Rufus Norris Archives

REVIEW: Peribanez, Young Vic (2003)

Post author:Lizzie Loveridge
Post published:6 September 2021
Post category:Off West End Play Review
Post comments:0 Comments

Many Spanish plays of this period are concerned with duty, honour and loyalty and Peribanez is no exception. It is a celebration of peasant culture, showing the moral integrity of the dutiful peasant. Its tale of an overlord, the Commander (David Harewood) who threatens to take as his mistress the beautiful Casilda (Jackie Morrison) wife of a peasant farmer Peribanez (Michael Nardone) after the Commander is gored by a bull and carried to their home.

Anna Maxwell Martin as Sally Bowles (Photo: Alastair Muir)

REVIEW: Cabaret, Lyric Theatre (2006) from our archive

Post author:Lizzie Loveridge
Post published:22 May 2021
Post category:Musical Review West End
Post comments:0 Comments

If there is a problem with this wonderful production, it rests with the casting of Anna Maxwell Martin as Sally Bowles. As Sally, Martin is a fresh faced suburban girl but talk about her career as a nightclub singer is laughable because of her obvious lack of singing talent. I cannot believe that Rufus Norris did not do this intentionally. Sally Bowles is shallow and selfish but where do you go with a West End musical where the lead has a weak singing voice and is ineffectual and dislikeable?