The Mousetrap

The Mousetrap, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2013.

Cast: Steven France, Karl Howman, Bruno Langley, Elizabeth Power, Bob Saul, Graham Seed, Jemma Walker, Clare Wilkie.

Writer: Agatha Christie.

Director: Ian Watt-Smith

I thought the 70th anniversary production was the first time I'd seen this but then I discovered I'd seen it before although I'm not sure now whether it was this time or another time. And I still can't remember who did it. I seemed to be doomed to forget things about this.

People

People, National Theatre, 2012

Cast: Francis de la Tour, Linda Bassett, Selina Cadell, Miles Jupp, Nicholas le Provost, Andy de la Tour, Peter Egan, Alastair Parker, Jack Chissick, Giles Cooper, Frances Ashman, Jess Murphy, Robin Pearce, Ellie Burrow, Philip Childs, Carole Dance, Barbara Kirby, Alexander Warner.

Writer: Alan Bennett

Director: Nicholas Hytner

I thought this was what Alan did after The History Boys but I'd forgotten The Habit of Art. This is set in a fading country house owned by three sisters who don't quite know how to keep it going. At some point they let someone make a porn film in it, in an attempt to save them digging up the lawn to mine coal. 

I remember the set was big and grand in the way they can only do at the National Theatre. I was surprised to see Miles Jupp listed amongst the cast and have no memory of who he might have played. Alan's stuff is always interesting but I don't think this is one that will be revived much.

Speed the Plow

Speed the Plow, The Old Vic, 2008

Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Laura Michelle Kelly, Kevin Spacey.

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Writer: David Mamet

Director: Matthew Warchus

Let's not talk about Kevin Spacey, although he would have been the reason, along with Jeff Goldblum for actually seeing this. I wonder if Jeff has done anything in the West End since? If he has it hasn't been anything I've wanted to see. I'd be disappointed if this was the only time I saw him on stage although I suspect it he was good in it. David Mamet, however, is on my list of people whose work I just don't want to see again. Too male, too macho.

An Ideal Husband

An Ideal Husband, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2008

Cast: Michael Praed, Carol Royle, Isla Carter, Tony Britton, Robert Duncan, Kate O'Mara, Fenella Fielding, James Dinsmore, Maev Alexander, Abi Harris, Paul Aves, Robert Aldous. Dominic Gerrard, Diana Brooks, Emily McMorrough.

Writer: Oscar Wilde

Director: Mark Piper

Shocking cast. All the leads famous for something but that something isn't Oscar Wilde plays. I see how this brings in audiences but it's all a bit disastrous. I seem to remember the set for this was lots of cream coloured walls.

The 39 Steps

The 39 Steps, Cambridge Arts Theatre, 2008

Cast: Colin Mace, David Michaels, Alan Perrin, Clare Swinburne

Adapted by: Patrick Barlow

Director: Maria Aitken

I hated this. The Hitchcock film is probably my favourite of his work (although there's a lot I haven't seen) and it even prompted me to read the novel it's based on (very loosely based on it turns out). So hopes were high for this but I'd failed to read the publicity about it. It's a comedy with four actors playing all the characters, with lots of quick changes on stage and improvised props. If that's what you'd gone for it would be a brilliant evening in the theatre. If you turned up and were surprised to find people laughing, like me, you might have had a different experience. I've seen similar things since - Brief Encounter springs to mind - and loved it so I really need to try this again.

The Glass Menagerie

The Glass Menagerie, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2008

Cast: Brenda Blethyn, Mark Arends, Emma Hamilton, Andrew Langtree.

Writer: Tennessee Williams

Director: Braham Murray

Vera does theatre! I think this is the only time I've seen Brenda Blethyn on stage and now she's got her hands full with Vera I doubt there'll be another opportunity. That can be the only reason I went to a Tennessee Williams thing because I find him a very tricky writer. All that mad hysteria of A Streetcar Named Desire is exhausting, although the recent version with Gillian Anderson did a good job of keeping it in check until the end (I saw it in the cinema). Then there's the madness of Suddenly Last Summer and despite the starry cast the best thing about the film of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was  Paul Newman's silk pyjamas. We left at the interval and I don't regret that at all.