Latest favourites and wishlist by amyjsharpe

Avenue Q - review by Angella

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:58:04 +0000

Avenue Q - review by Angella

Rating: 4.6

Location: Noel Coward Theatre, WC2N 4AU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 0870 850 9199

Website: http://www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk/

Best and most memorable stage show I've seen for years.
The actors hold puppets and sing like ventriloguists. Very sophisticated puppets. Huge puppets. You almost think they are alive and forget the person behind controlling the puppet and singing.
The characters are hilarious.
I bought the music on CD. When you try to sing along you realise how good the singers are. Spanning a couple of octaves, hitting high notes, and a final note which goes on forever until you are completely out of breath but the singer is still holding the no-o-o-ote ........................ !
Since the CD has the words printed out, you can catch up on any clever lines you missed.
It is so witty.
My favourite scenes are between the character who protests that he isn't gay, whilst his flatmate protests 'I'd like you anyway.'
Totally unsuitable for children, as the theatre told us. One scene shows a male and female puppet having sex and their amusing comments - what she's thinking, what he's thinking.
You might not want to take granny. Or your religious married friends who are God fearing and talk about the bible. You get the idea. Songs have words like The Internet Is For Porn. I sat next to my religious friends and to avoid embarrassment could not comment on the play but had to make conversation about London transport all through the interval.
Americans of course know what Avenue Q is all about. Took me a while to figure out what's going on. Avenue Q is towards the end of the alphabet, a street way beyond third rate. The characters in the building are all modern 'misfits', flatmates and married couples and courting couples. Those who get on at first will fall out mid-way and those who fall out will get back together.

The Dining Room - review by steviep

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:15:03 +0000

The Dining Room - review by steviep

Rating: 3.8

Location: 10 Queens Road, KT12 5LS, Hersham, United Kingdom

Phone: 01932 231686

Website: http://www.the-dining-room.demon.co.uk/

Tags: lively, british, crowded, expensive

Living locally and reading many good reviews, we'd been planning to visit the Dining Rooms for a long while. The promise of good quality, hearty British fare was enough to warrant venturing into Hersham. The restaurant itself is inviting and colourfully decorated with a cozy feel. The building is deceptively large; not unlike a rabbit warren, there are many rooms and alcoves in which to sit. In fact, every nook and cranny that could feasibly fit one, is home to a table and chairs. This is clearly down to the Restaurants popularity, when we visited it was packed to the rafters. Once we were seated we had to ask for the air con unit positioned above to be turned down twice as it was blasting icy cold air at us. I'm really not one to complain but it was freezing! We seemed to have several waitresses serving us, there was no consistency in that respect and I had to get up and find the waitress we'd ordered wine from as it had been such a long wait. It was a good job I did as she'd forgotten about it. Even though there were plenty of them, it was clear the staff were struggling to cope with the large number of tables. Cheese pots were very good, Black pudding was good but the poached egg was cooked through and not runny. Steak & Kidney pudding was very good, Lancashire Hot Pot was good also and obviously home cooked. The Venison Sausages were very disappointing - dry. The puddings were a highlight - proper comfort food.
All in all it was a good night but it didn't live up to it's expectations. The air-con incident followed by slow and forgetful service plus a couple of dodgy dishes spoilt it.

The Dining Room - review by calamitycaz

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:16:59 +0000

The Dining Room - review by calamitycaz

Rating: 3.8

Location: 10 Queens Road, KT12 5LS, Hersham, United Kingdom

Phone: 01932 231686

Website: http://www.the-dining-room.demon.co.uk/

Tags: british

This beautiful decadent little place is the best place to eat in the whole region, yet it's tucked away here in little old Hersham. It is a converted old victorian house - the decor is eclectic, rustic and colourful, with lots of character, nooks and crannies. There's also a pretty garden out back for the summer.
The menu is packed full of mostly good old British classics with a modern twist - the signature starter "cheese pot" is a yummy melted pot of gloucester cheese, mustard and ale served with thick granary bread. Steak and kidney pud, venison & chocolate, and spotted dick are another couple of the hot temptations on the menu. You will never be disappointed... The service is friendly and attentive. Great for any special occasion.
Be warned though, you will eat so much you'll barely be able to walk back to your car! Loosen your belts!

Avenue Q - review by sue

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:42:19 +0000

Avenue Q - review by sue

Rating: 4.6

Location: Noel Coward Theatre, WC2N 4AU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 0870 850 9199

Website: http://www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk/

Tags: musical, puppets

I wasn't keen. I mean, who really wants to see a musical featuring puppets? I went anyway, and hoped the rave reviews I had read weren't all written by the producerâ¬¦

As it turned out, Avenue Q was fantastic - hilarious, crude, offensive, risquÃ© - the type of show that makes you cry from laughter.

