7 Days Forward/Back

Last week I saw four productions, which is quite a lot for me!

Oliver! (Drury Lane): Wasn't planning to see it again as I didn't like it much last year, but the new cast was terrific. Russ Abbot and Kerry Ellis were super and even little Welsh Gwion (in the thankless title role) was great, too, unlike the last time I saw him. It's still not a great production (amazing set, though), but I can't imagine it being much better-served than it is by this cast.

After the Dance (NT): Just as good second time. That's all, really. It's sold out so not much point in recommending it, though it is definitely one of the best things I've seen all year. Adrian Scarborough = Best Supporting Actor, Olivier Awards 2011.

La Bete (Comedy): Certainly the silliest play I've ever seen, and to be honest it did wear a bit thin at times. But when it's good it's brilliant, and the cast is superb. Mark Rylance is fantastic, but I was equally impressed by David Hyde Pierce, who made the ending almost moving. A lot of fun, if not quite worth the insane prices they're charging. I'd had quite a few glasses of wine beforehand, and I think it was better for that.

The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Young Vic): Definitely see this if you can. McDonagh has written better stuff than this, but that says more about the quality of his subsequent work than it does about this excellent play. The first act is very funny, the second is extraordinarily disturbing. The two leading ladies are perfectly-cast, and there's another wonderfully warm performance from David Ganly after his terrific Amos in Chicago earlier this year. For once I didn't even mind the Young Vic's unreserved seating, but then again I was right at the front of the queue and got a great seat three or four rows back, right on the centre aisle.

Next week I'm seeing a mere two - the Globe tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream and then Henry IV: Part I at the Globe itself. Seeing Part 2 later in the month, along with Earthquakes in London, Billy Elliot, the new cast of The Habit of Art, Deathtrap and the RSC's As You Like It. AND I HAVE QUITE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AS WELL! Sleep + food might be in short supply this month.

Seeing the Chitty Chitty tour at the new Grand Canal Theatre on Thursday which I'm excited about, haven't seen a stage production of it before and can't remember the movie. I saw Oliver with understudy Nancy last week. She was really great and I love seeing this show from the very front of stalls. Looking forward to seeing Whoopi soon. Was going to day seat but they're only offering side stalls so I might try TKTS. They will still be discounting, right?

soundofnuns, all discounts have been pulled for whoopi's 3 run

My past 7 days have been MEGA!

Educating Rita, Prisoner of Second Avenue, Into the Woods, Love Never Dies and Elegies in the past 7 days, and State Fair, Sister Act and Prince of Homburg coming up in the next 7 days.

A week tomorrow, Saturday 21st, I will be down for a very long day seeing the matinee of Sweet Charity and the evening performance of Hair

Really loved it. I hadn't seen the film so it was all new to me and I loved the transformation. Can't wait for Shirley Valentine, that is one of my top priorities after I get back from New York. A girl from my class did a section from it and I thought it was hilarious.

Glad to here how fabulous the new theatre at Dublin is, great to here that news and now Dublin has a big theatre proper, I hope this new venue will get a lot of big tours drop in.

A couple of weeks ago I saw la Bete, which kind of dragged, after the first 30 minutes, when the excellent Mark Rylance tour de force scene finished, god how does he remember all those words, surely you cannot remember that script word for word? A poor show, but a excellent performance from Mark Rylance.

Just come back from the very good Avenue Q, back into work for my second half, after just having a 3 hour lunch break.