Reader Reviews
Blonde Bombshells of 1943 (Hampstead Theatre, Inner London)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | What more does a theatregoer want? Great music played by actors who can also act; a good and interesting story and script that contains the usual high standard of Alan Plater's witty and clever writing. Great entertainment. Fully justifies a transfer to the West End. - 195.93.21.68) | 02 Aug 06 |
| Mediocre: no plot to speak of, some feeble jokes and broad, uninspired acting. The second half is alot better since we get a Swing concert and the cast are clearly having a ball! - 195.82.110.189) | 01 Aug 06 |
| Set your expectations rather low... and you won't be disappointed. Rather banal (if not entirely lacking) plot, Very shallow character development... but a few old familiar tunes -- most performed adequately. WOS's review on this show is the more accurate one. - 212.2.2.86) | 31 Jul 06 |
| I rarely rate a show with 5 Stars, but this certainly deserves it. The whole cast seemed made for their parts, particularly Karen Paullada as the schoolgirl. The script was both moving and funny, the acting was excellent, the scenery very good, and the musicianship of all the cast made the final "concert" very entertaining. Everyone in the audience seemed the leave the theatre with a big smile on their face; while a large party of school children (50+) were enthusiastically clapping along throughout. Definitely worth seeing! - 82.34.16.226) | 27 Jul 06 |
| I saw this on the strength of an enjoyable TV film about the characters as older women — this play is about them when young — and because 'written by Alan Plater' is a quality kitemark. 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying' was on BBC2 last Friday; 'The Beiderbecke Affair' has just been repeated on ITV3; 'A Very British Coup' was on ITV4 last week; and set the VCR for the Afternoon Play on BBC1 tomorrow and a repeat of the lovely 'The Last Will and Testament of Billy Two-Sheds'. All scripts written by Plater. This is a witty, delightful play. Its uplifting music, not usually my kind of music, that has a history, and impressive here is that each member of the cast plays an instrument rather well. It's a good cast armed with material it must relish. Without vanity, real star quality shines through. The preview audience I was part of, was aged 30ish and upwards. Other audiences, reportedly, have been young. Why? I suspect because this play has the X factor. It was my first visit to the new Hampstead Theatre and I was impressed (also, the sweltering night was kept outside). Here is a three week run that, given the opportunity, London West End audiences would surely turn into something longer. - 81.131.90.120) | 26 Jul 06 |
| A very slight play which isn't a patch on its TV predecessor, but worth a visit for the second act 'concert', during which the actor / musicians shine. - 86.130.219.140) | 25 Jul 06 |
| First Best of Friends, now this. no worthwhile story, a few sweet songs. Is this really what the new Hampstead Theatre was built for? Revivals and OAP populism? It's a terrible waste of a new theatre and a lot of public money. - 62.252.0.10) | 24 Jul 06 |
| A charming show performed by actors with amazing talents. A must-see for the summer- and a dead-cert for the west end. - 86.134.202.200) | 12 Jul 06 |
| What a brilliant piece, what a pleasant surprise! Fun, quirky, thoughtful, sophisticated and very refreshing. Great actors. They can act, sing and play various instruments. They played absolutely fantastic music. Really, a must see! - 169.71.50.40) | 12 Jul 06 |
