ajhlovestheatre

HAY FEVER by Noël Coward Directed by Tam Williams The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye near Reading – until 13 May 2023 https://millatsonning.com/shows/hay-fever/ Allegedly inspired by Noel Coward‘s weekend visits to the country home of legendary American actress Laurette Taylor, where any unwillingness or inability to participate in increasingly bizarre parlour games resulted in relegation…

MARJORIE PRIME by Jordan Harrison Directed by Dominic Dromgoole Menier Chocolate Factory, London – until 6 May 2023 https://www.menierchocolatefactory.com/Online/default.asp When we first encounter the majestic Anne Reid as the titular character of this highly original American tragicomedy, she’s sitting in a state-of-the-art living facility chatting through reminiscences and shared memories with an elegantly suited man…

GUYS AND DOLLS Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows based on the stories and characters of Damon Runyon Directed by Nicholas Hytner Bridge Theatre, London – booking until 2 September 2023 https://bridgetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/guys-and-dolls/ I can’t imagine it ever not being a pleasure to encounter Damon Runyon’s gallery of petty…

THE JOURNEY TO VENICE by Bjørg Vik translated by Janet Garton Directed by Wiebke Green Finborough Theatre, London – until 25 March 2023 https://finboroughtheatre.co.uk/production/the-journey-to-venice/ Almost more moving than the depiction of a very old married couple eking out a existence in genteel poverty, which takes up most of this award-winning Norwegian play, is the small…

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF MUSICAL Book and lyrics by Jake Brunger Music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh Noël Coward Theatre, London – until 13 May 2023 https://bakeoffthemusical.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxr-_vPLK_QIVD7btCh1hWAsUEAAYASAAEgJ1gvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds This does exactly what it says on the cake tin. A joyful confection and, like the universally adored TV show that inspired it,…

SLEEPOVA by Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini directed by Jade Lewis Bush Theatre London – until 8 April 2023 https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/sleepova/ In the week which saw the Bush Theatre pick up two out of a possible five nominations in the Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre award category in this years Oliviers, the excellent West London venue has…

BOOTYCANDY by Robert O’Hara Directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu Gate Theatre London – until 11 March 2023 https://www.gatetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/bootycandy/ Receiving its UK premiere nine years after bursting onto the off-Broadway theatre scene, Robert O’Hara’s multi-faceted, zesty, fierce chefs kiss of a play bowls in like the cheeky elder sibling of Michael R Jackson’s Pulitzer and Tony winning…

STANDING AT THE SKYS EDGE Book by Chris Bush Music and Lyrics by Richard Hawley Directed by Robert Hastie National Theatre/Olivier – until 25 March 2023 https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/standing-at-the-skys-edge/ After rave reviews from the original run at the Crucible Theatre, and overwhelmingly positive word of mouth here in London, I assumed I was going to love Standing…

PHAEDRA by Simon Stone, after Euripides, Seneca and Racine National Theatre/Lyttelton – until 8 April 2023 https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/phaedra/ Ah….so this is based on all of the Phaedras (Euripides and Seneca both had versions of the story) then rather than just Racine’s Phèdre, which is what we got in the last two London outings, with Glenda Jackson…