A Quick Trip to A Classic Fave: Berlin, Germanyby Randi / August 6, 2018
August can be such a boring, dead month – everyone is on holiday, work is slow, so many things are closed, and this summer in particular it’s too hot to want to do anything. Thank goodness that London is overflowing with great theatre to see, even in these dog days of summer. This time of year can be a quiet time for theatre, as the big awards-focused shows haven’t opened yet and many of last season’s best have already closed. But luckily this August has lots of exciting, mostly new musicals. Before the incredibly exciting premieres of, for example, the gender-swapped “Company” (with Patti LuPone! PUT THOSE PHONES AWAY!) and Broadway’s heartrending darling “Come From Away”, there’s plenty to see right now on the West End and off.
Everyone always asks me for recommendations, and while I recommend that you, like me, see everything possible, I realise (I do I really do!) that my schedule of constant theatre isn’t feasible, or desirable, for most people, especially for the many tourists interested in just a few tips for their short London visits. So here are my top musical recommendations – in no particular order – that you can go see right now (well, one requires a bit of planning but you get the idea!).
5. THE KING AND I
London Palladium, until September 29
Most theatre fans will have fond memories of when they first saw “The King and I”, whether of watching the movie with their families or seeing an earlier production. Even people who don’t think they know musical theatre can sing along to “Getting to Know You” (just don’t sing along in the theatre!). But apart from the Broadway production that begot this West End transfer, this current rendition is the best there’s been.
And this is mainly due to its star, Kelli O’Hara, showing London what a true musical genius of a performer can do. O’Hara is probably the greatest soprano working in musical theatre today, and she’s providing a master class on acting through singing and on restraint as a powerful tool. Having this chance to catch her one last time in her Tony-winning role is a lucky opportunity that no one should miss. Her “Hello Young Lovers” is without a doubt the loveliest interpretation of the song ever witnessed and the most glorious musical achievement currently happening in London right now. That film star Ken Watanabe has also returned to the show, to reprise his role as the King of Siam, adds to this production’s appeal. His King easily alternates between goofy and cruel, yet he is always completely charming. And the recent return of the great Ruthie Ann Miles to the stage, here sharing the role of Lady Thiang, would be reason enough to see this production.
Catching this talent while you can is a must, although I have realised upon my latest visit that “The King and I” is kind of a weird show. It’s not necessarily that it has aged poorly, like other Golden Age shows have, but there’s an obvious direction the show would follow today (that someone at some point would ask Anna and/or the King, “Why do we have to pretend to be westernised to prove we aren’t barbarians? And why do we have to prove anything to prevent invaders from taking over our country illegally?” after which would come a story of being proud of your heritage or something) instead of the odd route it takes (“giant skirts and high heels will prevent conquest!”). Nevertheless, it’s a classic for a reason, and this is the production to see while you can.
London Palladium, until September 29
Most theatre fans will have fond memories of when they first saw “The King and I”, whether of watching the movie with their families or seeing an earlier production. Even people who don’t think they know musical theatre can sing along to “Getting to Know You” (just don’t sing along in the theatre!). But apart from the Broadway production that begot this West End transfer, this current rendition is the best there’s been.
And this is mainly due to its star, Kelli O’Hara, showing London what a true musical genius of a performer can do. O’Hara is probably the greatest soprano working in musical theatre today, and she’s providing a master class on acting through singing and on restraint as a powerful tool. Having this chance to catch her one last time in her Tony-winning role is a lucky opportunity that no one should miss. Her “Hello Young Lovers” is without a doubt the loveliest interpretation of the song ever witnessed and the most glorious musical achievement currently happening in London right now. That film star Ken Watanabe has also returned to the show, to reprise his role as the King of Siam, adds to this production’s appeal. His King easily alternates between goofy and cruel, yet he is always completely charming. And the recent return of the great Ruthie Ann Miles to the stage, here sharing the role of Lady Thiang, would be reason enough to see this production.
