Loving a Gay Spanker

Calm down, moderators! It's the name of the hilarious character played with utter skill by Fiona Shaw in 'London Assurance'.

Whilst it's never going to further the cause of earth-shattering drama, the production is a lovely sugary confection, with two delicious soft centres: Ms Shaw and Simon Russell Beale, putting in an early bid for the role of Mr Toad, as Sir Courtly.

If you want to see a masterclass in comedy timing, hurry down to the National and bribe someone for a ticket!

Just don't join in with the nasty clap-along at the end! National audiences!!!

Pah!

From what I hear, the run is sold out- so you'll have to twist some arms or get up at some ungodly hour of the morning.

PS The set is a bit dull but the costumes are gorgeous.

Dev - I'd happily spank you anytime Buttercup. Just PM me the arrangements.

*wipes anticipatory perspiration from brow with Sunday morning coffee filter*

I saw a production of this at the Manchester RX about five years ago and hated it. It was unfunny nonsense - like Gilbert without Sullivan. I couldn't believe that the National was doing this when I saw it in their schedules, and not even the solid gold cast could persuade me to see it again.

PS ping-pong bat or I've got a lovely smooth wooden Edwardian clothes brush?

This play is a delicious, jolly romp. Great fun with some fine comic performances especially from Simon Russell Beale and the wonderful Fiona Shaw who lives up to the outrageousness of her characters name

When does it run until?

Booking until early June and most of the good seats have gone, but it's carrying on into the next NT booking period, so more performances on sale next month!

But hopefully not this:



By the way, I love it when there are two completely separate conversations going on in the same thread! I happen to be the proud owner of a cane carpet beater.

Updated On: 4/11/10 at 12:15 PM

I don't know it is, but there are none of the usual signs to indicate that it isn't (i.e. a "Last" note after the last show in the current booking period).

Continuing what I was saying earlier, I also love it when the same two people have exactly the same conversation on two different forums. And even by the second time the answerer can't think of a non-clumsy way of phrasing it.

See, and now I don't know where to put my reply. Shall we continue having the same conversation twice, or shall we restrict it to one place?

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Thanks for the PM Dev. I've never stayed in Mayfair before but I'm sure I'll find the hotel.

Piper - I'll upload a photograph of the brush as taken when it's being applied to Dev.

"an unbelievably stupid play"

I'm glad someone agrees with me.

It's a really wonderful production of an unbelievably stupid play.

Yep. The play is annoyingly stupid at times, but it couldn't possibly be better served than by this production. SRB's performance is so perfectly nuanced and detailed, he's put far more effort into it than the play deserves! Fiona Shaw reminded me of one of my mum's cousins, but much funnier and less annoying. Paul Ready was excellent too, it's the kind of role that's usually just deeply irritating but he played it very well. Entrance applause (at the National! Shock, horror!) for SRB, Fiona Shaw and Richard Briers. I don't like the idea of entrance applause but in these cases it was so clearly designed for it that it would have almost been inappropriate not to.

Special mention to Nick Sampson - it's a cliche role, the smug all-knowing valet, but he plays it to perfection. Oh, and SRB's ballet moves...!