Brokeback Mountain

 

Brokeback Mountain, @sohoplace, 2023.

Cast: Mike Faist, Lucas Hedges, Eddi Reader, Emily Fairn, Paul Hickey, Martin Marquez, Sophie Read.

Writer: Ashley Robinson 

Songs: Dan Gillespie Sells

Director: Jonathan Butterell

I had high hopes for this for several reasons: it was based on a film I loved so much I saw it four times when it was released; Dan Gillespie Sells was responsible for Everybody's Talking about Jamie, which is surely my favourite musical of recent years; and a brand new theatre right in the centre of London (silly name though).

The fact that it took me a minute to remember it was a musical suggests that part of the production wasn't a success. And perhaps it's too late to do this - I think people have started to feel different about the film, a "gay" story told entirely by straight people is a bit tricky now. The theatre was nice though, although typically I haven't found an excuse to go back.

The Third Bag

 

This covers 2023 and although it's wedged quite tightly with stuff I don't think there's as much in there as I'd expected. I hadn't gone out less, but the theatre in Norwich made it more difficult to buy programmes so quite often I didn't bother, thereby not knowing who I'd seen until I got home and could look it up online.

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.