English 252: Theatre in England, 2003-2004




* [Optional events see by some]

Sunday December 28

 

*3:00 p.m. Ronald Harwood, See You Next Tuesday (2003). Dir. Robin Lefèvre. Adapted from Francis Veber, Le Diner de Cons (1993). With Nigel Havers (Pierre Brochant), Ardal O'Hanlon (Francois Pignon), Carol Royle (Christine Brochant), Patsy Kensit (Marlene), Geoffrey Hutchings (Lucien Cheval), Patrick Ryecart (Just Leblanc), Roy Sampson (Archambaud).                                                   

Albery Theatre

 

Monday December 29
 
2:00 p.m. David Almond. Skellig (2003). Dir. Trevor Nunn. [Michael has moved into a new neighbourhood. The house is a mess and his parents are distracted because his brand-new baby sister is seriously ill. Scrambling through a rickety garage, he discovers something that changes his life and the lives of those around him. But he knows he mustn't tell anybody about Skellig. David Almond's eerie and magical story, published in 1998, became an instant classic. It snatched the Whitbread Children's Book Award from Harry Potter and won the prestigious Carnegie Medal. Trevor Nunn had several great successes at adapting fiction to stage, including Nicholas Nickleby and Les Miserables.]
 
Young Vic Theatre
   
 
7:30 p.m. Oscar Wilde. A Woman of No Importance (1893). Dir. Adrian Noble. With Prunella Scales (Mrs. Hunstanton), Samantha Bond (Mrs. Arbuthnot), Rupert Graves (Lord Illingworth), Rachel Stirling (Hester Worsley).
 
Haymarket Theatre
 
 
Tuesday December 30
2:30 p.m. Michael Frayn. Democracy (2003). Dir. Michael Blakemore. With Roger Allam (Willy Brandt), Conleth Hill (Günter Guillaume), David Ryall (Herbert Webner), Nicholas Blane, Jonathan Coy, Christopher Ettridge, Paul Gregory, Glyn Grain, Steven Posey. [World Premiere]
 
Cottesloe Theatre
   
 
7:30 p.m. Arthur Miller. The Price (1968). Dir. Sean Holmes. With Warren Mitchel, Larry Lamb, Des McAleer, Sian Thomas.
 
Apollo Shaftesbury Theatre
 
 
Wednesday December 31
  2:30 p.m. Christopher Hampton. Les Liaisons Daungereuses (1985). Dir. Tim Fywell. Based on the novel by Choderlos deLaclos. With Polly Walker (La Marquise de Merteuil), Jared Harris (Le Vicomte de Valmont), Emilia Fox (La Présidente de Tourvel), Laurence Penry Jones (Danceny), Jeremy Edward (Azolan), Sarah Woodward (Madame de Volanges), Olivia Llewellyn (Cecile Volanges), Dilys Laye (Madame de Rosemonde), Sean Oliver (Major Domo).
 
Playhouse Theatre
   
7:30 p.m. Anything Goes (1934). Dir. Trevor Nunn. Music and lyrics by Cole Porter. Original book by P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton. New book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, with revisions by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman. Design by John Gunter. Lighting by David Hersey. Choreography by Stephen Mear. Costumes by Anthony Powell. Cast: Sally Ann Triplett (Anne Sweeney, evangelist turned nightclub singer), Mary Stockley (Hope Harcourt, a debutante), Susan Tracy (Evangeline Harcourt, her mother), Simon Day (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, a wealthy Englishman), Denis Quilley (Elisha Whitney, a tycoon), John Barrowman (Billy Crocker, a young man from his office), Martin Marquez (Moonface Martin, a gangster), Annette McLaughlin (Erma, a moll), Paul Grunert (Captain of the SS American), Robin Soans (The Purser), Anthony Cable (Henry T. Dobson, missionary preacher), Raymond Chai (John, a Chinese convert), Yao Chin (Luke, a Chinese convert); Reno's Angels: Alexis Owen Hobbs (Purity), Rachel Stanley (Chastity), Samantha Modeste (Charity), Jane Fowler (Virtue); a Nautical Quartet: Tom Espiner, Corey Skaggs, Tam Mutu, Richard Henders; and many sailors and other travelers. Main Songs: Anything Goes, I Get a Kick Out of You, You're the Top, It's De'lovely. Blow Gabriel Blow, You'd Be So Easy to Love, All Through the Night.
 
