are hopping hilarious. Carl Patrick total scene stealer. The whole production is a delight - staging, choreo, ad libs & all. Was jumping for joy throughout. 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

Shucked @OpenAirTheatre comes alive with the one-liners & corny puns delivered with perfect timing by Keith Ramsay, Georgina Onuorah & the fantastic, always watchable Steven Webb. The plot is as weedy & stilted as the crops they grow but the leads are all in magnificent voice.

Here We Are @NationalTheatre: Jane Krakowski & Rory Kinnear score high on Tom's fantasy lead casting wishlist & they deliver in this discombobulating Stephen Sondheim swansong which dissects the meaning of life alongside the meaning of brunch. Whacky, powerful & vaguely profound.

Finally caught @Titanique out of curiosity on how it had attracted so much musical talent to its cast. Not seen the film so wasn't in on all the in-jokes but scored higher on the topical & gay stuff. Went in kinda hoping it would sink, but left having been swept away by the fun.

My Master Builder @MMBThePlay @ Wyndham's - Ibsen given a post-MeToo update where the word master is heavily loaded. Nice concept, gorgeous modernist set but the script did tend to the pedestrian in places. Acting strong except, interestingly, Ewan McGregor who just dialed it in.

The Great Gatsby @LondonColiseum - a satirical novel about the dangers of thin veneers is turned into a musical that only goes skin deep. Luscious orchestration & stunning art deco sets, but they're the only aspect with any depth. A weak adaptation with mostly unmemorable songs.

Cry Baby @arcolatheatre is a surprise hit of the spring - an unloved teen musical with a John Waters twist brought back with huge vim by a really strong cast, enjoying every second of their performance. Very joyful & fun. Lulu-Mae Pears & Chad Saint Louis stand out in particular.

Midnight Cowboy @swkplay suffers from the same issue as the film - it only gets interesting when Rattzo appears. Too many characters are barely 1 dimensional and sticking to its script so closely means the musical misses opportunities to explain why it's worth making, 50+ yrs on.

Manhunt @royalcourt is a promising take on the topic-du-jour: Andrew Tatesque toxic masculinity. Moat as a proto-incel is an intriguing thesis & comes alive at the end when Gazza wanders in. I'd like the 1st act hagiography slimmed tho & more on how he became such a cult figure.

Punch @youngvictheatre - an absolute knockout performance from David Shields among a powerful ensemble in James Graham's superb tale of restorative justice & the conditions that create the crime & the criminal. Lighting, sound design & direction all punch well above their weight.

The Seagull @BarbicanCentre has an amusing central performance from Cate Blanchett but the production is uneven & only comes alive when providing pinpoint satire of modern theatre. With its 2 mics & occasional no shoes, Chekhov's gun seems aimed directly at Jamie Lloyd's Seagull.

Lavender, Hyacinth, Violet, Yew @bushtheatre is a play about flowers that grows on you and blossoms by the end. The story of generations, black queer role models, AIDS and burying trauma, it's affectingly told by its cast of 4 with a strong showing from actor/writer Coral Wylie.

Much Ado About Nothing @TheatreRoyalDL: Despite the bare stage & plastic chairs I guess this is @JamieLloydCo's idea of maximalism & certainly the best of his recent Shakespeares. Tom Hiddleston charms & Mason Alexander Park impresses again. The pink confetti is the true star tho

Otherland @AlmeidaTheatre - some affecting scenes on the process of transitioning and the strain it puts on family relationships but too much exposition and I didn't love the analogy-heavy 2nd act which lacked subtlety. With a slight redrafting this could've been much stronger.