LONDON TRIP REVIEWS

Apr 97

1. Probably the biggest disappointment for me was LADY IN THE DARK. Seeing it was one of the primary reasons I went when I did--and maybe I was just looking for something that does not exist. The music is, of course, well known and beloved--and I am a big Weill fan--and have listened to all of the recorded versions innumerable times.

This production is seriously lacking in its most critical part--the LADY--Maria Friedman is simply not up to the role in voice, charisma, or acting ability. She was never believable, and for most of the performance I saw, totally inaudible. The rest of the main cast, with the exception of Hugh Ross, the Dr., is not particularly strong--and some of them are actually quite inadequate including the critical roles of Russell Paxton and Charley Johnson.

This was obviously a production done on a very limited budget--unusual for the National Theatre. The show deserved better treatment--and just having a strong LADY would have made the other faults a bit more palatable.

I do feel that the present cast MIGHT make a fine recording--as I understand might happen. My problems were primarily with the visual side of their performances--and Friedman's voice could be equalized with the others, perhaps.

2. MARLENE has a phenomenal performance by Sian Phillips--whenever she sings one of the Dietrich standards you would swear that Marlene had been resuscitated. The problem with this "musical" is that it is really just a cabaret act that has been augmented by one or two (if you consider the woman who never says a word) actors. There is no story line other than the great lengths that MD went to assure that her efforts were well received. The cast recording is superb, by the way, but it is really just a concert recording.

3. Why anyone would even consider reviving THE GOODBYE GIRL remains a mystery. Even with someone as popular as Gary Wilmot is with the London theatre-goers, it is difficult to see how they talked him into this travesty. Ann Crumb plays her role as a wide-eyed teeny-bopper and was not pleasant to either watch or listen to. Shezwae Powell as the landlady was allowed to do whatever she seemed to believe would get a laugh. The three kids were as nauseating as any kids I have ever seen in a musical--and that is saying a lot. The best thing about this show was the set, and it was quite wonderful in the way it could be moved and manipulated. The almost new score is totally forgettable. I would suggest that anyone who cannot live without cast recording buy the "single" that is now available. The rest of the score is supposed to be recorded later in the summer--but I cannot believe that it be around that long.

4. One of the most interesting theatre experiences this go-round was watching the rest of the audience in their rapt love of Cliff Richard in HEATHCLIFF. He is truly an IDOL who can do no wrong. The audience was primarily late middleaged women who had brought their families to the event. Before the first act they ask the audience not to move FORWARD following the final act--which was totally ignored, of course. When Sir (or is it Lord?) Cliff first appears there was a tremendous ovation. The fans had their Cliff in sight! And he stays in sight for most of the show. Not much happens but that did not dampen the audience's fervor. When he appears at the beginning of the second act there is an even louder ovation. The minute the show is over the stage is besieged by hundreds of fans--throwing bouquets at Sir Cliff. [Poor Helen Hobson did not receive any the night I saw the show.] At the end of fifteen curtain calls I left the theatre and I was the first person in the lobby--and I was in the middle of the dress circle/balcony of that huge theatre.

5. The best theatre I saw was POPCORN, a play by Ben Elton. It is billed as a comedy--but it has a very strong social content and a lot of violence. There is currently a good review of this play on Playbill OnLine, and Darren Dalglish has also reviewed it in his London Theatre Guide. [If anyone who cannot access these websites would like to see those reviews I will send them to you individually.] Unfortunately, POPCORN, which opened in early April was already at the half-price booth, but then GOODBYE GIRL was there for its opening night.

( May 97 / Warren seamans (seamans@MIT.EDU )