England People Very Nice (at The National): A play about the history of Bethnal Green (where I live!) and all the waves of migration. It was done as a comedy, fast paced and engaging throughout most of the show, but the problem was that it made its point in the first 10 minutes and then had nowhere to go... despite being 2 1/2 hours long! The show was considered "controversial", some people accused it of being racist, but it had such a light touch (and touched on all racial stereotypes) that I imagine most of the offended parties hadn't actually seen it.
View from the Bridge (West End): Starring Ken Stott (who pretty much always plays grizzled cops on TV!) this Arthur Miller play was great. The tragedy built from the first moments, you knew it wouldn't end well! My only complaint on the night I went was the audience! There was a school group, whose phones went off during the show. Once in the first half (and the girl took AGES to find it and turn it off) and then during the second half one kid's phone went off 3 times! The same phone! Just as the tension was building (Ken and co were acting their hearts out). The ushers were pacing up and down to find who it was. Grrrr. But the oldies were no better. Some old dears behind me kept eating butterscotch, which were individually wrapped in crinkly plastic and the noise of them unwrapping each sweet echoed around the theatre...!
Then I saw Entertaining Mr Sloane: With Imelda Staunton (who was fantastic) and this guy Matthew Horne, who plays Gavin in Gavin & Stacey (has that made it to Aus yet? It's very sweet and worth watching.) I was really interested in this show because the playwright, Joe Orton, was the subject of a great film, Prick Up Your Ears (starring Gary Oldman and Alfred Molina) and I've also read his diaries. Orton was murdered by his gay lover of 16 years in a fit of jealous rage, because of his growing success as a playwright. Mr Sloane is dated in parts, but the cast were so great that it didn't matter. They were genuinely funny, and it was easy to see why it had been considered shocking when it was first performed in the 1960s. It was also obvious, from what I know of Orton, that he based the lead character on himself - a man who can charm both men and women but who is hiding a dark secret.
And finally, last night at the Barbican I saw Pied Piper, a full-length hip hop dance show based around the Pied Piper of Hamlin story. It was great, but I had to try not to dance along in my seat as I would have certainly looked like a tool if I tried to replicate any of the moves!
Less than 2 weeks and I'll be back in Melbourne. Look forward to seeing you all, perhaps I'll try to organise drinks somewhere one night?
xx
