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Wine time: The Frogs - Southwark Playhouse

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For a show called The Frogs, there isn’t much amphibian activity in the piece. But being a show with music by Stephen Sondheim, you could be mistaken for thinking it’s a critical theatrical piece. But like Sondheim’s final musical playing at the National Theatre, while it may not be a musical that fills you with provocative thoughts, it’s a fast-paced romp through hell and back to save the world for the sake of arts. With rousing choruses, thrilling choreography and plenty of cheap laughs, what more can you want from the theatre? It’s currently playing at the Southwark Playhouse (Borough) . There isn’t much to the plot, except that Dionysus (Dan Buckley), disillusioned by the state of a divided world, and his sidekick and slave, Xanthias (Kevin McHale), cross the river Styx to the underworld to find a great writer who they can return to the world to teach the world about life. He has his mind set on bringing back George Bernard Shaw until he hears the poetry of Shakespeare.  This v...

Mother and son: The Busy World Is Hushed @Finborough

Family and faith is at the forefront of The Busy World Is Hushed by Keith Bunin. The characters here have their faith tested, gained and lost over the course of the piece. It's having its European Premiere at the Finborough Theatre.

There's Hanna (Kazia Pelka), a widowed minister and bible scholar. She's received a recently discovered gospel and engages the help of writer Brandt (Mateo Oxley), to help her turn her research into a publication.

As they start work her only son Thomas (Michael James) returns home from a trip out in the wilderness. And Brandt and Thomas take an almost-instant liking to each other.

But Brandt has just discovered his father has a brain tumour. And Thomas is still searching for reasons why his father died before he was born.

So against a religious backdrop, the scene is set for a family drama. Hannah can offer wise words to Brandt, but can barely manage her relationship with her son Thomas. Brandt who has questioned his faith and facing the loss of his father, is looking for a safe space. While Thomas argues that his carefree approach to life is all part of God’s plan.

James and Oxley form a believable bond as the unlikely lovers of the piece. As Hanna, Pelka is a calm and thoughtful presence over the chaos of the men in the story.

Max Dorey’s design of the small study with stained glass windows adds to the intimacy of the piece.

The title of play comes from a line in a prayer by John Henry Newman. It's a prayer for rest at the end of the day. There’s enough drama going on to need a prayer for rest, but it’s a thoughtful and reflective piece.

Directed by Paul Higgins, The Busy World Is Hushed is at the Finborough Theatre until 25 November.

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎



Photos by Scott Rylander

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