My talented fellow Capital Writer – Kate Blackadder – writes a piece on her blog,
Kate Writes and Reads, about the books she’s read each month and uses the title Seven in January or Nineteen in September (I jest, maybe). I thought I’d borrow it in order to round up the wonderfully dramatic February I’ve enjoyed this year.
First up was Lady Windermere’s Fan at the Vaudeville Theatre in London.
Directed by Kathy Burke this production features a song, Keep Your Hands Off Me, also written by her and performed, in front of the curtain, by the irrepressible Jennifer Saunders. Samantha Spiro gave a fabulous rendition of the equally irrepressible Mrs Erlynne and Grace Molony shone in this early starring role of her career as Lady Windermere.
Can’t recommend it too highly as an evening of poignant comic indulgence. What a lot we owe to Oscar Wilde.
Run continues till 7th April tickets
Then off to Perth, to see Knives in Hens by David Harrower and directed by Lu Kemp at the re-furbished theatre in Mill Street. Harrower’s play is about a long-gone society and its instinctive hatred of the miller. And yet, the woman sees beyond that in her quest to broaden her understanding of God’s world and find new ways of describing the things in that world.
Strong performances from the cast, Jessica Hardwick, Michael Moreland and Rhys Rusbatch, sent us off with much to reflect on.
Run ended, but next up is Richard III Sat 12 – Sat 31 March. Perth Theatre (the theatre is upgrading its website and you might need to visit once or twice to get in.)
The last drama in February was the rollicking The Belle’s Stratagem by Hannah Cowley, adapted and directed by Tony Cownie for the Royal Lyceum. A sparkling evening of human foibles and frailties beautifully dressed by the Lyceum costume department. In fact, there’s a quote from last month’s post about my visit to the costume workshop, see below, in the programme.
Run continues, tickets, till 10th March.
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