John Nathan

Latest from John Nathan

The Producers review: ‘deserves to end up on Broadway’ ★★★★

Patrick Marber’s inventive new production, which transferred to the West End this week, avoids the big-Broadway-show thing but The Great White Way is surely where it’s headed

2 min read

Partners in crime: Andy Nyman as Max Bialystock and (right) Marc Antolin as Leo Bloom (Photo: Manuel Harlan)

Death march: Cooper Hoffman (centre, in hat) and David Jonsson (third from left) in Frances Lawrence's The Long Walk

The Long Walk: ‘call it the Dystopian State Teen Killing genre’★★★★

2 min read

Edward Bluemel (left) and Ncuti Gatwa in Born With Teeth (Photo: Johan Persson)

Born With Teeth review: ‘hollow as a crown’ ★★

1 min read

Helplessness: the Beinin family embraces

Holding Liat review: ‘A loving family rent apart by October 7’ ★★★★

2 min read

Juniper Blood review: A topical warning of what’s to come ★★★★

Mike Bartlett’s latest play grapples with the issue of environmentalism and sustainability through a group of people ideologically divided

1 min read

August 29, 2025 14:06

Jonathan Slinger, Hattie Morahan, Nadia Parkes and Terique Jarrett in 'Juniper Blood' at Donmar Warehouse. (Photo by Marc Brenner)

The Roses review: Colman and Cumberbatch are at their very British best in this fizzy comedy ★★★★

A British married couple descend into barbarity against the backdrop of stunning California in this thrilling adaptation

1 min read

August 29, 2025 13:50

Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch in 'The Roses'. (Photo by Jaap Buitendijk, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures)

Savages review: ‘diminished by preachy tone’ ★★★

The environmental issues behind this film about an adopted orangutan are certainly urgent, but it wears its campaigning heart on its sleeve and it doesn’t help

1 min read

August 15, 2025 16:47

Forest family: Clay comes alive in this affecting tale

Every Brilliant Thing review: ‘a funny play about suicide’ ★★★★

After 70 uninterrupted minutes, we emerge knowing something of life under the pall of depression and suicide – and it makes for a funny and moving night out

2 min read

August 15, 2025 16:25

Audience participation: Lenny Henry shares the stage in this life-affirming production

Oscar Levant: The Hollywood pianist who self-destructed

Doug Wright, writer of a new play about the unfulfilled career of Jewish talent Oscar Levant, shines the spotlight on Hollywood’s most gifted has-been

5 min read

August 14, 2025 15:07

Actor Ben Rappaport as talk show host Jack Paar and Sean Hayes as Oscar Levant in the play 'Good night, Oscar'. (Photo: Joan Marcus)

Burlesque: The Musical, Savoy Theatre – ‘Flimsy plot but impressive singing’ ★★★

The show is adapted from the 2010 film starring Cher and Christina Aguilera

1 min read

August 5, 2025 16:09

Jess Folley as Ali Rose in Burlesque: The Musical (Photo: Pamela Raith)

Jessica Toltzis: ‘Edie Windsor represents the very Jewish attitude that justice is something to fight for’

The American actor tells John Nathan her one-woman show is a celebration of the gay rights campaigner’s achievements

5 min read

August 1, 2025 14:01

Jessica Toltzis: ‘Edie Windsor represents the very Jewish attitude that justice is something to fight for’

The Naked Gun review: Liam Neeson is perfectly cast in this hoot of a reboot ★★★★

Akiva Schaffer has revived the franchise with Pamela Anderson as Beth Davenport

2 min read

July 31, 2025 13:23

Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson in The Naked Gun

The Estate, National Theatre, review – ‘skilfully melds family and party politics’ ★★★★

In Shaan Sahota’s play, Indian Sikh patrimony is the writer’s focus

1 min read

July 25, 2025 14:15

The Estate at the National Theatre (Photo: Helen Murray)

Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness – Johnny Depp’s film about Modigliani is all about him ★★

As director of this film about the Jewish Italian painter’s life, Depp fails to get to the soul of the artist

2 min read

July 25, 2025 10:58

Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness – Johnny Depp’s film about Modigliani is all about him ★★

Inter Alia, Lyttelton Theatre, review – ‘Rosamund Pike triumphs with a quick-silver performance’ ★★★

In her first stage performance in 15 years, the Saltburn star plays a criminal trial judge and mother of a teenage son

2 min read

July 25, 2025 10:37

Rosamund Pike (Jessica) 'superbly embodies' an impossible dilemma in Inter Alia at the National Theatre (Photo: Manuel Harlan)

The Fantastic Four: The First Steps review – style only gets a superhero film so far ★★★

There is an unexpected Jewish sub-plot twist in Marvel’s revamp

2 min read

July 24, 2025 10:26

Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Pedro Pascal as Mr Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as The Invisible Woman and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Photo: Marvel Studios)

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John Nathan

Latest from John Nathan

The Producers review: ‘deserves to end up on Broadway’ ★★★★

The Long Walk: ‘call it the Dystopian State Teen Killing genre’★★★★

Born With Teeth review: ‘hollow as a crown’ ★★

Holding Liat review: ‘A loving family rent apart by October 7’ ★★★★

More from John Nathan

Juniper Blood review: A topical warning of what’s to come ★★★★

The Roses review: Colman and Cumberbatch are at their very British best in this fizzy comedy ★★★★

Savages review: ‘diminished by preachy tone’ ★★★

Every Brilliant Thing review: ‘a funny play about suicide’ ★★★★

Oscar Levant: The Hollywood pianist who self-destructed

Burlesque: The Musical, Savoy Theatre – ‘Flimsy plot but impressive singing’ ★★★

Jessica Toltzis: ‘Edie Windsor represents the very Jewish attitude that justice is something to fight for’

The Naked Gun review: Liam Neeson is perfectly cast in this hoot of a reboot ★★★★

The Estate, National Theatre, review – ‘skilfully melds family and party politics’ ★★★★

Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness – Johnny Depp’s film about Modigliani is all about him ★★

Inter Alia, Lyttelton Theatre, review – ‘Rosamund Pike triumphs with a quick-silver performance’ ★★★

The Fantastic Four: The First Steps review – style only gets a superhero film so far ★★★