Drury Lane Theatre
 
 
Thursday January 1, 2004
 
*12:00-2:00. Lord Mayor's New Year's Day Parade. Over a hundred entries with a cast of thousands, US All-Star Bands, cheerleaders from highschools in Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, Tokyo, the Universal Cheerleaders Association, cyclists on antique bicyles, steam engines, traction engines, floats, gigantic cartoon balloons, etc.
   
2:00 p.m. Nicholas Wright. His Dark Materials. Pt. I. (2003). Dir. Nicholas Hytner. Based on the novels of Philip Pullman. Set design by Giles Cadie. Puppet designer Michael Curry. Lighting by Paule Constable. Choreography by Aletta Collins. Music by Jonathan Dove. Fight design by Terry Kind. Sound design by Paul Groothuis. With Timothy Dalton (Lord Asriel), Patricia Hodges (Mrs. Coulter), Niamh Cusak (Serafina Pekkala), Dominic Cooper (Will), Anna Maxwell Martin (Lyra), Samuel Barnett, John Carlisle, Patricia Godfrey, Stephen Greif, Jamie Harding, Akbar Khurta, Erika Leigh Wright, Helena Lymberly, Tim McMullen, Ian Mitchell, Helen Merton, Cecilia Noble, Nick Sampson, Danny Sapani, Jason Thorpe, Russell Tovey, Ben Whishaw, Katie Wimpenny, Ben Wright, and Richard Youman. [World Premiere. 3 hours]
 
Olivier Theatre
   
 
7:00 p.m. Nicholas Wright. His Dark Materials, Pt. II. (2003). Same cast as Part I. [World Premiere. 3 hours].
 
Olivier Theatre
 
 
Friday January 2
 
2:30 p.m. Alan Ayckbourn. Me, Myself, and I. (1983). Music by Paul Todd. Dir. Kim Grant. Design by Sam Dawson.
 
Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond
   
7:30 p.m. Matthew Bourne. Play Without Words (2002). Music by Terry Davies. Inspired by Joseph Losey's film The Servant, by Robin Maugham. Design by Lez Brotherston. Choreography by Matthew Bourne and New Adventures in Moving Pictures. Lighting by Paule Constable. With Will Kemp, Ewan Wardrop, Richard Winsor (Anthony), Saranne Curtin, Michaela Meazza, Emily Piercey (Glenda), Scott Ambler, Steve Kirkham, Eddie Nixon (Prentice). [1 hour and 40 minutes]
 
Lyttelton Theatre
 
 
Saturday January 3
 
3:00 p.m. Samuel Beckett. Happy Days (Oh! le beaux jours) (1961). Dir. Peter Hall. With Felicity Kendall. See Alan Bird's Review
 
Arts Theatre
   
7:30 p.m. Martin McDonagh. The Pillowman (2003). Dir. John Crowley. Design by Scot Pask. Lighting by Hugh Vanstone. Sound by Paul Arditti. With Jim Broadbent, Adam Godley, Nigel Lindsay, David Tennant. [World Premiere]
 
Cottesloe Theatre
 
 
Sunday January 4
 
*11:15 a.m. Tomas Luis de Victoria (c. 1548-1611), Missa O magnum mysterium. Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608), Wie schön leuchtet. Dietrich Buxtehude (c. 1637-1707), Praeludium in G minor.
 
Westminster Abbey
   
  [Open. Perhaps some will wish to see something at the Battersea Arts Center, which will have Sunday matinee and evening performances. Also, See You Next Tuesday, a comedy that has recieved mixed reviews, is playing at the Albery Theatre at 3:00 pm. Some have booked the folllowing:
   
  *3:00 p.m. Disney's The Lion King (1997). Dir. Julie Taymor. Book adapted by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi. Music by Lebo M, Elton John, and Ted Rice. Choreography by Garth Fagan. Masks and puppets by Julie Taymor and Michael Curry. With Sharon D'Clarke (Rafiki), Roger Wright (Simba), Cornell John (Mufasa), Rob Edwards (Scar), Martyn Ellis (Pumbaa), Simon Gregor (Timon), Gregory Gudgeon (Zazu), Javine Hylton (Nala), Paul J. Medford (Banzai), Stephanie Charles (Shenzi), and Christopher Holt (Ed).
 
Lyceum Theatre


 
*4:00 p.m. Reduced Shakespeare Company's Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged). Produced and performed by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, Jess Winfield, Reed Martin. [37 plays in 97 minutes].
 
Criterion Theatre
 
 
Monday January 5
7:30 p.m. Tom Stoppard. Jumpers (1972). Dir David Leveaux. Design by Vicki Mortimer. Music Corin Buckeridge. Choreography Aldan Treays. With Simon Russell Beale (George Moore, Professor of Moral Philosophy), Esse Davis (Dorothy Moore), John Rogan (Crouch), Jonathan Hyde (Vice-Chancellor Archie), Nicholas Woodson (Detective Bones), Eliza Lumley (Secretary), Joseph J. Leigh (Swing).
 
