Theatre - anything on worth seeing?

[David Mc]

The previously mentioned Last 5 Years is back for a limited run in London. It's at the Duchess from tonight until the 10th.

[????]

100

[PeckhamRose]

Duke of York's ARCADIA

Leicester Square Theatre The most WONDERFUL Sandra Bernhard.

But go to LastMinute

although I am sure other options are available.

Arcadia was SO wonderful but SO confusing.

Sandra Bernhard I just can't begin to explain how wonderful she is. A 2 hour show, mind.

Off you go - what - you want me to BUY your tickets for you too?

[woofmarkthedog]

Just been to the National Theatre "British people very nice"

Which was nice

W**F

[Ladygooner]

Just seen Duet for One with Juliet Stephenson and Henry Goodman - excellent play. If you go to the box office you can get tickets for the front two rows for only ?15!

Also saw Calendar Girls - some great british actresses in it in various states of undress!

[daizie]

Hamlet is on at the Donmar , just bought front tickets 150 each i think

[Lloydhutchinson]

Try La Clique it's brilliant. Finishing its run at the Hippodrome in Leiceter sq then it goes to the roundhouse for A BIT. Or try The Observer at the National. We need the audiences

[giggirl]

giggirl Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm a huge fan of the Donmar and am posting the

> autumn/winter season here because it looks amazing

> as always.

>

> Dear Friend,

>

> We are delighted to let you know about the

> autumn/winter Donmar season, which we are

> announcing today.

>

> ? A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE by Tennessee

> Williams, directed by Rob Ashford

> A cast that includes Jack Ashton, Elliot Cowan,

> Barnaby Kay, Rachel Weisz and Ruth Wilson will

> perform in Tennessee Williams' wonderful play,

> which confirmed his reputation as one of the

> greatest American playwrights, winning him a

> Pulitzer Prize.

>

> ? LIFE IS A DREAM by Pedro Calderon de la

> Barca, in a new version by Helen Edmundson,

> directed by Jonathan Munby

> A cast that will include Dominic West will bring

> to life a classic play from the Spanish Golden Age

> ? a richly poetic, epic masterpiece which explores

> illusion, reality, fate and destiny set against

> the backdrop of a mythical kingdom.

>

> ? RED by John Logan, directed by Michael

> Grandage

> A two-man cast of Alfred Molina and Eddie Redmayne

> star in the World Premi?re of a moving and

> compelling account of one of the greatest artists

> of the 20th century ? Mark Rothko ? whose struggle

> to accept his growing riches and praise became his

> ultimate undoing.

>

> Booking for friends goes on sale on the 11th May

> and I would urge you to consider becoming a member

> - it only costs about ?40 a year and the theatre

> is so small that many performances sell out before

> they get to public booking. Phone 0207 845 5815

> for membership.*

>

> For the cynics; NO, I don't work for the Donmar.

I meant to post last week as a reminder to the good people of ED that the Donmar's winter season was about to go to public booking. Public booking opened last Monday and business has been brisk; Streetcar was an instant sell out and Red has very nearly gone.

If you do want to see anything at the Donmar this winter then you need to book straight away. The Donmar takes returns so don't worry if you book for something and then later can't go. If you want to see Streetcar (or anything else that is a sell-out) then you will need to queue up early on the day for one of the 10 day seats sold on the morning of the performance (they also sell standing on the day but that's a little bit too much effort for me).

[Marmora Man]

Try this KURSK on for two more weeks at the Young Vic.

[giggirl]

I'm just back from seeing Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar tonight and I must say that it does rightfully deserve all the praise that has been heaped upon it. It's made me sad though (of course). I've seen it so many times and I keep hoping that it will turn out differently - which is insane, but still.

There's something coming up at the National Theatre which may be a winner for the autumn; a new Alan Bennett play called "The Habit of Art" which is about an imaginary meeting between W H Auden and Benjamin Britten. The two men are played by Michael Gambon and Alex Jennings and you can't really go wrong with them. It will sell out quickly, simply because it's an Alan Bennett play with an excellent cast. Public booking opens on 2nd September so get in quick.

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/51766/productions/the-habit-of-art.html

And here's one for the tinies

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/51824/productions/dr-seusssbr-the-cat-in-the-hat.html

[giggirl]

Although this isn't strictly theatre, it's certainly very theatrical, so I'm posting here. I went to see Dita von Teese last night, here, and she was fabulous.

http://www.casinodeparis.fr/

It was very civilized; we had a little table just in front of the stage and we drank champagne all through the show. I don't even have a hangover this morning so it must have been good champagne. Such a glamorous evening and I wore my favourite Ginas (very very sparkly shoes - probably visible from space). Here are some pictures from the show:

http://www.ditasdomain.com/pressreleases/display.php?p=e

[PeckhamRose]

Oh wow giggirl! How wonderful.

