Jack Absolute Flies Again

 

Jack Absolute Flies Again, Olivier Theatre, 2022.

Cast: James Corrigan, Theo Cowan, Laurie Davidson, Kelvin Fletcher, Peter Forbes, Shailan Gohil, Kerry Howard, Jordan Metcalfe, Caroline Quentin, Akshay Sharan, Natalie Simpson, Tim Steed, Helena Wilson, Millie Hikasa, Chris Jenkins, George Kemp, Joanne McGuinness, Geoffrey Towers.

Writers: Richard Bean & Oliver Chris

Director: Emily Burns

This was a joy. A romp. A really fun afternoon in the theatre. Big set, bit cast, big props, lots going on. Like a kids trip to the theatre for adults. And it's not often you can say that about the National Theatre.

Murder on the Orient Express

 

Murder on the Orient Express, Chichester Festival Theatre, 2022.

Cast: Henry Goodman, Matt Addis, Philip Cairns, Taz Munyaneza, Sara Stewart, Samuel Collings, Patrick Robinson, Marc Antolin, Joanna McCallum, Joanna Van Kampen, Timothy Watson, Laura Rogers, Kelvin Ade, Joelie Dyson, Jacqueline Tate, Sophie Bye/Eleanor Sebastian.

Adapted by Ken Ludwig

Director: Jonathan Church

I was intrigued by how they were going to do the train on stage and in the end it was small pods, almost like a narrow gauge railway, but with the huge front of the train at the back of the stage occasionally. [In the touring version I saw a few years later they did the carriage differently and they worked a bit better, which surprised me as usually the touring version would be the "cheaper" one.] The lost a couple of characters to make it all a bit more manageable and although I knew how it ended I really enjoyed it. Poirot is tricky character to play but I think he did okay with this.

Tammy Faye

 

Tammy Faye, Almeida, 2022.

Cast: Kelly Agbowu, Amy Booth-Steel, Katie Brayben, Colin Burnicle, Ashley Campbell, Peter Caulfield, Danny Collins, Richard Dempsey, Fred Haig, Georgia Louise, Andrew Rannells, Robyn Rose, Nicholas Rowe, Martin Sarreal, Steve John Shepherd, Gemma Sutton, Katie Bradley, Michael Kent.

Music: Elton John

Lyrics: Jake Shears

Books: James Graham

Director: Rupert Goold

The only time I've been to the Almeida (so far) and it was lovely. Tiny! And by coincidence a friend sat a few rows behind us so that was a nice surprise. As for the show, I remember liking it and finding it funny and well performed, but I couldn't tell you anything about the songs, and the fact that it didn't get a second life probably explains why. Maybe the subject is a bit niche for the UK?

The Mirror Crack'd

The Mirror Crack'd, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2022.

Cast: Susie Blake, Sophie Ward, Joe McFadden, Mara Allen, Oliver Boot, Sarah Lawrie, Lorenzo Martelli, Jules Melvin, David Partridge, Veronica Roberts, Chrystine Symone, Holly Smith.

Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff

Director: Philip Franks

Probably my favourite Miss Marple story so I imagine I loved this although I don't have any recollection of it. 

 

Private Lives

 

Private Lives, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2022.

Cast: Natalie Walter, Nigel Havers, Dugald Bruce-Lockhart, Patricia Hodge, Aicha Kossoko.

Writer: Noel Coward

Director: Christopher Luscombe

I wonder if I left this at the interval? I seem to think that Nigel Havers got a round of applause just for being Nigel Havers. I wonder if it's time to do Coward differently or to stop doing him for a bit?