Reviews Written by J

Dealer's Choice was the first play written by Patrick Marber, debuting in 1995. The play subsequently garnered much acclaim among critics, winning  various accolades and receiving numerous revivals across the globe.  Now, at the Donmar Warehouse, it returns for a 30th anniversary production directed by Mathew Dunster.  You are first struck by the incredibly c hic staging: a modern and minimal kitchen, downstage (the dining area) sits a single table with two chairs - mid-century in style. A v ery subtle but effective use of lighting and sound design, helps to designate the front of house and the back of house t hroughout the first act. I found it took a minute for the play to warm up, and for the dialogue to feel natural. The w hole ensemble cast are actually rather phenomenal, but seem to lack chemistry with each other, and a natural cadence. I saw an early preview, and I believe as the run continues the cast will find their footing.  Alfie Allen plays Frankie, a wai...

George Balanchine is perhaps the most influential choreographer of the 20th century. He along with Lincoln Kirstein set up the New York City ballet which has since become one of the world's foremost dance institutions. His move towards non-narrative choreography laid the groundwork for much of the dance landscape as we now know it. Balanchine's legacy is undeniable, although he has perhaps overshadowed the contemporaneous work of Martha Graham, who for me was the greater innovator.   The Royal Ballet has recently put on a programme consisting entirely of Balanchine's works: Serenade, Prodigal Son, and Symphony in C. It was more than worth attending.  — Serenade was the first work Balanchine created in America. I loved the use of a kind of false mimicry in the choreography. Dancers would seem to emulate the movement of each other without fully copying, most notable when the ensemble ebb and flow in response to the soloists. For me, o...