UK Roundup - Tick Tick Boom, Neil Patrick Harris, Val Kilmer

As if David Schwimmer wasn't enough for the summer we are to be treated to another big-name Hollywood/>/> star - Val Kilmer. Making his West End/> stage debut in the West Yorkshire Playhouse's transfer of The Postman Always Rings Twice, Kilmer will appear at the Playhouse Theatre on the Embankment from May 24th. When Frank (Kilmer) drifts into their roadside café, Greek immigrant Nick and his American wife Cora have no idea of the devastating effect he'll have on their lives. Frank and Cora begin a passionate affair that leads to murder, double-crossing and dubious courtroom deals. Lucy Bailey's production – designed by Olivier award winning Bunny Christie - also stars Charlotte/>/> Emmerson.

London will host the European premiere of Jonathan Larson's Tick.. Tick.. BOOM! under the direction of Scott Schwartz with Neil Patrick Harris at the Menier Chocolate Factory in June. Larson's autobiographical musical – his only other besides Tony-winner Rent - has  never had a professional UK/>/> production, as the rights are strictly controlled by Larson's estate, and interested parties have been refused permission until now on the grounds that their proposals weren't suitable. Scott Schwartz (son of Wicked composer Stephen) directed the original New York/>/> production in addition to Bat Boy and Golda's Balcony whilst Neil Patrick Harris has appeared on Broadway as the Emcee in Cabaret and as the Balladeer in the recent Studio 54 production of Assassins. Tick.. Tick.. BOOM! opens June 9th and continues until September 3rd.

Reviews have come out today for The Far Pavillions, a new £4m musical based on the epic MM Kaye novel. With a cast featuring Hadley Fraser and Gayatri Iyer, both of whom are relative unknowns, the general average was around the 3 star mark. Quentin Letts of the Daily Mail (4 stars) admitted it was a guilty pleasure – 'a joyously escapist show, a happy show, a cheerful pick-me-up' summing up 'corny? You bet, but I loved every minute' but a negative one from the Independent states 'This is a new century and the West End and the material and the audience deserve better'. The Guardian and Times both gave 3 stars; 'Sadly, Stephen Clark's lyrics are the evening's main weakness.' (Times) and The Guardian assesses that the 'Bombay Dreams meets Les Miserables' show 'should be here to stay'.

Though news of the line-up of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is only rumoured until the programme is released on June 9th, the buzz is that Guy Masterson's production this year will be Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, starring comedians Alan Davies and Bill Bailey. After last year's massively successful One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Christian Slater, Masterson returns for another year, despite pulling out as director last year due to being 'physically and emotionally unable to continue". After its stop at the Assembly Rooms in the Scottish capital it will then head to London/>/> for a three-mont/>h stint. Masterson is famed for his success at the Fringe, attracting top names in British comedy to appear in his productions.

Also set to take place at the Edinburg/>h/>/> Fringe is David Blunkett: The Musical, which is bound to be an extremely hot ticket, not only because it's pre-West End but also because it's had relatively high-profile press attention. David Blunkett was the Labour Party's Home Secretary from 1997 until the end of last year, when a stormy affair and rows over an interfered visa application interrupted ministerial duties. With all the allegations against him, he eventually stepped down. The musical features lines like 'I've always wondered what it would be like to sleep with a blind man', sung by the actress playing his then-girlfriend Kimberly Quinn, who reportedly made the remark about the blind politician. Keep checking http://www.davidblunkettthemusical.com/ for more details.

Other quick news – mind-reader Derren Brown takes his latest show into the dark Cambridge/> Theatre (last home to Jerry/> Spring/>/>er – the Opera) from May 31st and Derby Playhouse's Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill, a musical tribute to Billie Holliday, opens at the New Player's Theatre from May 5th.