Covering May-August 2023
More throwback thoughts about productions I saw in 2023…
May 2023
Dancing at Lughnasa / Olivier Theatre
Just the one production in May, but what a treat it was. Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa at the Olivier Theatre, directed by Josie Rourke. This memory play presented the narrator, Michael, looking back on growing up with his mother and aunts in rural 1930s County Donegal, and reflecting from his adult point of view on their frustrations, constraints and disappointments. Far from being a mournful watch, the strength, resilience and humour of the sisters was superbly portrayed by the ensemble cast, with Siobhán McSweeney aka Sister Michael from Derry Girls making a particularly strong impression. And for bonus clerical connection points, Ardal O’Hanlon aka Father Dougal from Father Ted was in it too. Amen.
June 2023
The Motive and the Cue / Lyttleton Theatre
The Motive and the Cue at the Lyttleton Theatre, written by Jack Thorne, directed by Sam Mendes and starring Mark Gatiss and Johnny Flynn – well, I couldn’t not see that could I?! Based on the real-life story of Richard Burton (Flynn) playing Hamlet on Broadway, being directed by John Gielgud (Gatiss), the play put making theatre under the microscope, depicting the director/star relationship with the added dazzle of a slinky, astute Elizabeth Taylor (Tuppence Middleton). It was funny, poignant and a fascinating glimpse behind the theatrical curtain…
all of it / Royal Court downstairs
all of it at the Royal Court was the most unusual production I saw all year – a mesmerising poem-play-monologue mash-up. Featuring a solo performance by the astonishing Kate O’Flynn, it comprised three short plays written especially for her by Alistair McDowall. She took us into strange yet weirdly familiar places, with the third play being a linguistic and performing tour de force evoking an unnamed woman’s journey from birth to death in one sweeping, incredible monologue. Amazing.
Frank and Percy / Theatre Royal Windsor
At the end of the month I saw Frank and Percy at the Theatre Royal Windsor. It’s no secret I am a Roger Allam fan (ahem) so him in a play with Ian McKellen was always going to pique my interest (and other bits). This was a story of late flowering love between two older chaps, one whose wife has recently died, the other proudly out, who meet walking their dogs. They click and fall for each other. It was very sweet, if a little under-developed, but the thespian superstar double act (both evidently enjoying themselves) made it something special. (Though i am still slightly reeling from the sight of Roger in sequinned rainbow shorts… My eyes!!)
July 2023
Stumped / Hampstead Downstairs
A cricket-based play about Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter, you say? Bring it on! Stumped was a terrific two-hander written by Shomit Dutta and delivered by Stephen Tompkinson (as SB) and Andrew Lancel (as HP) at the Hampstead Theatre’s studio space. I was bowled over (geddit?) by this simply staged but engaging piece set at an imagined cricket match* exploring the playwrights’ mutual love of the sport, their language and idiosyncratic foibles, with droll humour and sly references to their great works.
*Although they knew each other, it’s not known if Sam and Harold ever actually played cricket together, fact fans.
The Wizard of Oz / London Palladium
I am absolutely a friend of Dorothy, ever since seeing the classic film at about five or six years of age (indeed, she and her chums ‘lived’ in our loft as my imaginary friends and my mum and dad had to pretend not to step on Toto around the house). Aaaanyway, this production of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium was a bit of a risk – would it live up to my six-year old expectations? Of course it did. Georgina Onuorah was a delightful Dorothy, with Toto expertly springing into life thanks to puppeteer Ben Thompson. Things need to be BIG at the Palladium and the set by Colin Richmond and projections by Douglas O’Connell gave Kansas and Oz scale and pizzazz, with pleasing Easter egg nods to the original movie for true fans (like moi). Shout out to Jason Manford as a cuddly Cowardly Lion too.