Piccadilly Theatre
 
 
Tuesday January 6
  *2:30 p.m. Phantom of the Opera (1986). Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lyrics by Charlie Hart and Richard Stilgoe. Book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Dir. Harold Prince. Based on the novel Le Fantome de l'Opera , by Gaston Leroux. Cast: John Owen-Jones (Phantom), Richard Hazell (Monsieur Firmin), Jim Heath (Piangi), Katie Knight-Adams/Nicky Adams (Christine), Ramin Karimloo (Raoul), Heather Jackson (Madame Giry), Judith Gardner Jones (Carlotta), Sam Miller (Monsieur André), Heidi Ann O'Brien (Meg). [Phantom opened on 6 October 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre London.]
 
Her Majesty's Theatre
   
6:15 p.m. Eugene O'Neill. Mourning Becomes Electra (1931). Dir. Howard Davies. Design by Bob Crowley. With Helen Mirren (Christine Mannon), Eve Best (her daughter, Lavinia), Paul Hilton (Orin), Paul McGann (Adam), Tim Pigott-Smith (Brigadier General Ezra Mannon), Sean McGinley (Capt. Brant), Rebecca Johnson (Hazel, Orin's fiancée). [Based on Aeschylus' Oresteia ]
 
Lyttelton Theatre
 
 
Wednesday January 7
  2:30 p.m. [Open. I have not booked anything at this time; we've run out of money. There are two excellent plays on at this time, however, if you wish to get day of performance seats.]

Stephen Poliakoff. Sweet Panic. Dir Stephen Poliakoff. Cast: Victoria Hamilton (Clare), Jane Horrocks (Mrs. Trevel), John Gordon Sinclair (Martin), Daniela Denby Ashe (Gina), Rupert Evans (Richard), Philip Bird (Mr. Boulton). [A modern urban thriller. A child psychologist's grasp of contemporary life is brought into question when she finds herself stalked by the mother of one of her young clients. This "funny" play pits the two women against each other in a battle for the soul of the city.]
 
Duke of York's Theatre
   
  Moira Buffini. Dinner. Dir Fiona Buffini. Design by Rachel Blues. With Harriet Walter (Paige), Nicholas Farrell (Lars), Penny Downey (Wynne), Flora Montgomery (Sian), Paul Kay (either Mike, or Hall, I'm not certain; probably not the silent waiter). [The play opened at The Loft Theatre, a small theatre designed for new and experimental work, at the National Theatre in 2002. It received Olivier Award nominations for Best New Comedy.]
 
Wyndhams Theatre
   
  *7:30 p.m. Joanna Laurens. Five Gold Rings (2003). World Premiere. Dir Michael Attenborough. With David Calder (Henry), Will Keen (Simon), Damian Lewis (Daniel), Helen McCrory (Miranda), and Indira Varma (Freyja).
 
Almeida Theatre
   
  *7:45 p.m. Stella Feehily. Duck. Dir. Max Stafford-Clark. An Out of Joint production -- "a must see company" (Time Out). Cast: Gina Moxley, Ruth Negga, Aidan OHare, Tony Rohr, Karl Shiels, Elaine Symons. [Duck is Stella Feehily's first play. Award winner at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and at the Dublin Festival. Cat's got big feet so her boyfriend calls her Duck. She's also got a middle-aged lover, a boyfriend with a gun, a psychcotic mum whose main worry is whether the milk's back in the fridge, and a brainy best friend (Sophie) with a short fuse. They're teenagers on the brink, growing up in the face of everything a city can throw at them. But girls want to have fun. Can you learn to be good when your elders are no longer your betters? Somehow, the girls must cope or find a way of escaping. Max Stafford-Clark's production spills from the homes, bars, and streets of Dublin. The Royal Court Theatre specializes on avant garde, new, and experimental theater.]
 
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, The Royal Court Theatre
   
 
Stratford-upon-Avon
 
Thursday January 8
  10:30 a.m. Tour of Warwick Castle in Warwickshire.
   
 
1:30 p.m. William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well (c. 1602). Dir. Gregory Doran. With Judi Dench (Countess Rossilion), Claudie Blakely (Helena), Jamie Glover (Bertram), Guy Henry (Parolles), Aimee Cohen, Arthur Kohn, Mark Lambert, Jane Maud, Brendon O'Hea, Miles Richardson, Gary Waldhorn.
 