Catching this talent while you can is a must, although I have realised upon my latest visit that “The King and I” is kind of a weird show. It’s not necessarily that it has aged poorly, like other Golden Age shows have, but there’s an obvious direction the show would follow today (that someone at some point would ask Anna and/or the King, “Why do we have to pretend to be westernised to prove we aren’t barbarians? And why do we have to prove anything to prevent invaders from taking over our country illegally?” after which would come a story of being proud of your heritage or something) instead of the odd route it takes (“giant skirts and high heels will prevent conquest!”). Nevertheless, it’s a classic for a reason, and this is the production to see while you can.
4. BRING IT ON
Southwark Playhouse, until September 1
The fact that I’m recommending this show even though the small black box theatre is not air-conditioned proves how much fun it is. Even though the audience (and the cast!) was dying from the heat, everyone was having a ball, because the exuberant cast’s energy mixed with the fun music makes for a winning, perfect-for-summer combination.
“Bring it On” is inspired by the famous Kirsten Dunst movie (possibly the best movie ever) and subsequent franchise but with a completely different story – a move I greatly appreciated from book writer Jeff Whitty, as it lets the musical stand on its own merit instead of being compared to a much tighter movie. With mostly vivacious music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Kitt, and Amanda Green, “Bring it On” makes it easy to have a good time. There may be too many lackluster ballads, and they generally fail to further the story or the character development, but even just a few of the lively ensemble numbers make it all worth it. Especially given the very young, fresh (and yes inexperienced) cast, that’s really where this show shines and where everything seems to come to invigorating life.
It’s not a great musical – it’s not going to be considered one of the classics of the age or anything – but it’s an incredibly easy show to enjoy right now. The humour and energy and of course the cheerleading will have you smiling pretty much the whole time. And, I can’t think of any show that will make young people more excited to return to school.
Southwark Playhouse, until September 1
The fact that I’m recommending this show even though the small black box theatre is not air-conditioned proves how much fun it is. Even though the audience (and the cast!) was dying from the heat, everyone was having a ball, because the exuberant cast’s energy mixed with the fun music makes for a winning, perfect-for-summer combination.
“Bring it On” is inspired by the famous Kirsten Dunst movie (possibly the best movie ever) and subsequent franchise but with a completely different story – a move I greatly appreciated from book writer Jeff Whitty, as it lets the musical stand on its own merit instead of being compared to a much tighter movie. With mostly vivacious music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Kitt, and Amanda Green, “Bring it On” makes it easy to have a good time. There may be too many lackluster ballads, and they generally fail to further the story or the character development, but even just a few of the lively ensemble numbers make it all worth it. Especially given the very young, fresh (and yes inexperienced) cast, that’s really where this show shines and where everything seems to come to invigorating life.
It’s not a great musical – it’s not going to be considered one of the classics of the age or anything – but it’s an incredibly easy show to enjoy right now. The humour and energy and of course the cheerleading will have you smiling pretty much the whole time. And, I can’t think of any show that will make young people more excited to return to school.
3. HAMILTON
Victoria Palace, open run
You can’t talk about musical theatre anymore without mentioning Lin-Manuel Miranda’s behemoth masterwork, and that’s for good reason. “Hamilton”, one of the most astounding, brilliant musicals ever written, has changed the game, infiltrated all realms of culture, and proved that musical theatre is relevant. One of the few properties to actually surpass the insane hype surrounding it, “Hamilton” has the most incredible score, and it’s the only show that teaches you more than an entire year’s worth of U.S. History could, all while being entertaining instead of like school.
If you are one of the few people who haven’t yet memorised the entire score, “Hamilton” tells the story of one of America’s formerly-overlooked-but-now-most-famous founding fathers, who worked his way out of a life of poverty in the British West Indies. His determination and brilliance helped him escape endless trauma and become an influential part of the American revolution and the foundation of the new republic. Yet his ambition and wit get him into trouble too, giving him a lifetime of experiences most rappers would love to write about. A hip-hop musical about the founding fathers seemed crazy at first, but now it’s entirely accepted as incontestable that this type of music should tell this story.
