It’s a bumper edition today, February and March, as starting my new job in February proved a bit of a distraction. I still managed to get out and about plenty though, and it’s been a particularly good couple of months for theatre.
What have you seen, heard and eaten over the last couple of months?
Theatre
The Motive and the Cue (Noel Coward Theatre, London)
I know it’s still early in the year but I left this one thinking it’s likely to be the best play I’ll see this year. It’s certainly one of the best I’ve seen in a very long time! A fantastic telling of a true story set largely in the rehearsal room of John Gielgud and Richard Burton’s 1964 Broadway production of Hamlet. It’s closed in London now but is being screened in cinemas nationwide on various dates over the coming months.
For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy (The Garrick Theatre, London - closes 1st June)
I wanted to see this when it was The Royal Court but didn’t manage to get to it. I’m so incredibly thankful that I got this second chance. It’s beautiful, poignant, clever, dark, funny, enlightening, brutal and joyful.
Guys & Dolls (Bridge Theatre, London – currently booking until 31st August)
An inventive and lively, immersive staging of a Broadway classic musical. Marisha Wallace was a big selling point for me and she did not disappoint! She’s no longer in it but I’d still recommend seeing it if you can.
A Mirror (Trafalgar Theatre, London – closes 20th April)
The freedom of expression that comes with the arts is one of the things I love most, so this play about culture being completely state-controlled was intriguing. Tanya Reynolds is brilliantly awkward and endearing, and I didn’t suspect the twist at the end at all.
Standing at the Sky’s Edge (Gillian Lynne Theatre, London – closes 3rd August)
A new British musical set in Sheffield with music by Richard Hawley. It’s made up of three stories, cleverly told in parallel across six decades, and I’d heard rave reviews from various people when it was on at the National Theatre previously. I enjoyed the style of story-telling but I did find it a tad too long. Special mention has to go to Lauryn Redding for her performance of Open Up Your Door – absolute show stealer!
Plaza Suite (Savoy Theatre, London – closes 13th April)
You’ll need to be quick if you want to see this, as it closes in a couple of weeks. I’ll be honest, although I’m a very keen theatre-goer, I don’t just go to see everything and this one may not have been quite so high on my priority list if it didn’t have a certain someone in it. There was absolutely no way I could resist the chance to see Sarah Jessica Parker in-person! It’s a fun comedy and SJP is a force to be reckoned with, her comedy timing is fantastic.
MJ (Prince Edward Theatre, London – currently booking until 7th December)
If you’re like me and in your late 30s to early 40s, then this is ‘your’ Michael Jackson. The main reason I wanted to see this was because I wanted the chance to hear these songs live, and in that sense, the show is brilliant. Myles Frost (who has transferred with the show from Broadway) and Mitchell Zahngahza are almost eerily like him, the vocals are spot-on and as for the dancing – wow! The story didn’t really suck me in but I don’t know if that’s mostly down to the fact that I already knew how it plays out, so there wasn’t much element of suspense. That said, if you love Michael’s music, this is well worth seeing.
Opening Night (Gielgud Theatre, London – closes 27th July)
I arrived at the theatre with mixed feelings – I already know Sheridan Smith and Hadley Fraser are great performers because I’ve seen them both before. However, I was a little dubious about the score of this new musical being provided by Rufus Wainwright, who I’ve always found to be a bit of an acquired taste. Overall, I think this would have worked better as a play, it felt like Wainwright was trying too hard to emulate Sondheim. and ultimately, it wasn’t my cup of tea. That said, as expected, Sheridan and Hadley gave captivating performances, and Shira Haas as Nancy is gripping.
Music
Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart (Cadogan Hall, London)
I couldn’t book my tickets fast enough when this concert was announced last year! As a long-time bluegrass fan, the line-up was irresistible – alongside Béla were Bryan Sutton, Sierra Hull, Mark Schatz, Justin Moses and Michael Cleveland. All utterly incredible musicians in their own right, so to see them together was an all-star performance that reminded me that I really must get better at seeking out more bluegrass shows in the UK.
Food
Recent food-related outings seem to have unwittingly developed an Italian-Sicilian theme – no complaints here. Norma was recommended by an Italian colleague, and my friend and I enjoyed simple, tasty pasta dishes (hers being impressively served in a crab shell) whilst tucked in a cosy two-person booth.
Angela Hartnett’s Café Murano is a long-standing London favourite of mine, although I actually hadn’t been for over a year, so it was nice to be back and introduce my cousin to it at the same time. Everything on the menu is delicious but it’s the olive oil that always stays in my mind, it’s the best I’ve ever tasted and dipping focaccia into it at the start of every meal is always a highlight for me.
Baaria is somewhere that my husband discovered a couple of years ago and we’ve both been hooked ever since. Whether you want coffee and indulgent little cakes at the start of your day, or cocktails and a fantastic selection of Sicilian platters, pizza and pasta after work or pre-theatre, this tiny spot on Charing Cross Road is perfect.
TV and film
The Great Pottery Throwdown (Channel 4)
An annual favourite in our house and this year was no different. Some people find Keith Brymer-Jones’ emotional appraisals grating but I love how passionate he is and how moved he becomes by people’s stories and craft.
The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping (Netflix)
As someone who spent a period of time wanting to be a criminal psychologist, programmes about serial crime or cults always suck me in. The fact that troubled teens are considered an industry in America boggles my mind and this documentary shows some pretty shocking stories from inside the Academy at Ivy Ridge ‘school’.
Julie & Julia (we watched on DVD but it’s available on streaming platforms)
A lovely Sunday evening viewing after we’d eaten a roast dinner. Just as well too, as if we hadn’t, we’d have been ravenous by the end after seeing and hearing about so much amazing food. Based on a true story, it’s definitely a good one for any foodie.
Other things
Afternoon Tea and Dance with Anton du Beke (InterContinental Park Lane)
My husband booked this as a Christmas present and the day we went, Christmas felt like months ago as we sat in Green Park beforehand, basking in unseasonably warm sunshine. We were sharing a table with some lovely people and had good conversation all afternoon, Anton was on good form, funny as always and he even commented on my sparkly trousers as he walked by, which made my day. The event was in aid of the Sick Children’s Trust.