- Venue: The Mill at Sonning
- Date: 30th December 2021.
- Directed by: Jonathan O'Boyle
- Staring: Jack Butterworth and Billie Kaye
I’ll take my Top Hat off to them…
Back from a matinee of Top Hat at the Mill at Sonning https://millatsonning.com/shows/top-hat/ .
This 2011 version (originally at the Aldwych) of the Astaire and Rogers Hollywood film doesn’t, of course have Astaire and Rogers, neither does it have a vast cast or huge Hollywood sound stages – the Mill Theatre’s apron stage is no more than 20 ft deep and 30 ft across, and there were but 14 in the cast.
- Venue: Hampstead Theatre
- Date: 16th December 2021
- Staring: Thamsin Grieg
A compelling nightmare of a woman
Just back from Peggy for You at the Hampstead, a revival of the 1999 play by Alan Plater, staring Tamsin Greig as the legendary theatrical author’s agent Peggy Ramsay.
- Venue: National Theatre (Lyttleton)
- Date: 26th November 2021
- Directed by: Fiona Buffini
- Staring: Shaun Evans
Life's a mess, and so is this!
Just back from Manor at the National (Lyttleton). OK – great and imaginative set, and some of the best storm skies I’ve seen on the stage.
- Venue: London Coliseum (ENO)
- Date: 23rd November 2021
- Directed by: Richard Jones
- Staring: Matthew Rose (Wotan); Rachel Nicholls (Brünnhilde)
Modern Dress? Yes; but Millets!
Just back from Die Valkyrie at the Coliseum; the ENO’s latest production, curiously deciding to start its sojourn into the Ring Cycle at part 2 (no, no one seems to know why).
- Venue: The Menier Chocolate Factory - The Mixing Room
- Date: 16th November 2021
- Directed by: David Babani
- Staring: Simon Lipkin and Dan Skinner
Lives up to its name – and how!
Just back from ‘Brian & Roger – A highly offensive play’ at the Menier’s second stage – The Mixing Room.
Click to continue reading: Brian & Roger – A highly offensive play
- Venue: Hampstead Theatre
- Date: 2nd November 2021
- Directed by: Roxana Silbert
- Staring: Stockard Channing; Rebeca Night
Happy Days Aren’t here again
Just back from Night Mother at the Hampstead- Stockard Channing and Rebeca Night in a Pulitzer Prize (Drama) winning, gruelling, two hander.