So I know you can’t buy tickets for this weekend, but don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere. It will be playing for a looong time. And if you are the semi-spontaneous sort (it is done two days in advance, so it’s not the thrilling ‘ahh I won and the show starts in 30 minutes!’ type of exciting ticket lottery), you can enter the daily ticket lottery for only 10 quid at this website. Otherwise, you can start looking for tickets for a few months in advance (the benefit of seeing it in London and not New York). Be warned that, because of its cultural infiltration, the show has become its own sort of tourist attraction, and the audience can be rowdy. The Delfont Mackintosh staff at the Palace can’t (and won’t) do much to curb the talking, the singing along, and the phone use (and subsequent filming and photo taking), but if you can stomach that (which, to be fair, is increasingly happening at all sorts of shows nowadays), you’ll have the time of your life.
Victoria Palace, open run
You can’t talk about musical theatre anymore without mentioning Lin-Manuel Miranda’s behemoth masterwork, and that’s for good reason. “Hamilton”, one of the most astounding, brilliant musicals ever written, has changed the game, infiltrated all realms of culture, and proved that musical theatre is relevant. One of the few properties to actually surpass the insane hype surrounding it, “Hamilton” has the most incredible score, and it’s the only show that teaches you more than an entire year’s worth of U.S. History could, all while being entertaining instead of like school.
If you are one of the few people who haven’t yet memorised the entire score, “Hamilton” tells the story of one of America’s formerly-overlooked-but-now-most-famous founding fathers, who worked his way out of a life of poverty in the British West Indies. His determination and brilliance helped him escape endless trauma and become an influential part of the American revolution and the foundation of the new republic. Yet his ambition and wit get him into trouble too, giving him a lifetime of experiences most rappers would love to write about. A hip-hop musical about the founding fathers seemed crazy at first, but now it’s entirely accepted as incontestable that this type of music should tell this story.
So I know you can’t buy tickets for this weekend, but don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere. It will be playing for a looong time. And if you are the semi-spontaneous sort (it is done two days in advance, so it’s not the thrilling ‘ahh I won and the show starts in 30 minutes!’ type of exciting ticket lottery), you can enter the daily ticket lottery for only 10 quid at this website. Otherwise, you can start looking for tickets for a few months in advance (the benefit of seeing it in London and not New York). Be warned that, because of its cultural infiltration, the show has become its own sort of tourist attraction, and the audience can be rowdy. The Delfont Mackintosh staff at the Palace can’t (and won’t) do much to curb the talking, the singing along, and the phone use (and subsequent filming and photo taking), but if you can stomach that (which, to be fair, is increasingly happening at all sorts of shows nowadays), you’ll have the time of your life.
2. FUN HOME
Young Vic, until September 1
I have so much faith in this extraordinary musical that I’m recommending it even though I haven’t seen this production yet (next weekend!). With an accomplished, emotional score by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron, “Fun Home” feels so intimate and so real that you’ll feel as if you are a part of the family. Based on Alison Bechdel’s beloved graphic novel about her family and her childhood, the musical weaves between present and past as Alison looks at three different stages of her life to consider her relationship with her parents.
“Fun Home” is the rare kind of show that lets the poignancy of quiet family life stand on its own merit, without booming belted stand-and-plant solos or excessive dance numbers to distract from the emotion. It’s a difficult show that relies on the abilities of child actors to do a lot of the heavy lifting, but when it works and you connect to the material, it’s a uniquely special theatrical experience.
Young Vic, until September 1
I have so much faith in this extraordinary musical that I’m recommending it even though I haven’t seen this production yet (next weekend!). With an accomplished, emotional score by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron, “Fun Home” feels so intimate and so real that you’ll feel as if you are a part of the family. Based on Alison Bechdel’s beloved graphic novel about her family and her childhood, the musical weaves between present and past as Alison looks at three different stages of her life to consider her relationship with her parents.
“Fun Home” is the rare kind of show that lets the poignancy of quiet family life stand on its own merit, without booming belted stand-and-plant solos or excessive dance numbers to distract from the emotion. It’s a difficult show that relies on the abilities of child actors to do a lot of the heavy lifting, but when it works and you connect to the material, it’s a uniquely special theatrical experience.
