Follies

Follies, National Theatre, 2017. 

Cast: Gary Raymond, Jordan Shaw, Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast, Fred Haig, Peter Forbes, Josephine Barstow, Bruce Graham, Dawn Hope, Adrian Grove, Di Botcher, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Zizi Strallen, Alex Young, Adam Rhys-Charles, Tracie Bennett, Billy Boyle, Norma Atallah, Liz Izen, Julie Armstrong, Gemma Page, Alison Langer, Aimee Hodnett, Sarah-Marie Maxwell, Kate Parr, Christine Tucker, Leisha Mollyneaux, Emily Langham, Anouska Eaton, Barnaby Thompson, Emily Goodenough, Edwin Ray, Ian Mc:Arnon, Liz Ewing, Jeremy Batt, Michael Vinsen.

Book: James Goldman

Music & lyrics: Stephen Sondheim

Director: Dominic Cooke

Despite the ridiculous size of the cast the first performance of this I saw was an amateur one in Cambridge in 2008. That it took nearly ten years for me to get the opportunity to see it again was probably also down to the size of the cast. So many great names in this and the big stage at the National was used to full effect, but nearly ten years later and having seen things that really changed the way musicals are made and presented I wonder if it wasn't slightly old-fashioned. Classy, of course, and brilliantly performed.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2017.

Cast: Scott Reid, Lucianne McEvoy, David Michaels, Emma Beattie, Debra Michaels, Eliza Collins, Oliver Boot, Bruce McGregor, Joel Harper-Jackson, Crystal Condie, Emma-Jane Goodwin, James Parkes, Jams Thomas, Danielle Young.

Writer: Simon Stephens

Director: Marianne Elliott

I'm not sure how many times I've seen this so I'm hoping this process will clarify that, but whatever the number is it won't be enough - this is one of the best pieces of theatre I've ever seen. It's quite a small story but the scale of its telling is amazing - it looks incredible on the stage, and moments like getting on the Tube train genuinely make you hold your breath. And it's got a very complicated central character to cast so it's impressive how well each of the actors I've seen play it have done it. Probably the best adaptation of a book ever.

Angels in America

Angels in America, National Theatre, 2017. 

Cast: Stuart Angell, Mark Arnold, Arun Blair-Mangat, Susan Brown, Laura Caldow, Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough, Kate Harper, John Hastings, Claire Lambert, Nathan Lane, Amanda LAwrence, James McArdle, Becky Namgauds, Mateo Oxley, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Russell Tovey, Paksie Vernon, Stan West, Lewis Wilkins.

Writer: Tony Kushner

Director: Marianne Elliott

This was the second production of this I've seen - the first was a touring production that came to Cambridge, something that simply couldn't happen now. I wonder if I'll get to see it a third time anywhere?

I don't remember much about it really other than it made good use of the big stage at the National. I imagine the cast were excellent, and I do remember Russell Tovey was naked (inevitably). I'd somehow forgotten that Andrew Garfield was in it. And it made me wonder what Marianne Elliott was doing now, which turns out to be a film, so that should be interesting.

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2017.

Cast: Hannah Bristow, Matthew Churcher, Nadia Clifford, Tim Delap, Alex Heane, Melanie Marshall, Evelyn Miller, Paul Mundell, David Ridley, Lynda Rooke.

Writer: Charlotte Bronte

Director: Sally Cookson 

My memory of this is now mixed up with a production of Tess of the D'Urbervilles last year which was dance. This wasn't but it possibly had a similar set with lots of wood. I do remember liking it enough to let a friend persuade me to see it again this summer.

Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4 the musical

Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4 the musical, Menier Chocolate Factory, 2017. 

Cast: Kelly Price, Dean Chisnall, John Hopkins, Lara Denning, Gay Soper, Barry James, Benjamin Lewis/Ilan Galkoff/Samuel Menhinick, Jason Rennie/Callum McDonald/Connor Davies, Amir Wilson/Edward Hooper/Max Robson, Asha Banks/Georgia Pemberton/Lara Wollington.

Book and lyrics: Jake Brunger

Music and lyrics: Pippa Cleary

Director: Luke Sheppard

Clumsy title! I loved the book this is based on and really should read it again sometime soon. But I don't remember much about this. I'm sure I enjoyed it but unexpectedly it had no life after this run. Every time I come across a programme for the Menier I feel like I ought to go back soon but they no longer seem to have anything on that appeals - I think Covid knocked the wind out of their sails and somehow they're no longer the exciting theatre they used to be.

Beautiful The Carole King Musical

Beautiful The Carole King Musical, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2017.

Cast: Bronté Barbé, Kane Oliver Parry, Amy Ellen Richardson, Matthew Gonsalves, Carol Royle, Adam Howden, Leigh Lothian, Merryl Ansah, Lauren Byrne, Matthew Elliot-Campbell, Khalid Daley, Jessica Joslin, Esme Laudat, Emma Lucia, Grant McConvey, Jacob Mcintosh, Paige Miller, Matt Mills, Simeon Montague, Ben Morris, David O'Mahony, Sarah Webb.

Book: Douglas McGrath

Words and music: Garry Goffin & Carole King, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil

Director: Marc Bruni

There ought to be some punctuation after "Beautiful" - a comma or semi-colon surely, because if you right it down with all the words on one line it needs it!

 I was aware of Carole King but doubt I could have remembered the names of any of her songs because they're the kind of songs that have become standards, that just sort of always existed. And I knew even less about her life. I do remember being impressed by this - by the quality of the cast and the whole production.

Romeo & Juliet

Romeo & Juliet, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2017.

Cast: Victoria Blunt, Peter Dukes, Aruhan Galieva, Rebecca Lee, Emma McDonald, Offue Okegbe, Lauryn Redding, Jamie Satterthwaite, Mike Slader, Stuart Wilde.

Writer: William Shakespeare

Director: Paul Hart

I wonder if I didn't go to see Twelfth Night because I felt like I'd seen it enough, which is ironic as Romeo & Juliet is very high on the list of Shakespeare's plays that I never want to see again. I'm curious about things that do it a bit differently: Matthew Bourne's dance version, the musical & Juliet, but have no need for a "straight" version of this again. In my memory this was set in an Irish pub which might be the worst idea ever.