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Bit parts: Garry Starr Performs Everything @swkplay

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Garry Starr Performs Everything is a bare-bones (and bare buttocks) tribute to the theatre. Theatre may be in trouble, and audiences are down, but Garry Starr aims to save the theatre and bring back to the masses every style of theatre possible. As long as each style involves wearing a transparent white leotard or a skimpy thong. And tassels. It's part comedy, part physical comedy and part perv at Gary's physical prowess. The sentiment "if you've got it, flaunt it" applies here. So here we are with a show that has been around for some years and is having its first proper London run at the Southwark Playhouse (Borough) through Christmas. The premise is that Garry Starr (played by Damien Warren-Smith) has left the Royal Shakespeare Company over artistic differences. He is now on a mission to save the theatre from misrepresentation and worthy interpretations by doing things such as a two-minute Hamlet, recreating scenes from a Pinter play using unsuspecting audience
Office Lunchtime Banter

Paul (to AB eating lunch at her desk): Hmm what's that you're eating?
AB: It's snapper...
Paul: Well... You are what you eat...

Theatre: Bye Bye Birdie

I actually saw this in October 2003 upstairs at a pub in Clapham North. Tonight I saw it at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. And I actually liked the pub version better. Sure there were better looking actors in this one... And there were production values... But singing, acting or having a decent audio obviously were not priorities for this production. A pity really. And I think I have seen this show enough now... To last me at least a decade...

On the topic of musical theatre (what else?) Sondheim is purportedly back in town for the premiere of his TV Musical Evening Primrose at the as part of the Lost Musicals series. This show has sold out so completely that reportedly the press had to attend one of the dress rehearsals if they wished to review it. Now that sounds like a popular show...

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Fantasies: Afterglow @Swkplay

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Play ball: Damn Yankees @LandorTheatre

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Damn Yankees at the Landor Theatre is one hell of a fun, sexy show. A great cast of dancers and singers give this show about a man who sells his soul to get on his beloved baseball team (and give them a chance of winning) new legs and balls. It also helps to up the ante with the sexiness with some healthy doses of cleavage and legs (and that's just the men). The musical is a retelling of the Faust story set in the 1950s when the New York Yankees dominated the game.
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