1. MATILDA
Cambridge Theatre, open run
So unlike the rest of this list, “Matilda” isn’t recent to London by any means. But I realise that there are no British musicals on this list of what to see in London right now, which just seems wrong. Luckily, I’m not just including this to tick off a “British musical” box – “Matilda” is really and truly the best British musical, modern or classic, and I will happily argue with anyone who says otherwise.
This genius adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved book proves Tim Minchin as one of the best lyricists in the business right now. While I eagerly wait for his next project, I’m grateful that “Matilda” is still playing in the West End since it features the only truly great, complex original score that we’ve seen here in far too long. And not only is the score beautiful, affecting, and funny, the book is one of the best of modern musicals, in a time where musical book-writing as an art seems to be given less and less respect. Although it’s ostensibly a show for children (a little girl I once sat next to had an accident, bless her), Dennis Kelly’s intricate, eloquent book and Minchin’s beyond clever lyrics ensure that even adults will need to pay attention and, like the show’s heroine, use their smarts.
Cambridge Theatre, open run
So unlike the rest of this list, “Matilda” isn’t recent to London by any means. But I realise that there are no British musicals on this list of what to see in London right now, which just seems wrong. Luckily, I’m not just including this to tick off a “British musical” box – “Matilda” is really and truly the best British musical, modern or classic, and I will happily argue with anyone who says otherwise.
This genius adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved book proves Tim Minchin as one of the best lyricists in the business right now. While I eagerly wait for his next project, I’m grateful that “Matilda” is still playing in the West End since it features the only truly great, complex original score that we’ve seen here in far too long. And not only is the score beautiful, affecting, and funny, the book is one of the best of modern musicals, in a time where musical book-writing as an art seems to be given less and less respect. Although it’s ostensibly a show for children (a little girl I once sat next to had an accident, bless her), Dennis Kelly’s intricate, eloquent book and Minchin’s beyond clever lyrics ensure that even adults will need to pay attention and, like the show’s heroine, use their smarts.
As for those big newsworthy shows coming later in the year, I suggest you buy your tickets now for the aforementioned “Company” and “Come From Away”, as well as “Hadestown”, Don’t say I didn’t warn you when they all sell out!
Get your tickets to these shows and more at Encore Tickets!
*Post sponsored by Encore Tickets*
Get your tickets to these shows and more at Encore Tickets!
*Post sponsored by Encore Tickets*
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Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead: Real Title!!
It’s Theatre Thursday! Today’s show is called Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead and played at the Barbican until April 1.
I’m so excited to write about the show we have been referring to simply as ‘Ow My Bones!’ for literally months. I am not excited to admit that that was because we weren’t familiar with the title because we didn’t know it was a book, but apparently it was and made a splash that I missed. And I love water! Not only was I unfamiliar with the source mats, but I also didn’t realize that Ow My Bones was pretty much a drama about animal justice. HERE. FOR THIS. SHIT.
Also, it’s coming from Simon McBurney and Complicite, who are always complicite in providing challenging and unique theatre. Sometimes they’re a little dark for me but the troupe is always doing something interesting. Like here: it’s dark af but it’s about like vigilante justice for animal abuse so again, I could not BE any more here for it.
In Ow My Bones, a lady named Janina (an incredibly captivating when I saw the show in previews (so long ago sorry) Kathryn Hunter) living in a remote Polish mountain town of 14 people learns that her asshole neighbor has died. It seems he choked on bones (ow!) but Janina has a gut feeling that the deer she made eye contact with outside had something to do with it. It was honestly hard not to start fist pumping when assholes who were cruel to animals starting dying. As more bad men (members of the hunting club) show up dead, we learn more about their history of being absolute dickheads to animals, women, pretty much everyone who counts (i.e. not hunters), and we hear Janina’s theories of how the animals are behind it all, somehow taking revenge. Everyone thinks she’s crazy, because I guess ON PAPER it SOUNDS crazy, but I was like, ‘this chick gets it.’