Last night we went to see Emlyn Williams' quite delightful The Druid's Rest at Finborough. It's only on Sunday and Monday nights in September. Excellent play, farce, and great ensemble cast.

[giggirl]

Members' booking opened today for both the National Theatre and the Donmar Warehouse.

At the National, public booking opens next week I think and you'll have to be very quick if you want to see the new Alan Bennett play as it will sell out in the first day or so. That's "The Habit of Art". Also booking is "The White Guard" and that will have Cate Blanchett (I don't know whether that's been announced or not) so will sell very quickly. If you want to see either of these plays then book next week as soon as they go on sale. Cate Blanchett is marvellous by the way - I saw her in Plenty about 10 years ago in the West End - mesmerising actress.

The Donmar's programme is on sale to members today (do join - it's the best theatre in London) - that will go to public booking in a month but there's never very much left by then. Phone 020 7845 5815 to ask about membership.

[kpc]

Saw Inherit The Wind at Old Vic last week and would highly recommend it.

[PeckhamRose]

Tonight only, at the Ashcroft Theatre in Fairfield Halls, Croydon

at 7.30pm

Goodbye, Pete & Dud in the Afterlife

Facebook page with more details.

I've seen it before and I'm seeing it again tonight.

Highly recommended.

And it's the 15th? Anniversary of Pete's death.

[daizie]

The Woman in Black at the Fortune Theatre is supposed to be gripping/ jump out your seat. Has been recommended .

[PeckhamRose]

But have you seen it yourself?

Oh and Kim Noble at Soho Theatre - it's the last night tonight, very disturbing. Saw him last night.

But DO go Ashcroft Theatre if you can to see Pete & Dud. They've added more material since I last saw this show and I'll be there again tonight.

[Marmora Man]

giggirl Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Members' booking opened today for both the

> National Theatre and the Donmar Warehouse.

>

> At the National, public booking opens next week I think and you'll have to be very quick if you want

> to see the new Alan Bennett play as it will sell out in the first day or so. That's "The Habit of

> Art". Also booking is "The White Guard" and that will have Cate Blanchett (I don't know whether

> that's been announced or not) so will sell very quickly. If you want to see either of these plays

> then book next week as soon as they go on sale.

I hope the National is still reserving 100 seats for every day of any performance on the main stage. It does mean it's possible to get into a "sell out" show if you're prepared to get up early and queue - which, even in this weather, can be fun if sensibly dressed, armed with sarnies and a thermos flask of sweet coffee laced with whisky / brandy.

[giggirl]

Dear MM - the last time I queued at the National it was for Guys & Dolls. That was quite some time ago. But yes you can still queue at the National for day seats. You can also queue at the Donmar for the day seats. I don't queue because I'm really well organised but it's good to know that nothing is really "sold out".

If you want to see the Alan Bennett play you would have to get up early and queue. But I was wrong ref Cate Blanchett and The White Guard at the NT - her husband is directing I think but she isn't in it. It's a shame because I saw her in Plenty and she was electrifying.

All in all the best thing I've seen in the last 12 months was Streetcar at the Donmar. That gets my vote for theatre of 2009.

[Marmora Man]

We've just seen INherit the Wind - good performances but the play is a little creaky, tho' it was good to see the Old Vic with a sell out and critically acclaimed show. Tickets for Misanthrope and Waiting for Godot - so a good month in prospect.

[Bellenden Belle]

Personally I am looking forward to Posh at the Royal Court in April - Laura Wade is a terrific writer - I saw her debut play Breathing Corpses a couple of years ago and loved it.

[giggirl]

2010 heralds the coming of "Silence of the Lambs - the Musical" (unauthorised). I kid you not.

?Plays like vintage South Park scored by Andrew Lloyd Webber? ? New York Magazine

WINNER! Outstanding Musical FringeNYC 2005

Follow F.B.I. trainee Clarice Starling as she uses her relationship with Dr. Hannibal Lecter to hunt serial killer Buffalo Bill. SILENCE! transforms the film's dialogue into a full-scale musical, complete with singing serial killers, songs with unprintable titles, and a chorus of tap-dancing lambs.

Note - SILENCE! Contains strong language and is not suitable for under 15 year olds.

ABOVE THE STAG THEATRE

January 19 - February 28

TUESDAY ? SATURDAY 7.30pm

SUNDAY 6.30pm

[monica]

A friend of mine saw Swan lake the all male version at Sadlers Wells, she said it was enchanting and you lost yourself in the story. My Birthday is this month so I am booking tickets.

[Carrie]

"Dr Marigold and Mr Chops" - starring Simon Callow - is fantastic - at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith until the end of the month.

[Bellenden Belle]

Midsummer at Soho Theatre - a play with songs (but definitely not a musical) was one of the most delightful plays I've seen in ages.

A love story yet also a ripping good yarn - fun, poignant, surprising - and with two brilliant versatile actors.

Perfect for a miserable end of January cold evening. Go!