How to Succeed in Business without really trying

 

How to Succeed in Business without really trying, Southwark Playhouse Borough, 2023.

Cast: Annie Aitken, Tracie Bennett, Taylor Bradshaw, Allie Daniel, Gabrielle Friedman, Elliot Gooch, Grace Kanyamibwa, Danny Lane, Milo McCarthy, Verity Power, Michelle Visage (voice).

Music & lyrics: Frank Loesser

Book: Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, Willie Gilbert

Director: Georgie Rankcom

I was excited about this as Daniel Radcliffe had been in it on Broadway to great exclaim. I think the problem was that it was too similar to other shows I've seen at the same venue - big, talented cast in a show that wasn't as well known as it could be so I muddle them all together.

A Voyage around my Father

 

A Voyage around my Father, Cambridge Arts Theatre, 2023.

Cast: Rupert Everett, Jack Bardoe, Eleanor David, Allegra Marland, Julian Wadham, Heather Bleasdale, Zena Carswell, John Dougall, Calum Finlay, Richard Hodder, Leoni Kibbey, Rob Pomfret.

Writer: John Mortimer

Director: Richard Eyre

I was really excited about this as the last time I saw Rupert in Cambridge, playing Oscar Wilde, it was a brilliant night out. This wasn't. I just don't think I liked the story and found it boring. Hopefully I'll get to see him again in something better.

Rock Follies

 

Rock Follies, Minerva Theatre, 2023.

Cast: Carly Bawden, Angela Marie Hurst, Zizi Strallen, Fred Haig, Samuel Barnett, Stephenson Ardern-Sodje, Sebastien Torkia, Tamsin Carroll, Philippa Stefani, Bella Brown, Collette Guitart, Peter Houston, Matthew Malthouse, Antoine Murray-Straughan, Harriet Watson.

Book: Chloe Moss

Songs: Howard Schuman & Andy Mackay

Director: Dominic Cooke

I was excited about this as people are very fond of the TV series it's based on, although I'd never seen it. Shows about music are an interesting idea, especially women in music, although they don't always work (see also Teeth 'n' Smiles this year). I think it was okay. Everyone in it was good, it just didn't really work anymore.

The King & I

 

The King & I, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2023.

Cast: Annalene Beechey, Darren Lee, Cezarah Bonner, Sam Jenkins-Shaw, Dean John-Wilson,, Kok-Hwa Lie, Marienella Phillips, Marie Coyne, Josh Bortoloso/Fin Goodman/Louis Levy/Charlie McGuire, Chi Chan, Jeffrey Chekai, Emily Grace-Ling, Cher Nicolette Ho, Rachel Wang-Hei Lau, Daniel Len, Candy Ma, Rachel MacDougall, Amelia Kinu Muus, Yuki Ozeki, Kitt Pakapom, Prem Rai, Ria Tanaka, Hiromi Toyooka, Jasmine Triadi, Jensen Tudtud, Qinwen Xue, Jason Yang-Westland, William Alsina/Alexander Chin/Cody Concha/Alana Baharil Koppen/Kanaho Kurihara/Sanna Kurihara/Caitlin Lau/Ruby-Mae Lewis/Khun Cho Lwin/Grace Mugridge/Angelica Quynh an Nguyen/Sabri Leonel Puci/Myles Tullett/Phoebe Zhao-Welsh/James Javier.

Music: Richard Rodgers

Book & lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II

Director: Bartlett Sher

I don't even think I've seen the film with Yul Brynner all the way through so I guess we went to see this because it was a big deal that it was on locally and it was likely to be quite glamorous and there would be tunes we knew. I doubt I was bored and I do remember a nice set, but I'm not sure it was the "must-see" I thought it was.

The Cher Show

 

The Cher Show, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2023.

Cast: Debbie Kurup, Danielle Steers, Millie O'Connell, Lucas Rush, Guy Woolf, Sam Ferriday, Jake Mitchell, Tori Scott, Jordan Anderton, Jasmine Jules Andrews, Carla Bertran, Catherine Cornwall, Áine Curran, Sam Holden, Samantha Ivey, Ingrid Olivia, Aston Newman Hannington, Clayton Rosa, Chay Wills.

Book: Rick Elice

Director: Arlene Phillips

You'd think something involving three versions of Cher - Star, Lady, Babe - and a lot of her songs would be a triumph but I think this was no more than silly and a bit camp. A waste really. Perhaps Arlene isn't the director she thinks she is. Perhaps nobody can say no to Cher despite needing to.