One of the reasons it took me so long to write this is because Kathryn Hunter got sick before opening night, so they delayed it, (and then I forgot), and then it opened with another actress, which is a shame, because I’m sure she’s amazing too as everyone in Complicite is, but with Kathryn Hunter it felt like her blood flowed to be on that stage playing that character. Even when she flubbed some lines (understandable she’s reciting like hours of text up there and it was previews) she was still supes powerful. Considering that hers was the only performance I remember disliking in Andor, this b really is a talented chameleon.
Ow My Bones is a little long, and about 3/5 through the first act it dragged a bit, but otherwise it was incredibly engrossing and powerful which is impressive considering it’s mostly one tiny woman talking at us for hours; that’s really hard to make captivating! Kathryn reminded me in sound and physicality of Linda….the little one who I first saw in that movie with the teenager who becomes like a secret agent or something but all I really remember is a woman being bitten by a scorpion in a pinkish bedroom???? HUNT. ooh ironic. (Anyone know what movie I am thinking of?) And while she’s the main act, the ensemble and supporting players are all stellar. I particularly loved the physicality (wow I’ve literally never said this word so much) of the ensemble, when they did little precise movements that contained a whole universe of creativity.
Anyway I was the teensiest bit disappointed in the ending (not how it’s staged, just as written) because I wanted Janina to be right; I wanted the animals to be doing these murders all on their own so I could have hope that they would fight back against all the shits ruining their existence in our world too but I guess that is a lofty lofty dream. Man the first act as a standalone would have been pure fire. But even so, I really enjoyed this which is shocking for me given the aforementioned darkness, violence, length (about three hours), and big time use of astrology (but honestly this character was the closest anyone has ever come to making me give it the time of day). Man, honestly though, a whole play (and book) about the possibility of animals getting revenge on hunters and poachers and the people who let them get away with it?? did *I* win a contest??
INFORMATION (NOT THAT YOU CARE SINCE IT’S OVER BUT MAYBE IT’LL HAVE ANOTHER RUN SOMEDAY SOMEWHERE SOMEHOW)
Start: about 7:52
Act I ends: 9:15
Act II begins: 9:37
Act II ends: 10:41
Barbican is the one theatre where no matter what we are always going upstairs. The stalls are my nightmare — incredibly long rows with no aisle breaks except at the ends so you could get trapped and have to get past like 30 people if you have to pee, it’s just horrendous to even think about. Upstairs in the upper circle you can have your own entrance door and no one behind you and it’s cheaper too.
The bathroom situation at Barbican continues to be the worst though, you either run down to a small one house left below the stalls or you go all the way out the theatre to like the movie theatre area. Woof.
The show uses big flashes a bunch, flashes that are blinding and upsetting. They are not upsetting in a theatrical ooh this is working for me way; they are upsetting because they are blinding. CAN. THEATRES. PLEASE. STOP. DOING. THIS.
Restaurant recommendation for pre-theatre: Korean BBQ & Vegan has moved from East London to here! Like around the corner! And they’re so fast and great. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.
A German Life at the Bridge Theatre: Maggie Smith is a Treasure; This Show is Not
It’s Theatre Thursday! A German Life is playing at London’s Bridge Theatre until May 11.
First of all, let me be clear that Maggie Smith is one of a handful of global treasures (pronounced tray-sure, like fellow old-lady-treasure Emily Gilmore). If she wanted to be an honorary Golden Girl I’d allow it. She’s the best. I love her. I wish her decades more of life and health and work.
A German Life is one of the most painful theatrical events I’ve ever had the non-playsure of experiencing. And not in a good ‘oh that was dramatic and heavy in a necessary way’ kind of painful. I mean it was torture. It was almost two hours straight of wondering in agony whether Maggie Smith was losing her short-term memory and forgetting lines (the thought of which was heartbreaking), or whether this was a purposeful choice for her character. Either way, it was painful to watch. It was hundo p when you visit an older person in a nursing home and you listen to their rambling stories and how it takes them a year to get out one sentence, and once they get the sentence out, they repeat it three times so they can figure out where they wanted to go from there and you’re just like OH MY GOD SPIT IT OUT but you can’t because that’s a horrible thing to think and say (when you aren’t talking to a Nazi).
