... The Four Seasons Pentameters Anyone who prefers their drama to be slow burning and intricate would love the whole feel of this quality production from 20 First Century at the very cosy, but slightly confining Pentameters. Others may find the initial pace too snail-like and patience-testing on far too many occasions. Here, Wesker's rewritten version of his 1965 stage play aims to be gritty ...

... Inventive night to rememeber Almeida A Midsummer Night's Dream It all depends on what you want the Dream to be as to whether you like Jonathan Miller's treatment. Magic flies out of the window because the director makes no distinction between the mortals and their fairy counterparts. On the other hand the humour gains, if not immeasurably then at least significantly, as is notice able right ...

... As to Be Naked Aberystwyth/Touring This is the first time that Castaway Touring Theatre has performed work by local dramatist Lucy Gough. It is an obvious link-up which should work, considering Gough's reputation for fine story writing and Castaway's for strong acting. Overall, it succeeds well enough. It is a play within a play, about a small theatre company rehearsing the plot of The Ladies ...

... The Messiah Leeds West Yorkshire Playhouse's Christmas treat for the grown-ups is The Messiah in alternative form, as introduced to a grateful world, some years ago, by the National Theatre of Brent. It is blissfully funny and a refreshing antidote to the plethora of carol services, carol concerts and carol singers. Jude Kelly's newly-written material, poking fun of Peter Pan, is most welcome. ...

... The North Star Search Salford Past winners of The Willows' prestigious Search for a Star series have included Lisa Stansfield and Gary Wilmot, and it was a proud Ernie Critchley who held aloft the trophy awarded to the Best Entertainment Club 1996, prior to this year's Grand Final. Host was Gary John, who set the scene with Any Dream Will Do and Miss You Nights in that strong voice he is ...

... Silver screen symphony bubbles with style Donmar Warehouse Nine Style wins out over content in David Leveaux's production of Nine, a musical that was successful on Broadway in the early eighties, largely due to Tommy Tune's staging, but has taken an age to reach London. In the meantime, of course, it has become something of a cult among devotees of the musical, who obviously feel that such ...

... Horses of the Night Chelsea Centre Jamaican playwright Pat Cumper, who came to England in 1993, developed this contemporary twist on Marlowe's Doctor Faustus during a year of creative workshops with the Carib Theatre company and musician Cosmo Ben Imhotep. The poetic passages stay close to the classic original but in her version the good Doctor (played by stand-up comic Ishmael Thomas) thirsts ...

... The Official Tribute to The Blues Brothers Apollo Jake and Elwood Blues personae first came about via American TV in 1978 courtesy of actors Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi. They became so absorbed with the role that big selling records and sell-out concerts ensued, culminating in the cult Blues Brothers movie two years later. This particular show, pro duced by David Pugh, opened in ...

... Swanwhite Gate Hmm. This looks like the closest the Gate will get to having a pantomime this year. Strindberg's 1901 play, translated by Gregory Motton, is a weird fairytale. Those of us expecting the sturm und drang we often see at the Gate could be forgiven for being a bit surprised. We have an evil stepmother (Richenda Carey) who rules her roost with an iron cane. Happy making ...

... Lady Windermere's Fan Manchester One of Oscar Wilde's early works, in which he exposed the hypocrisy of the society of his time, is given a sparkling production by Braham Murray at the Royal Exchange Theatre in its temporary home at Upper Campfield Market. Simon Higlett has opted for a sparsely set Act I which allows the sumptuous cos tumes to be admired and the witty lines to shine, ...

... Perfectly Poisonous The Place Jigsaw Music Theatre's Perfectly Poisonous comprises a triple bill of one acters: Samuel Barber's A Hand of Bridge, Simon Oliver's The Waiter's Revenge and Seymour Barab's Pizza (Con Funghi). They made for an enjoyably untaxing evening Barber's bleak, sharp nine minute statement, the only real nourishment on a menu of canape, received a distracting staging. ...

... Sharper edge adds polish London Coliseum The Mikado My initial exposure to Jonathan Miller's twenties version of The Mikado failed to satisfy. The humour of the original's contrasting social formalities was lost amid camp high-kicking bellboys and distracting peripheral activity which undermined important. moments. That said, the present revival somehow seems altogether fun nier and less ...