Swan Theatre
   
  7:15 p.m. Laurence Boswell. Beauty and the Beast (2003).
 
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
   
 
London
 
Friday January 9
  5:45 p.m. Dinner at Mon Plaisir
   
  7:30 p.m. Patrick Marber. After Miss Julie (1995/2003). Dir. Michael Grandage. Design by Bunny Christie, With Kelly Reilly (Miss Julie), Richard Coyle (John), Helen Baxendale (Christine). [Based on August Strindberg's Miss Julie (1888).]
 
Donmar Warehouse
 
 
Saturday January 10
  4:00 p.m. Harold Pinter. The Betrayal (1978). Dir Peter Hall. Design by John Gunter. With Janie Dee (Emma), Aden Gillett (Jerry), Hugo Speer (Robert). [Emma has had a seven year affair with her husband's best friend and best man. But now it is over. Beginning at the end of the affair, each scene of Pinter's compelling masterpiece moves backwards in time to the fateful moment when the infidelity begins. Accessible, elegant, and menacing, this story of the ultimate love triangle is widely considered to be one of Pinter's finest works, a gripping study of adultery. 90 minutes]
 
Duchess Theatre
   
  8:00 p.m. Jerry Springer the Opera. Dir. Stewart Lee. Music by Richard Thomas. Book and Lyrics by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas. Produced first by Battersea Arts Center, a collaboration between Avalon and Allan McKeown, then at the Edinburgh Festival 2002; then at the National Theatre. With Michael Brandon (Springer), Guy Porrett (Steve), David Bedilla (Warm-Up man), Benjamin Lake (Jesus), Lori Lixenburg and Valda Aviks (divas).
 
Cambridge Theatre
   
[I have not scheduled a back stage tour. I would hope that you would visit the Globe Theatre and take a tour there, even though the theatre is closed for the winter season. Other attractive options are the back stage tour of the National Theatre, which you can arrange on your own. Or:
  Through the Stage Door. A backstage tour of London's oldest theatre, The Theatre Royak, Drury Lane. Since its contruction in 1663, the theatre has triumpher over tragedy, fire, bankruptcy, and even murder! Its rich and chequered history is brought vividly to life as writers, actors, and political figures from the theatres' 338 year history take visitors back in time. The tour explores the Theatre's retiring rooms, front house areas, backstage, and rarely seen, innovative hydraulic understage machinery. Tour times: 10:15 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 4:45 p.m. Monday to Sunday.
 
Drury Lane Theatre]
   
   
Other Possibilities that are worth considering, should you come early or stay over a couple of days:
   
David Hare. The Secret Rapture
 
Dir Guy Ratallack. With Jenny Seagrove, Peter Egan, Belinda Lang, Simon Shepherd, Liza Walker, Melanie Gutteridge. [When their father dies, two estranged sisters, Marian, a hard-nosed Thacherite government minister, and Isobel, a warm-hearted liberal, forge an uneasy reconciliation. As they try to put their father's affairs into order, the sisters must deal with the burden of their emotionall scarred, alcoholic young stepmother Katherine. Isobel, always the magnanimous one, reluctantly gives Katherine a job in her graphic design company. It is an act of kindness that turns destructive. As a result of Katherines manipulation, Isobel's career and personal life dissolve into chaos and violence.]
 
Lyric Shaftesbury Theatre
 
   
 
Lullabies of Broadmoor. Dir. Dir. Caitriona McLaghlin. Produced by In Extremis Theatre, in association with Theatre West and Concordana Synopsis. [Broadmoor, in the title, alludes to a high security prison in England.] The play is set up as a dyptych (adouble bill), with the warning "Not suitable for children":
 
 
The Murder Club: Set in 1922, murder is in the air. The British Goverment is engaged in genocidal war in Iraq, using poison gas and other weapons of mass destruction, while two notorious murderers meet in Broadmoor Prison for the first time.
 
Wilderness: Based on a true story. The play takes you from the battlefields of the American Civil War to the cells of 19th century Broadmoor by way of famous murders in Victoria Lambeth. This is the story of William Chester Minor, one-time surgeon in the American Union Army and a major contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary.
Finsborough Theatre
 
   
 
See You Next Tuesday. Dir. Robin Lefevre. Ronald Harwood's adaptation of Francis Veber, Le Diner de Cons. With Patsy Kensit, Ardal O'Hanlon Nigel Havers, Geoffrey Hutchings, Patrick Ryecart, Carol Royal, Roy Sampson. [Sunday matinee at 3:00 p.m.]
 
Albery Theatre