Girl on the Altar / Abbey Theatre
This was a special experience. A short break in Dublin meant I could visit the Abbey Theatre – somewhere I’ve wanted to go for ages. It was a bit pot luck what was on the weekend I was there but all worked out tremendously well. Girl on the Altar by Marina Carr was a searing take on Clytemnestra’s revenge on Agamemnon on his return from the Trojan War, updated from Ancient Greece to a worryingly recognisable contemporary setting. Eileen Walsh was absolutely scorching in the lead role, full of grief, rage and steel.
Aspects of Love / Lyric Theatre
Oof. This one was on the dodgy side. This revival of Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Aspects of Love at the Lyric Theatre, while featuring the absolute legend that is Michael Ball obvs, suffered from its frankly creepy age-appropriate bothering relationships. It’s mad that this must’ve been perfectly acceptable first time round, but in the 21st century it all seems a bit ‘ick’ (to use the latest lingo). Time to rest this one. (Still love Michael tho!)
Guys & Dolls / Bridge Theatre
Yes, I went to see Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre again, what of it, sir?! It was just as much joyous fun as first time round, with Owain Arthur taking over Nathan Detroit from Daniel Mays who played the role previously – both were equally fab, giving their own cheeky spins on the gambling scamp. I’ve still not braved a ticket at the immersive ground level, mixing with the sweaty festal* action (mainly due to timidity and being short) but maybe one day…
*only using this word because I just learned it from Kenneth Tynan: Theatre Writings, lol.
August 2023
The Pillowman / Duke of York’s Theatre
Very grim fairy tales and the consequences of story-telling in a brutal totalitarian state were the themes of The Pillowman at the Duke of York’s Theatre, pitting Lily Allen against Steve Pemberton (not a sentence I ever thought I’d type). Written by Martin McDonagh with his trademark blackest of black humour, Allen gave a good performance as Katurian, the interrogated writer, and Pemberton brought his customary menace to the role of Tupolski, her tormentor. Chilling stuff.
It’s just occurred to me that I saw three of the League of Gentlemen separately on stage in 2023 *waves to Reece Sheersmith in The Unfriend, Mark Gatiss in The Motive and the Cue, and Steve Pemberton in The Pillowman!* (Over the years, I’ve also seen most of their LoG stage shows and was once crapped on by a pantomime cow thanks to Doctor Chinnery. But that’s another story…)
As You Like It / Royal Shakespeare Theatre
August saw my Annual Expedition to Stratford-upon-Avon, this time for As You Like It at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. It employed a ‘play within a play’ conceit, depicting a group of veteran actors getting together to perform As You Like It. The cast was therefore primarily made up of older people, with Geraldine James and Malcolm Sinclair giving wonderful performances as Rosalind and Orlando, touchingly conveying the giddy rush of young love, despite being eligible for bus passes. It was a fantastic approach by director Omar Elerian, making for a poignant and joyous production. Special mention for Mr James Hayes (classical actor), obviously having the time of his life as Touchstone. I wrote him a fan letter afterwards – and he replied! Sweet! Thank you, Mr Hayes, if you ever read this!
The Effect / Lyttleton Theatre
This revival of The Effect by Lucy Prebble at the Lyttleton Theatre was an intriguing mind-bender. Set in a drugs trials clinic, Paapa Essiedu and Taylor Russell are the guinea pigs under observation taking a new antidepressant. There’s crackling chemistry between them and they begin to fall in love… But is it the real thing? Or is it a side effect of the drug being tested on them? The play was directed by Jamie Lloyd in his customary stripped back style (the lighting by Jon Clark was dazzling) and the pounding music by Michael Asante vibrated body, mind and senses. Oh, and there was a very real-looking brain in a bucket as well…
Accidental Death of an Anarchist / Theatre Royal Haymarket
The Crucible/Lyric Hammersmith production I saw of Accidental Death of an Anarchist in April transferred to the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End. It was such a brilliant show, I couldn’t resist going again and it was just as amazing second time round. The hundred-mile-an-hour speed of the gags, verbal and visual, meant that I picked up on things I’d missed first time round so it was definitely worth seeing it again!
Throwback Theatre 