A couple of parts bored me a little, and it went on for a bit too long IMO, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not something I would take my parents to see though - too much puppet sex for their liking ; )

The Dining Room - review by Peanuts

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:30:33 +0000

The Dining Room - review by Peanuts

Rating: 3.8

Location: 10 Queens Road, KT12 5LS, Hersham, United Kingdom

Phone: 01932 231686

Website: http://www.the-dining-room.demon.co.uk/

Having read several reviews we were really looking forward to our lunchtime eating experience at The Dining Room. It looks fabulous from the outside, and has great character which continues inside with it's eccentric collection of artifacts. Wonderful outside area perfect for special occasion with lots of friends & family. The service was friendly and attentive. The menu is crammed full of mouthwatering great british favorites, the "steak and chips" x 2 was duly chosen along with a bottle of the Rioja. This is where I have to say we were a tad under-whelmed, the Rioja was served icy cold which is always a disappointment, the steak although very tasty and well seasoned was a little dry, the chunky chips verged on the side of uncooked however the puddings were fabulous and saved the day. We hope that our disappointment was a "one off" and therefore will try the Dining Room again.

Avenue Q - review by Glen_Bailey

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:43:17 +0000

Avenue Q - review by Glen_Bailey

Rating: 4.6

Location: Noel Coward Theatre, WC2N 4AU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 0870 850 9199

Website: http://www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk/

Firstly as a word of warning, if you've packed up your life in your home country to come and live in the UK and find that dream job - and find yourself doing repetitive data-entry where you have plenty of free time to ponder why you're here and where your life is going, then you might want to stear clear of Avenue Q (at least until you have more of a grip on your life).

If however, you have a resonable grip on your life, then what could be funnier than spending an evening with a bunch of colourful, loud, brash and downright hilarious puppets (oh, and the actual humans controlling them too).

Since puppets made the move out Seasame St et al and into the general arena of real life theatre - the world has become a better place. There are things that puppets can do on-stage that people would struggle to get away with (like walking around with someone's hand up your ....) or having flip-top heads or being cute little carebear type seemingly acid trip based characters who float around coaxing others to do bad things.

The musical struts along at a steady pace, with musical interludes, puppet sex scenes, a big, hairy monster who loves porn and is not affraid to let all in sundry know and the occasional audience member left in fits of laughter (and laughter is contagious so it's not long before those around start laughing at the person who is laughing at the puppets who in turn are laughing at the original laughing audience member!).

For those of you who think that Avenue Q is the first production to have puppets doing ridiculous things - I'd like to add that before Peter Jackson (of Lord of the Rings/King Kong fame) became famous, he made a movie called "Meet The Feebles". It's filthily good!

Overall, Avenue Q is an evening well spent - but be prepared to walk out with sore facial and stomach mussels from all the laughing.

Enjoy!

Dial Bar & Restaurant - review by belinda

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:17:25 +0000

Dial Bar & Restaurant - review by belinda

Rating: 4.0

Location: Radisson Edwardian Mountbatten Hotel, Seven Dials, WC2H 9HD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 4300

Website: http://www.radisson.com

We had dinner here before a show and it was a last minute, "just across the road from the theatre" choice. we were greatly impressed. Fantastic food, great service, nice wine list and cocktails. Highly recommended.

Avenue Q - review by JehonaGjurgjeala

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:05:40 +0000

Avenue Q - review by JehonaGjurgjeala

Rating: 4.6

Location: Noel Coward Theatre, WC2N 4AU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 0870 850 9199

Website: http://www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk/

Tags: interesting, hillarious, intelligent, musical theatre, funny, smart

Avenue Q has managed to do what many artists, writers, plays, films etc - fail to do. It has succeeded in observing many everyday situations in a (sometimes brutally) honest way, in a very humorous but unpretentious way. If you are easily offended or prone to taking things seriously - dont waste the money. If you are up for some mind-tickling fun - dont miss it!

The Dining Room - review by amyjsharpe

Thu, 03 May 2007 12:15:35 +0000

The Dining Room - review by amyjsharpe

Rating: 3.8

Location: 10 Queens Road, KT12 5LS, Hersham, United Kingdom

Phone: 01932 231686

Website: http://www.the-dining-room.demon.co.uk/

Tags: cosy, great decor, british, family & home feel, good value, friendly staff, family run

What a gem of a place all the way out in leafy Hersham..the purple exterior of this Great British Restaurant hints of what might be inside...its a cosy, brightly painted wonderful setting for a happy lunch or dinner. The food is traditional British - so expect lovely homemade pies, soups and puddings to die for...really great menu and a fantastic full tummy when you leave!

Dial Bar & Restaurant - review by amyjsharpe

Tue, 01 May 2007 12:05:08 +0000

Dial Bar & Restaurant - review by amyjsharpe

Rating: 4.0

Location: Radisson Edwardian Mountbatten Hotel, Seven Dials, WC2H 9HD, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7836 4300

Website: http://www.radisson.com

Tags: cosy, cool & smart, chilled, friendly, cool

Veru nice way to finish off an evening after the theatre...cheeky cocktails at the Mountbatten Hotel on Seven Dials. Really nice bar staff and very chilled..

Avenue Q - review by amyjsharpe

Tue, 01 May 2007 11:58:43 +0000

Avenue Q - review by amyjsharpe

Rating: 4.6

Location: Noel Coward Theatre, WC2N 4AU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 0870 850 9199

Website: http://www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk/

Tags: theatre, evening entertainment, comedy

This is the best thing at the theatre for a very long time - its hilarious and sooo funny. Basically think of the Muppets that drink, smoke and have sex, combined with their adult companions...receipe for utter comedy. Go and see it - worth every penny!