CUTIE CROTCHETS (Coronavirus Theatre Club)****

By Imogen

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-s36InfIl0

Available until: Unknown

I hope I never have to sink this low. I seriously hope I never have to sink half as low. It’s bad enough that my school production has been cancelled three times and my professional engagement. I can’t believe I’m saying this but it’s lucky I’m still young enough to go to school. At least I don’t have to go out and get a boring job. Or stay at home and get a boring job. That would be just too humiliating. And if I have to do the job the main character does in this play I would die.

SHOWSTOPPER! THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL*****

 

By Emma

Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/showstopper-the-improvised-musical-livestream-tickets-133746047027?aff=Twitter

Available until: Saturday 6^th February

I always thought the Showstoppers were good but I think this might be their best ever. It was one of my dream Showstopper line ups, the audience came up with a great story idea and I really enjoyed the music.

In case you don’t know the format, the Showstoppers improvise musicals from suggestions from the audience. They usually do this in a theatre but obviously they haven’t been able to do that so they’ve been doing livestreams with suggestions coming from youtube chat. The audience get to suggest things like the main story of the musical, the title of the musical (this is chosen at the start of Act 2), new plot ideas, locations for scenes and lots of songs in different musical styles.

MEET MO (Press Play Here/Theatre Royal Stratford East)***

  

By Cal

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-2UxBsQPQA

Captioned version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6FnVLoLHcI&t=0s

Audio-described version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guF0zDN41U4&t=0s

Available until: Unknown

There are no content warnings, but it is quite filthy in more ways than one. Cat sick, body part puns and an image nobody needs in their head. (I don’t blame the cat. I really don’t.)

Mo is a nan, living alone in the pandemic. She’s expecting her granddaughter, but she’s late. Mo thinks about some of the things her granddaughter might be doing instead of visiting her nan.

LA BOHEME (OperaUpClose/Soho Theatre on Demand)***

 

By Dave

Link: https://sohotheatreondemand.com/show/laboheme

Available until: Unknown. You can rent for 48 hours.

Updating opera to the present day doesn’t always work. Our lives are so different from the way people lived when a lot of the most famous and best-loved operas were composed at least a hundred years ago so understandably, it can be very difficult to set them in the present day. I’m sure you’d also have big problems if you tried to set an opera like Dr Atomic in the 19^th century. Everything would just seem wrong.

I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE (Lambert Jackson/London Coliseum)***

 

By Emma

Link: https://londoncoliseum.org/whats-on/i-love-you-youre-perfect-now-change

Available until: Livestreams on 29^th and 30^th January at 7.30 with a matinée on Saturday 30^th at 12pm (midday)

Recommended age guidance: 16 + Contains strong language and scenes of a sexual nature

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change makes me feel very glad I’m happily married and that I met my husband at school. The thought of going through all the excruciating dates and situations we get to see in this musical is enough to put anyone off dating for life!

THE SAME RAIN THAT FALLS ON ME (The Space UK/University of York Drama Society)****

 

By Tommy

Link: https://online.thespaceuk.com/show/the-same-rain-that-falls-on-me

Available until: 31^st January 2021 (according to The Stage)

The Same Rain That Falls On Me is about a situation which is always relevant and always one of deep sadness, but perhaps it has a particular relevance in the time we live now. So many people have tragically lost family members and friends to COVID-19. The situation is, of course different: in the current climate, the long hospital bedside vigil is an impossibility; only short visits via modern technology are permitted.

FROM THE STONE AGE (Place Prints/New Perspectives)****

 

By Sophie

Link: https://www.newperspectives.co.uk/?idno=1168&s=82

Available until: Unknown

This Place Print is in two parts. Part 1 is called Cave Girl and Part 2 is From the Stone Age. The stories feature the same characters, but they are separate. Part 1 was reviewed yesterday.

After her Stone Age experiences in the last episode, Kerry finds herself once more in a difficult and potentially supernatural situation. She’s out with Sharon, Gary and Dean again, driving through the Sussex countryside. It’s a bit too late to get home before dark, but if they can get home before daylight, that would suit them rather well.