I just got back from Round and Round the Garden and I'm giddy all over! This could turn out to be one of my favorites of the season.
It's quite refreshing after seeing plays that are supposed to be funny (The Philanthropist, Accent On Youth), to go to a comedy and actually laugh. And boy did I laugh!!
The six actors really know their characters and have laced their performances with some beautiful idosyncrasies. I loved the way Jessica Hynes kept messing with her hair; that sad look in her eyes just killed me too.
Ben Miles was hilariously awkward and his ****spoiler**** proposal to Annie was equal parts funny, desparate and heartbreaking. Amanda Root was a riot in her seduction scene with Norman. The exterior vs. interior emotions were great.
Amelia Bullmore didn't come on until the second act, but when she did she packed a wallop! Watching her attempt to assemble the folding chair was a delight and her following exchange with Tom- wow. (Plus she had great Patti Lupone hair.)
Paul Ritter seemed to have the least to do in the one, but I'm interested to see what happens with his character in the other plays. He seemed to snap at some point off stage because he went from happy-go-lucky to sour at Sarah by the final scene.
My favorite of the evening was Stephen Mangan. He was slightly distractingly attractive as Norman, and what a character he has created. He seemed very clown-like, and was always grabbed my attention when on stage.
The really star of the evening though was Matthew Warchus. This man must be a genius. Boeing-Boeing, God of Carnage and now this. How do you make a bare patch of grass and six actors hold your attention for two hours? A piece of cake for this man. Not only did he have them moving around enough so that you always got to see facial expressions, etc, but he does it so naturally that you don't realize how much everyone is moving.
To quote a former resident of Circle in the Square, it was an evening of "perfect syzygy!"
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!