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?  

King Lear

King Lear, Chichester Festival Theatre, 2017.

Cast: Ian McKellen,Sinéad Cusack, Danny Webb, Damien Molony, Phil Daniels, Michael Matus, John Hastings, Dervla Kirwan, Dominic Mafham, Kirsty Bushell, Patrick Robinson, Tamara Lawrance, Jonathan Bailey, Caleb Roberts, Jake Mann, Richard Clews.

Writer: William Shakespeare

Director: Jonathan Munby

Ian McKellen was so good in this that when I remember it I only think of him which feels rude to the rest of the cast which includes some pretty big names as well. Probably as good as a Shakespeare production can get.

Dick Whittington

Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 2017.

Cast: Julian Clary, Elaine Paige, Ashley Banjo & Diversity, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Gary Wilmot, Charlie Stemp, Emma Williams, Lukus Alexander, Ross Finnie, Rebekah Lowings, James Paterson, Carrie Sutton, Ed Wade, Annie Wensak, Lucy Banfield, Faye Best, Callum Clack, Matt Cox, Rachael Crocker, Lisa Darnell, Ivan de Freitas, Louis Gaunt, Diana Girbau, James-Lee Harris, Abigayle Honeywill. Kevin Jack, Jemima Loddy, Oliver Ramsdale, Sam Salter, Anna Woodside.

Writer: Alan McHugh & David McGillivray

Director: Michael Harrison  

I'm not really sure Elaine Paige worked in this as she takes herself a little too seriously (while suggesting otherwise). But apart from her I remember nothing about it although I'm certainly it would have been spectacular and surprisingly filthy.

Hedda Gabler

Hedda Gabler, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2017.

Cast: Lizzy Watts, Madlena Nedeva, Christine Kavanaugh, Abhin Galeya, Annabel Bates, Adam Best, Richard Pyros.

Writer: Henrik Ibsen

Director: Ivo van Hovve

Another hit London show that toured with a slightly less starry cast. I hated this and left at the interval. It was one of Ivo van Hove's white box sets and I couldn't have cared less why Hedda was so unhappy (probably because she was forced to live in a white box). I was they'd stop reviving stuff like this.

Crazy for You

Crazy for You, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2017.

Cast: Tom Chambers, Caroline Flack, Charlotte Wakefield, Arthur Boan, Daniel Bolton, Hollie Cassar, Abi Casson Thompson, Neil Ditt, Kate-Anne Fenton, Christopher Fry, Kate Milner-Evans, Stacey Ghent, Matthew James Hinchcliffe, Kieran Kuypers, Emma Jane Morton, Kate Robson-Stuart, Ned Rudkins-Stow, Seren Sandham-Davies, Mark Sangster.

Music & lyrics: George & Ira Gershwin

Book: Ken Ludwig

Director: Paul Hart

I have no recollection of this. I remember seeing Tom Chambers in Top Hat, possibly the first thing he did after being on Strictly..., and I think he was in an Agatha Christie play more recently, but this - nothing. So I also don't remember seeing Caroline Flack, in what would have been a local show for her (she grew up in Norfolk). It doesn't feel like something I'd need to see again if it was revived.

Quiz

Quiz, Chichester Festival Theatre, 2017.

Cast: Nadia Albina, Paul Bazely, Keir Charles, Greg Haiste, Mark Meadows, Henry Pettigrew, Gavin Spokes, Stephanie Street, Jay Villiers, Lizzie Winkler, Sarah Woodward.

Writer: James Graham

Director: Daniel Evans.

James Graham really is very clever and also very prolific. The unique thing about this was that the audience were given little pads on which they voted at the start and end of the show about whether they thought the coughing Major really did cheat or not. Some people changed their mind but I didn't and spent quite a lot of time feeling unsure about how I felt about that. It was then adapted for TV before going back out on tour where I saw it again. All that because of a cough!

People, Places & Things

People, Places & Things, Cambridge Arts Theatre, 2017.

Cast: Lisa Dwyer Hogg, Michael Balogun, Trevor Fox, Susan Lawson-Reynolds, Ekow Quartey, Andrew Sheridan, Imogen Slaughter, George Somner, Aimee Lou Wood, Matilda Ziegler.

Writer: Duncan MacMillan

Directors: Jeremy Herrin & Holly Race Roughan

This was a big hit in London but I didn't go and see it because it sounded depressing. But when a big hit goes on tour it would be rude to miss it. My memory of it is sketchy and I thought it might have been more of a one-woman show than the cast list suggests. Perhaps there was onstage seating too although I imagine if I had one of those I'd have remembered. It was back on in London this summer for no apparent reason.