Allelujah!

Allelujah!, Bridge Theatre, 2018. 

Cast: Jacqueline Chan, Jacqueline Clarke, Patricia England, Julia Foster, Colin Haugh, Anna Lindup, Louis Mahoney, Jeff Rawle, Cleo Sylvestre, Gwen Taylor, Sue Wallace, Simon Williams, Sacha Dhawan, Peter Forbes, Manish Gandhi, Richie Hart, Nicola Hughes, Gary Wood, Samuel Barnett, Sam Bond, Rosie Ede, Nadine Higgin, David Moorst, Duncan Wisbey.

Writer: Alan Bennett

Director: Nicholas Hytner

Not Alan's best work and it would be a shame if this was his swansong, which it could be as there have been no new plays in the following six years. One friend I was with found it difficult and left at the interval. The film was maybe slightly better but the whole thing was perhaps well intentioned but misguided.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Park Theatre, 2018.

Cast: Sally George, Rafaella Hutchinson, Linford Johnson, Kevin McMonagle, Jamie-Rose Monk, Shaun Prenderghast.

Writer: Jim Cartwright

Director: Tom Latter

This is one of those things that I thought might be quite sweet as it had old songs in it but I think it turned out to have a dark unpleasant edge to it. The casting of a real life mother and daughter as the mother and daughter was probably an unnecessary stunt.

Flowers for Mrs Harris

Flowers for Mrs Harris, Chichester Festival Theatre, 2018.

Cast: Clare Burt, Mark Meadows, Claire Machin, Joanna Riding, Louis Maskell, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Gary Wilmot, Nicola Sloane, Rhona MacGregor, Luke Latchman, Ella Bassett-Jull, Skye Broughton, Lydia Hague, Ella Jarman, Emily McAlpine, Charlotte Schofield, Freya Shepherd-Bland, Evie Shiner.

Book: Rachel Wagstaff

Music & lyrics: Richard Taylor

Director: Daniel Evans

This has been slightly overshadowed in my memory by the more recent film starring Lesley Manville which was completely lovely. This was also lovely but with songs although I couldn't hum any of them now. 

Leave to Remain

Leave to Remain, Lyric Hammersmith, 2019.

Cast: Aretha Ayeh, Rakie Ayola, Sandy Batchelor, Arun Blair-Mangat, Billy Cullum, Martin Fisher, Tyrone Huntley, Cornell S. John, Johanne Murdock, Marvell Fayose, Ndabane Emmanuel Makukula, Tudor Davies.

Writers: Matt Jones & Kele Okereke

Director: Robby Graham

I was excited about this as it was a musical with a gay story written by someone gay from an indie band - huge potential to be interesting. First time in the venue too which is an unexpected mix of an old theatre with a new front. I've been keen to go back but they've not had anything tempting since. I feel like it was a two-hander so that long cast list is a surprise.

Richard III

Richard III, Alexandra Palace Theatre, 2019.

Cast: Stefan Adegbola, Derbhle Crotty, Heledd Gwynn, Tom Kanji, Michael Matus, Leila Mimmack, Tom Mothersdale, Eileen Nicholas, Caleb Roberts, John Sackville, Quentin Deborne, Freddie Preston, Nathan Reeve, Joseph Walker.

Writer: William Shakespeare

Director: John Haidar

I was excited about this as the Alexandra Palace Theatre was being used for the first time in ages but it turns out it's huge, far too big to put on plays in - I bought a cheap seat at the back and it was like being at the back of Wembley Arena. I don't think I liked the production either but I left at the interval anyway.

A Song at Twilight

A Song at Twilight, Cambridge Arts Theatre, 2019.

Cast: Simon Callow, Jane Asher, Jessica Turner, Ash Rizi.

Writer: Noel Coward

Director: Stephen Unwin

I remember seeing this but not anything about it. I wonder if I didn't like it, but that could be a false memory because I've recently gone off the idea of seeing any more of Coward's play. Or perhaps Jane Asher's look on the cover scares me. 

The Mirror Crack'd

The Mirror Crack'd, Cambridge Arts Theatre, 2019.

Cast: Susie Blake, Colin R Campbell, Joe Dixon, Suzanna Hamilton, Julia Hills, Katherine Manners, Katie Matsell, Davina Moon, Huw Parmenter, Gillian Saker, Simon Shepherd.

Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff from the book by Agatha Christie

Director: Melly Still

I'm very fond of this story because of a film version starring Angela Lansbury & Elizabeth Taylor which ought to be awful but really isn't. But it's a clever story anyway, with Miss Marple laid up after a fall so so people have to bring the story back to her, and lots of stuff about how new houses have changed the village. Best of all is her friend, Dolly Bantry, who used to live in the big house where this all takes placed (played brilliantly in this by Julia Hills). I still think that Dolly needs a life of her own - graphic novels perhaps?