RESTRICTED VIEW #1

People used to talk and text about having a ‘Hot Girl Summer’ but London is really at her sexiest, culturally, in Autumn. I’ve spent the last few weeks in *restricted view seats in theatre stalls. Like the last falling leaf, some shows are worth catching before they close, whilst others are not even worth being crunched by your well shod toes. I’ll start with the not before moving onto what’s hot:

NOT

Hamlet at The National
Something certainly was rotten in the state of Denmark. The ‘big’ speeches were rushed. People buy tickets to Hamlet to luxuriate in the lines, not to hear ‘to be or not to be’ at 100 mph. It’s easy to forget how many common phrases come from Hamlet: ‘neither a borrower nor a lender be’, ‘to the manner born’, etc., but you’d be forgiven for missing them in this show. The set design was layered and lush (and must have cost a fortune) but the costumes smacked of A Level drama: Hamlet in heeled booties and a statement tee? Not for me.

HOT

Stereophonic at The Duke of York’s Theatre
Stereophonic (not to be confused with the Welsh rock band) is a show that, like a good song, sneaks up on you. It starts slowly but before you know it, you’re hooked and cannot stop listening. Great set, script and scene setting; you really do feel like you’re in a recording studio with a romantically dysfunctional but musically gifted band making a record. I’m still listening to the soundtrack, and would recommend listening before going.

Punch at The Apollo Theatre
Less toe tapping and more toe curling, Punch completely broke me. I was in tears for the majority (all) of the second act. Based on a true story about the death of James Hodkingson from one-punch, you are left marvelling at the generosity of his parents towards his killer,  Jacob Dunne. There was a large school group in attendance who were stunned into silence. An excellent choice by their teacher.

(Both of these shows are playing until the end of November and seem to have a relatively good amount of availability left at prices that won’t break the bank, particularly if you can make a matinee!) 

HOTTEST 

Mary Page Marlowe at The Old Vic
More of a bank breaker but I thoroughly enjoyed this show starring my redheaded queen Susan Sarandon. She completely rocked, as did Andrea Riseborough who did some of the best drunk acting I have ever seen. Written by Tracy Letts (whose play Bug is well worth a read), this production proves that bringing a bonafide Hollywood star to Blighty to tread the boards can, on occasion, really work.  

I want to spend the next few weeks seeking out some new writing in smaller venues so please do share any suggestions. The slew of ‘reworkings’ of Shakespeare are simply not working. The ‘reimaginings’ lack imagination. That said, I am desperate to see Toby Jones playing the ultimate theatrical baddie, Iago, in Othello at Theatre Royal Haymarket… 

SCENE & HEARD
A young woman being denied entry to a theatre on St Martin’s Lane until she had finished her portion of McDonald’s fries. As someone who has been made to check a baguette into a theatre cloakroom before I empathised with her hunger and inevitable heartburn.