And yes, all this means that Maggie was entirely successful in her portrayal (it had to be an acting decision, right, because Maggie Smith is still IN HER PRIME) of a 105-year-old woman. I mean, it’s incredible that a 105-year-old woman managed to communicate all that she did. But realism and accuracy in the portrayal doesn’t automatically make for good theatre.
What also doesn’t make for good theatre is that the show gets its message across in about 10 minutes, and the rest of the time is just playing that same one note for longer. And the message…isn’t enough. In A German Life, Maggie plays Brunhilde Pomsel, former secretary to Joseph Goebbels during WWII. The real Pomsel broke her silence at age 105 when she spoke to a group of filmmakers about her life. This play, by Christopher Hampton, is based on that. Maggie sits in a chair as Brunhilde and talks to us about her life like we are filming her for the documentary. The significance of her testimony is that she was a Nazi, who worked in Goebbels’ propaganda wing, who doesn’t think she did anything wrong. In her recounting of wartime, she spends more time explaining her favorite suit she got from Mrs. Goebbels than sharing anything she knew about what was happening in the war. It’s an effective portrait of willful ignorance, I’ll give it that. We spend this time with a self-involved person who hasn’t learned any lesson still, and so we are supposed to reflect on what makes someone ignore such atrocity, and what we would have done differently, if anything.
What bothers me about this show is how frustrated I am that the subtle messaging is not going to reach some people. Instead of thinking how horrifying it is that this woman still doesn’t get it, still thinks she was a victim for what she faced post-war, some people are going to go ‘hmm that really makes you think, there could be very fine people on both sides.’ I’m all for subtle theatre, but our audience needed to be told more clearly that Nazis were bad. I’m not joking. As usual, this show was a prime example of the disturbing humor of London audiences. Without fail, whenever there’s a soul-shocking line that would make normal humans breathe in sharply or widen their eyes or gasp, we’re with an audience that laughs. The most alarming example in my experience previously was when, in Caroline, or Change, Caroline told the young Jewish boy in her care that his people go to hell. It’s a big gasp moment. OUR AUDIENCE LAUGHED. And not in a nervous laughter way that some people on Broadway did; this was in a ‘oh that’s funny because making fun of Jews is funny’ way. Well, the Bridge audience at A German Life matched that distress by laughing every single time Maggie’s character made fun of Jews, especially their appearance, their penny-pinching ways, and especially when she motioned slightly at her nose to comment about Jews’ big noses. The audience roared. This is why anti-Semitism is back; it’s by popular demand.
And that’s why this show didn’t work for me and mostly frustrates me. It’s extremely subtle in its message, because all we get is her story and her words. It only works for people who know that the Nazis were bad and that anti-Semitism was, is, wrong. So, today, when more and more people don’t realize that anti-Semitism is wrong, they laugh along with Brunhilde like it’s their granny and then come away thinking ‘maybe not all Nazis were bad! She seemed fine!’ It’s ridiculous that I have to say this, today, but apparently we as a society haven’t reached the point where subtlety in anti-Nazi messaging makes any headway. I know some of you are like ‘you’re assuming all of that just because people laughed at the wrong things?’ No, I’m assuming all of that because of the conversations I have had every single day since 2016 about what is or is not anti-Semitic, and how often I’ve been told that just because something is anti-Semitic doesn’t mean it’s bad. When we still have people who are like ‘eh but Jews’, a restrained portrait of a non-actively-evil Nazi isn’t going to get through to anyone who needs it.
INFORMATION
I’ve previously raved about the human-friendly, modern design of the Bridge, but that was when I sat in the stalls. Sitting in the weird nether-region of the Gallery 1, which is really just more stalls at the back walls of the theatre, separated from the regular stalls by a half-step and a banister. It felt much more cramped than the regular stalls and at a weird side angle. Definitely won’t be sitting there again.
Infuriatingly, the show started 10 minutes late, in order to seat all latecomers. This is because this show has a policy of no admission or readmission once the show begins – but they also publicized the policy of ‘no latecomers allowed in’. Get your story straight! Don’t hold the curtain for people who are 10 minutes late, man alive.
