One Man, Two Guvnors

One Man, Two Guvnors, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2012.

Cast: Amy Booth-Steel, Mark Monero, Colin Mace, Kellie Shirley, Nick Cavaliere, Leon Williams, Rufus Hound, Rosie Wyatt, Edward Bennett, Matthew Woodyatt, Peter Cauldfield, Sabrina Carter, Alicia Davies, Mark Jackson, Alan Pearson, Seun Shote, Russell Wilcox.

Writer: Richard Bean

Director: Nicholas Hytner

I don't like slapstick and have left other stuff at the interval when there has been too much of it so this was a risky proposition. But it was also a huge hit and the fact it was coming to Norwich was a big deal. And unexpectedly I absolutely loved it. So I should probably learn something from that.

Into the Woods

Into the Woods, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, 2010.

Cast: Ethan Beer, Eddie Manning, Joshua Swinney, Helen Dallimore, Ben Stott, Mark Hadfield, Jenna Russell, Gaye Brown, Amy Ellen Richardson, Amy Griffiths, Marilyn Cutts, Beverly Rudd, Hannah Waddingham, Gemma Wardle, Billy Boyle, Michael Xavier, Valda Aviks, Alice Fearn, Simon Thomas, Mark Goldthorp, Sophie Caton, Marc Antolin, Judi Dench (as the voice of the giant).

Music & lyrics: Stephen Sondheim

Book: James Lapine

Director: Timothy Sheader

My first visit to the Open Air Theatre, and it would take me thirteen years to get back. I went to a matinee because I couldn't work out if it would be possible to get home after an evening performance and if I'd been worried about the daylight somehow spoiling the show I was wrong. The backdrop of trees was perfect for this production and I think that's why it took me so long to go back - nothing could ever work as well.

It was my second time seeing Into the Woods and I'm overdue another viewing. It's interesting to see Hannah Waddingham in the programme, looking far less imperial than she does now. 

 

The Habit of Art

The Habit of Art,  Lyttelton Theatre, 2009.

Cast: Richard Griffiths, Alex Jennings, Adrian Scarborough, Stephen Wight, Laurence Belcher, Otto Farrant, Toby Graham, Philip Childs, Elliot Levey, Frances de la Tour, John Heffernan, Barbara Kirby, Danny Burns, Martin Chamberlain. Tom Attwood.

Writer: Alan Bennett

Director: Nicholas Hytner

They really did make the most of Bennett at the National Theatre didn't they? He turned 90 this week so I suppose the chances of any more full length plays are very slim now. I remember this as being a play within a play but I think I'm the wrong generation to really appreciate how important Auden and Britten were.

Hamlet

Hamlet, Olivier Theatre, 2010.

Cast: Michael Peavoy, Matthew Barker, Giles Terera, Marcus Cunningham, James Laurenson, Patrick Malahide, James Pearse, Ellie Turner, Alex Lanipekun, David Calder, Rory Kinnear, Clare Higgins, Ruth Negga, Victor Power, Ferdinand Kingsley, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Saskia Portway, Michael Sheldon, Richie Hart, Jake Fairbrother, Nick Sampson, Zara Tempest-Walters, Leo Staar.

Writer: William Shakespeare

Director: Nicholas Hytner

I associate this with the tail end of the period when every young actor had a go at Hamlet on stage - Benedict Cumberbatch, David Tennant, John Simms. I didn't see any of them as the tickets would have been impossible to get hold of and although this is the Shakespeare play I know best (we studied it for A level) perhaps I've seen it enough. One of the things about having seen a decent amount of theatre and getting older is knowing that it's okay not to see stuff again. I'd go if there was a significant production -- Cush Jumbo at The Young Vic was my most recent experience - but it's quite nice knowing I don't have to see any more if I don't want to. 

I seem to remember Rory being good but maybe he's not the ideal person for this role.

La Bete

La Bete, Comedy Theatre, 2010.

Cast: Mark Rylance, David Hyde Pearce, Joanna Lumley, Stephen Ouimette, Lisa Joyce, Greta Lee, Robert Lonsdale, Michael Milligan, Liza Sadovy, Sally Wingert.

Writer: David Hirson

Director: Matthew Warchus.

I imagine the reason I dragged a friend along to see this was Joanna Lumley, in the second of only three theatre productions this century. But arguably the bigger deal was David Hyde Pearce making his only London appearance (so far) but as I didn't watch Frasier this meant less to me. I find Mark Rylance difficult.

It was a period piece, at least I remember there being period costumes, and I think it was a bit of a romp - I remember laughing hard at something. They're all comedians so it would have been silly to get them all to play straight.

Canary

 

Canary, Cambridge Arts Theatre, 2010.

Cast: Ben Allen, Sean Gallagher, Philip McGilney, Jodie McNee, Ryan Sampson, Kevin Trainor, Philip Voss, Paula Wilcox.

Writer: Jonathan Harvey

Director: Hettie Macdonald.

I wish I remembered this but even after reading the programme again it means nothing to me. I also wish Jonathan Harvey would write more plays but he seems to have stopped, which is a bit of a loss.

Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit, Cambridge Arts Theatre, 2010.

Cast: Jodie Taibi, Hermione Norris, Robert Bathurst, Bo Poraj, Charlotte Thornton, Alison Steadman, Ruthie Henshall.

Writer: Noel Coward

Director: Thea Sharrock.

This is probably top of my list of things I never want to see again and that's' because of this production. Alison Steadman really hammed it up as Madame Arcati in a way that was just annoying. Ruthie Henshall was probably too old to play the dead first wife. Perhaps it's time to look at some of Coward's other work or give him a rest completely.