★★★½

“It is an enjoyable experience though, with some memorable and entertaining moments”

This musical is at its best when it leans into the silliness, and bubbles with campy fun.

Just So is a 1984 adaptation of Kipling’s childhood favourite Just So Stories. This production nods to classic stylistic tropes from the musical, with suitcases and a beige palette, but feels fresh and original.

It is playfully and imaginatively directed by Glen Jordan, with cast popping up from trapdoors, hiding in boxes and using every inch of the space.

There are some strong performances – the Eldest Magician (Joe McWilliam), who acts as narrator. holds it all together. He shines throughout, both with a rich singing voice and confident stage presence. Kate Gledhill brings range to the often-chirpy Kolokolo Bird, showing strong moments of poignancy and doubt. Freddie Tibbs, the baker, referred to throughout as Parsee Man (some of the language in this production feels a bit outdated) is a brilliant singer, and a powerful scene stealer.

“The lighting is playful and charming”

There is a huge ensemble, with a full chorus. In a piece of careful and kind directing, everyone gets their own moment, allowing a member of the chorus to show off her splits, and Eleanor Leaper as the zebra to demonstrate impressive vocal riffs. A delightful standout is Thomas Outhwaite as the baker’s oven, and sidekick. There is great and simple joy in seeing him dressed in a huge cardboard box trying to dance along with each number.

The play is slightly let down by the central character, it’s a difficult part and feels tonally out of synch with the best parts of the show. The second half is slower than the first (aside from an excellent and energetic performance by Jac Norris as the arrogant kangaroo) and possibly a few cuts could have helped keep the momentum going.

The lighting is playful and charming, the first moments of the play, where the lights slowly twinkle up, do feel deeply magical. The set design is also really fun. Palm trees become crab claws, umbrellas shift from clouds to waves – it’s imaginative and simple.

A question does dog this production, and that is who the intended audience is. As a show for children, with some cuts, this could be a real hit. For adults, parts of it feel a bit off the mark. It is an enjoyable experience though, with some memorable and entertaining moments.

MARRY ME A LITTLE at the Stage Door Theatre

★★★

“The production’s saving grace is Markus Sodergren’s performance”

Revues can be hard to pull off, but Marry Me A Little feels confused and somewhat directionless.

The performance is a series of Sondheim songs, pulled from other musicals, which are knitted together to tell the story of two lonely singles.

The plot, as it is, is vague and hard to follow. It isn’t clear if the two characters are acquainted, and there is no interaction between performers. This seems a particular shame as it would’ve varied the tone and allowed a different dynamic to build. The director, Robert McWhir, has set the performance in modern day, but all that seems to entail is several moments where the characters stare at their phones, and one excellent moment where the stabbing of a microwave meal sleeve is incorporated into the rhythm of the song.

The production’s saving grace is Markus Sodergren’s performance. Both Sodergren and Shelley Rivers are strong, and it is an impressive feat to be non-stop singing for an hour. However, Sodergren is a real standout. He is passionate and funny, and while it is hard to follow why his emotions are what they are, he plays them with vigour.

David Shields’ set paints a clear picture of the apartment(s) and utilises a fairly small space in a clever and compact way. Though ideally his costumes would’ve given us more understanding of the characters. Richard Lambert’s lighting design is naturalistic, and does well to transport the audience to the inside of this apartment.

This is the first production at the new Stage Door Theatre, the first (and only) pop up pub theatre in the West End. The space is intimate and convivial, the audience is seated at individual tables and there is the option of a meal before the show. To choose this revue as a first production, setting the tone for what this theatre will be, feels like a strikingly odd choice. It will be interesting to see how the season progresses.

Tag Archives: Auriol Reddaway

JUST SO

★★★½

Bridewell Theatre

JUST SO at the Bridewell Theatre

★★★½

“It is an enjoyable experience though, with some memorable and entertaining moments”

“The lighting is playful and charming”

JUST SO at the Bridewell Theatre

Reviewed on 5th March 2024

by Auriol Reddaway

Photography by Michael Smith

Previously reviewed at this venue:

AMADEUS | ★★★★ | November 2022

AMERICAN IDIOT | ★★★★ | May 2022

Just So

Just So

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MARRY ME A LITTLE

★★★

Stage Door Theatre

MARRY ME A LITTLE at the Stage Door Theatre

★★★

“The production’s saving grace is Markus Sodergren’s performance”