Reader Reviews
The Beautiful Game (Cambridge Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I have just got back from The Beautiful Game and I have to say that I was extremely impressed.. It had characters that I believed in and cared about (how often does that happen in new Musicals these days)... It has a wonderfully funny and sad book that really makes you think... I thought the simple staging and especially the lighting were very well done. I loved so many of the songs but I can see that some of them would work much better live than on CD where the context may be lost.. (especially the continued use of some of the simpler lyrics.. or the songs like "The First Time" which may sound grating on CD but work wonderfully live ).. The whole show had an amazing ability to move you and then seconds later make you laugh out loud at the genuinely witty dialogue... Josie Walker was stunning... I have seen her in Phantom as Christine and in CATS before and she has always been an outstanding performer... I am only sorry that I did not see the show earlier because I would love the opportunity to see it again.. Sadly when it closes on Saturday it will be even more of a tragedy because of some of the awful shows that it leaves behind playing in the West End (For example everyone involved creatively with Peggy Sue should be forced to watch the few remaining performances of The Beautiful Game to be taught how to write and produce a musical !!!) - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 30 Aug 01 |
| Slept through most of it. Average voices, boring script. Not recommended - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 28 Aug 01 |
| I am so sad to hear that this show is closing early, as it is one of Lord Lloyd Webber's finest, and in my opinion, one of the best musicals in the West End at the moment. I found it extremely moving, especially knowing that this sort of thing still actually happens. The songs are brilliant - Ben Elton's surprising lyrics are very effective & moving, and the cast are superb. Go and see it while you still can! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 22 Aug 01 |
| A great show - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 14 Aug 01 |
| I enjoyed this show immensely and feel that it's a real shame it's closing after "just" a year in the West End. It deserved better.I guess even the likes of ALW will be punished if they try something new and different. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 25 Jul 01 |
| Worst show I've ever seen Total waste of money - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 20 Jun 01 |
| Far and away one of the finest things to hit the West End in years. The score is haunting - - the story is moving - - the cast is wonderful. This is a show that defines "hope." - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 15 May 01 |
| Far and away one of the finest things to hit the West End in years. The score is haunting - - the story is moving - - the cast is wonderful. This is a show that defines "hope." - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 15 May 01 |
| I was apprehensive about watching this musical but was pleasantly surprised with the plot and the quality of the actinhg. Although it is a sad story Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton have managed to incorporate many funny moments into this musical. it was a ravishing success and i will watch it again! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 26 Apr 01 |
| I had ordered my tickets before the show opened. The "risk" was woth any aprehension I may have felt. This is a superb show and a "must see" for Americans, who like myself have felt some confusion over the recent history on Northern Ireland. The show is "brilliant" and amongst ALW's very best efforts!!! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 18 Apr 01 |
| A great show. Good story (quite brave topic for a musical). Great music and great performances. This show is ALW's best for a long time. I loved it. Very funny and very moving - the perfect combination. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 17 Apr 01 |
| QUITE GOOD, BUT FOR BELGIANS, MAYBE A BIT HARD TO UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE AS WELL AS THE IRA IMPLICATIONS. MOVING AND INTERESTING - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 03 Apr 01 |
| My husband and I thought that this was the best production from Andrew Lloyd Webber that we've seen, and we've seen all of them. We thoroughly enjoyed it. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 07 Mar 01 |
| I totally agree with your site reviewers' comments. TBG is a big - and very welcome - new avenue for Andrew lloyd webbers' work. I hope he can churn out a few more like this. And thank goodness he seems to have left that faux-operatic business behind. I hate the sung-through ones. oh yeah, and thumbs up to Ben Elton's BTG lyrics too. Totally refreshing and gobsmacking - did they really jsust sing what I think they sang!!!! excellent. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 06 Feb 01 |
