Brief Encounter

 

Brief Encounter, Theater by the Lake, 2022.

Cast: Anne-Marie Piazza, Pete Ashmore, Robert Jackson, Natasha Lewis, Lara Lewis, Joey Hickman, Rishi Manuel.

Adapted by Emma Rice

Director: Paul Robinson

I saw this in London years ago and loved it. This was in a beautiful theatre in the middle of a lovely week's holiday. The cast were excellent and one of them came and talked to us in character before it started and gave us a scone, and then we got a nod later. It's brilliantly written and incredibly lovely, a treat.

Dawn French is a Huge Twat

 

Dawn French is a Huge Twat, Cambridge Corn Exchange, 2022.

Cast: Dawn French

Director: Michael Grandage

I love Dawn French. I always describe myself as a twat. This was just an excuse for her to get on stage and tell stories and make us all laugh until it hurt. Amazing.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk, London Palladium, 2022.

Cast: Dawn French, Julian Clary, Alexandra Burke, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Gary Wilmot, Louis Gaunt, Rob Madge, Natalie McQueen, Briana Craig, Demmileigh Foster, Belle Kizzy Grane Hind, Emma Hunter, Ediz Ibrahim, Megan Louch, Ciro Lourencio Meulens, Alexandra O'Reilly, Andrew Lyle-Pinnock, Lauren Stroud, Grant Thresh, Maxwell Trengove, Zinzile Tshuma, Jaydon Vijn, Luke Woollaston.

Director: Michael Harrison

Dawn French buggering about with Julian Clary? What's not to love! I suspect Alexandra Burke was underused in this as there are so many people in the cast. Always a joy.

& Juliet

 

& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre, 2022.

Cast: Grace Mouat, Cassidy Janson, Oliver Tompsett, David Bedella, Alex Thomas-Smith, Jordan Luke Gage, Melanie La Barrie, Tim Mahendran, Jocasta Almgill, Ivan De Freitas, Roshani Abbey, Rhian Duncan, Kieran Lai, Nathan Lorainey-Dineen, Antoine Murray-Straughan, Kerri Norville, Kirstie Skivington, Alex Tranter, Rhys Wilkinson, Josh Baker, Abiola Efunshile, Jaye Marshall, Billy Nevers, Christopher Parkinson, Sophie Usher.

Music & lyrics: Max Martin & friends

Book: David West Read

Director: Luke Shepphard

This was so good I have no idea why it took me so long to go and see it. And when it closed I went to see it on tour. The songs are of course brilliant and used very cleverly. I've always got time for stuff that reimagines Shakespeare - I think he's a bit like the late Queen, in that he's incredibly familiar and yet we know nothing about him so it's easy to project stuff onto him (like Hamnet, recently).

I'm reminded that the friend I went with didn't pay me for the ticket and isn't it funny how people who don't work for money are always the ones who are odd about money.

Anyone Can Whistle

 

Anyone Can Whistle, Southwark Playhouse, 2022.

Cast: Alex Young, Chrystine Symone, Jordan Broatch, Danny Lane, Samuel Clifford, Renan Teodoro, Nathan Taylor, Kathryn Akin, Marisha Morgan, Teddy Hinde, Hana Iijcha, Shane Convery, Jensen Tudtud. 

Music & lyrics: Stephen Sondheim

Book: Arthur Laurents

Director: George Rankcom

I don't remember a single song from this, just bright costumes and lots going on with the cast. I suspect it's minor Sondheim and I'd like to see them all so it had to be seen. Plus Alex Young is always incredibly watchable, and the Southwark Playhouse is a great theatre. It's been a while since I was there and I miss it.

Peggy for You

 

Peggy for You, Hampstead Theatre, 2022.

Cast: Josh Finan, Trevor Fox, Tamsin Greig, Danusia Samal, Jos Vantyler.

Writer: Alan Plater

Director: Richard Wilson

I saw a production of this in 2000 starring Maureen Lipman and remembered it fondly so was really pleased when it was revived, especially with the brilliant Tamsin Greig in the lead role. It's one of those performances that makes you remember it as a one woman show when clearly it wasn't. I'd see this again. Also, it's a lovely theatre in Hampstead.

A Single Man

 

A Single Man, Park Theatre, 2022.

Cast: Olivia Darnley, Theo Fraser Steele, Freddie Gaminara, Miles Molan, Phoebe Pryce.

Adapted by Simon Reade

Director: Philip Wilson

I really like the Park Theatre and the programme and the material all suggest class but I remember nothing about it. Perhaps it could have done with a slightly better known cast? Perhaps it was enough that there had been a film of it already?