Gypsy

Gypsy, Savoy Theatre, 2015.

Cast: Billy Hartman, Damian Poole, Isla Huggins-Barr/Scarlett Roche, Holly Hazelton/Lara Wollington, Imelda Staunton, Harry Dickman, Tom Hodgkins, Peter Davison, Lara Pulver, Gemma Sutton, Dan Burton, Kieran Jae, Roger Dipper, Luke Street, Jack Chissick, Julie Legrand, Natalie Woods, Clare Halse, Danielle Morris, Anita Louise Combe, Louise Gold, Lauren Hall, Lucinda Shaw, Liz Ewing, Lauren Ingram, Tom Murphy, Philip Catchpole.

Book: Arthur Laurents

Music: Jule Styne

Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim

Director: Jonathan Kent

Was this the making of Imelda Staunton? Up to this point I'd only seen her in an underwhelming Joe Orton play although I'm sure she'd worked a lot but suddenly everyone paid attention. This was an absolute triumph and her performance was incredible.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Noel Coward Theatre, 2013.

Cast: Stefan Adegbola, Rachel Barry, Stefano Braschi, Jack Brown, Padraic Delaney, Richard Dempsey, Henry Everett, Susannah Fielding, Gavin Fowler, Katherine Kingsley, Alex Large, Sheridan Smith, Lorna Stuart, Sam Swainsbury, Craig Vye, David Walliams, Leo Wringer.

Writer: William Shakespeare

Director: Michael Grandage

This play is top of my list of Shakespeare's plays that I never want to see again - it's ridiculous. And it's interesting how times have changed for the casting - these two were quite the big deal at the time but now I'm unlikely to go near either of them: Sheridan has been overexposed and isn't maybe as talented as everyone suggested, and Walliams is a cunt. 

Putting it Together

Putting it Together, St James Theatre, 2014.

Cast: David Bedella, Daniel Crossley, Janie Dee, Damian Humbley, Caroline Sheen.

Writer: Stephen Sondheim

Director: Alastair Knights

This was the first thing I saw at this theatre, only their second production after opening. I had high hopes that it might be an interesting new addition to theatre in London but so far I've only been back once more. They're not very good at publicising what's on so I forget that they're there and also theatre in London has changed and the small, unknown stuff they put on has other outlets now. As for the show, it's a review of Sondheim's song - I'd be astonished if I didn't love it.