The War Of The Worlds - Alive On Stage! review

H.G. Wells' epic comes alive on-stage

Reviews
By
published

Why you can trust 12DOVE Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

No one would have believed that Jeff Wayne’s musical treatment of H.G. Wells’ novel would still be active 35 years after his album’s debut.

The prog-rock stays rooted in the 1970s, something the stage show’s CGI and pyrotechnics do little to counter. With Richard Burton indisposed it is left to Liam Neeson’s hologram to narrate the Martian invasion while Marti Pellow and Jason Donovan perform ‘live’.

The result is bloated, over-extended and epically portentous, yet not without moments of gob-smacking majesty.

Neil Smith
Freelance Writer

Neil Smith is a freelance film critic who has written for several publications, including Total Film. His bylines can be found at the BBC, Film 4 Independent, Uncut Magazine, SFX Magazine, Heat Magazine, Popcorn, and more. 

See comments