I’ve decided to write a summary of my theatre trips each month in 2024 – as much as a record for me! I might go back and do the same for 2023. So, a listing of performances and venues with a monthly pick of performances in a play and musical.
I spent the first week of January in Paris visiting my daughter, so no theatre that week
10th January – Edward Scissorhands – The Sadler’s Wells Theatre – I’d never seen the film so had little idea of the story. I’m a big fan of Matthew Bourne and New Adventures ballet as is my friend Sheila who I went with, and this was no exception. The story was told with colour and humour and the lead dancer was wonderful! (1)
11th January – Don’t Destroy Me – The Alcora Theatre – This was a new theatre to me, it has a nice bat area where you can sit and have a drink or have a cuppa with biscuits! This play was really well acted, but my friend Cory and I just didn’t ‘get it’. It was one of those where we looked at each other at the end and thought ???? Cast – Nathalie Barclay, Eddie Boyce, Nicholas Day, Alix Dunmore, Sue Kelvin, Timothy O’Hara, Paul Rider, Nell Williams (2)
15th January – An evening of Sondheim – The Phoenix Arts Club. A truly delightful evening with Cory, we saw 14 young performers singing Sondheim, each was a star in their own right! (3)
17th January – The Homecoming – The Young Vic Theatre. A matinee in a double theatre day, this is a Harold Pinter play, his plays can be challenging and this was no exception. Bit also in common with many of Pinter’s plays this was funny and the physical acting of Joe Cole (of Peaky Blinders and Gangs of London) in particular really added to the experience. A play with some quiet moments phones went off 3 times! Including the same one twice in the first act! Cast – David England, Joe Cole, Lisa Diveney, Robert Emms, Jared Harris, Nicholas Tennant. (4)
17th January – Pacific Overtures – The Menier Chocolate Factory – I met my friends Laura and James for this one. Some more Sondheim too end the week. This was my 3rd visit to this theatre, having seen a disappointing Third Man and the excellent Twiggy The Musical. This one was a cracker! The ‘stage’ was in the middle of the theatre on the flat, we had front row seats so were very close to the action. I’d watched one of the Ensemble singing Sondheim earlier in the week at the Phoenix Arts Club which was great! Main Cast – John Chew, Kanako Nakano, Saori Oda, Takura Ohno, Jaoquin Pedro Valdes (5)
22nd January – Afterglow – Southwark Playhouse, Borough. A really thought provoking play, I’d bought a Row B ticket, which it turned out was the front row, so I was very close to the action. This is the story of an open marriage that goes wrong when one of the husbands falls in love with the 3rd person, who’d been brought into the relationship. I was one of maybe 4 women in a packed (on a Monday night) theatre. Cast – Victor Hugo, Peter McPherson, James Nicholson (6)
23rd January – Les Miserables – The Sondheim Theatre – This was my 5th time of watching ‘Les Mis’ I don’t like it at the first attempt, then watched the concert version and really enjoyed it, that in spite of (controversial comments coming up) Alfie Joe and Michael Ball as Javery and Valjean. I’m not a big fan of either at this stage of their careers. The next 2 were in the new theatre with the new production and I loved it! This 5th visit was booked with Sheila to watch Bradley Jaden as Javert, imagine our delight when it was Killian Donnelly playing Valjean! Both were absolutely sublime, with Bring Him Home sung by Donnelly being my absolute highlight. The actor playing Marius was my favourite of the 5 I’d seen too. Main Cast – Will Callan, Killian Donnelly, Katie Hall, Bradley Jaden, Luke Kempner, Claire Machin, Lulu-Mae Pears (7)
31st January – The King and I – The Dominion Theatre – I’d seen this prioduction locally, but an email offering tickets for £20 and a friend, Carol, keen to go meant it was rude not to. The film was a staple of my childhood and this production Brought back many happy memories. It was good to see the same cast on the stage in London, albeit Elizabeth George hurt her ankle in Southend and was replaced for Act 2. This definitely does credit to the film of my memories and Darferen Lee as the King of the title play the role brilliantly, Helen George is also very good, Cezarah Bonner has a truly beautiful voice and plays Lady Thing. Yet again phones went off, why is it so difficult to turn the sound off if you don’t want to tuen the whole phone off! Main Cast – Cezarah Bonner, Helen George, Dean John-Wilson, Caleb Lagayan, Darren Lee, Kok-Hwa Lie, Marienella Philips (8)
Best performance in a Play – Joe Cole – The Homecoming
Best Performance in a Show – Bradley Jaden and Killian Donnelly – Les Miserables (they couldn’t be split)
365 Happy Days 