We didn’t plan it: a week and a bit of theatre-going just, sort of, evolved. This House in Cambridge was booked because Dougie and I were taking our car in for a service and decided, for once, to make a night of it and stay over. A birthday present for our son, Rory, and a great excuse for a parental visit to Coventry, added The Play That Goes Wrong into the mix five days later. Finally, as we were already planning to attend the University Boat Race, why not throw in another night at the theatre and get tickets for Mary Stuart.
Three very different productions but equally impressive. As they are all either on a UK tour or about to embark on one, let me give you an idea of what to expect.
This House
Cambridge Arts Theatre, Cambridge
It probably helps if you were around in the 1970s to appreciate the full impact of this glorious account of the political machinations between 1974 and 1979. I may have been a child at the time but the power cuts, three-day weeks and Mike Yarwood on the telly, keep this period of government very fresh in my mind. Having said that, history does have a habit of repeating itself so younger audiences will see little has changed as they watch the politicians desperately fight for every advantage as they seek to retain or gain power.
The action is set in the two opposing whips’ offices so the audience don’t meet the Prime Ministers or Leaders of the Opposition. Labour have just come to power and are initially excited by this success, bouncing on the adjustable office chairs and looking awkward in their ill-fitting suits. But it’s a hung parliament so every vote is vital.
The language is vicious and coarse but riotously funny. The pace is frenetic, with actors playing several roles, announced by the speaker as their constituency name as they come onstage. The occasions where the action slows gives added pathos to those scenes: the desperately ill MP chivvied into Westminster to ensure his vote will count on a crucial bill; the unswerving MP for Coventry South West, slowly counting out each coin of her fine, having been arrested on the picket line in a dispute for union recognition for female workers.
This House was first performed in 2012 at the National Theatre. It was revived in Chichester in 2016 and returned to London, to the West End, later that year. It’s currently enjoying success on a UK tour. It’s in Edinburgh this week and then moves to Nottingham, Birmingham, Salford. Plymouth, Norwich, Great Malvern, Guildford and Sheffield. It’s an absolute belter of a play with superb acting performances from across the house.
The Play That Goes Wrong
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
I’ve wanted to see this Mischief Theatre production for some time. Dougie and I loved their more recent play, A Comedy About a Bank Robbery, which we saw in London, but we hadn’t managed to see the original play that has brought this fledgling theatre company huge success around the world.
Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are putting on Murder at Haversham Manor and nothing goes right. The set falls to pieces, props aren’t where they should be and characters forget lines so chunks of dialogue are repeated endlessly until the script is remembered. As an Am Dram regular, I was helpless laughing at all the excruciating mistakes that are well-known to me but thankfully don’t usually happen at the same time.
The Play That Goes Wrong is a masterclass in slapstick comedy. Ideal for the whole family, no swearing or blue material, it just tickles your funny bone from beginning to end. It is still running in the West End and on Broadway but it’s also on a UK tour, ending in September. If you’re after belly laughs and plenty of clever nonsense, you can see the play all over the country from Cardiff to Cambridge, Bradford to Bristol and Liverpool to Llandudno.
Mary Stuart
Duke of York’s Theatre, London
No belly laughs here, this was heavy duty theatre: time for my serious face and sombre disposition. And yet, in this three-hour long adaptation of Schiller’s original German play of 1800, there were plenty of wry smiles to be had. Just as in This House, the relevance to today’s society is very apparent. Mary, Queen of Scots, is imprisoned in Fotheringay Castle and Queen Elizabeth I has to decide whether she should be executed or not. Elizabeth is surrounded by officials giving her the ‘best advice’ whilst trying to gauge the mood of the people. Mary is being manipulated by her supporters just as she tries to manipulate them to regain power.
Juliet Stevenson and Lia Williams play both roles of Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart: the decision as to who plays which Queen each night rests on a simple toss of a coin. Shown on screens at the side of the stage, nobody onstage or in the audience knows which way the coin will land. This adds such a spark to the opening scene that everyone is quite breathless with anticipation. I’m in awe of the two actors, not knowing which set of lines they will have to follow until the very last minute.
On the night we saw the play, Juliet Stevenson played Mary and Lia Williams, Elizabeth. They were both dazzling and, despite me imagining them the other way round, I can’t now picture it any other way. I presume people who saw the roles swapped will think the same.
Don’t imagine this is just about the two main characters. The rest of the cast are magnificent. Burleigh (Elliot Levey – my favourite) and Leicester (John Light) wheedle their way into favour and retreat, snakelike, so as not to be blamed. Others, Talbot (Michael Byrne) and Mortimer (Rudi Dharmalingham) show true passion in their support of their chosen Queen.
Mary Stuart remains in London until 31 March 2018 and then heads off (excuse the pun) on tour in Bath, Salford and Cambridge. If you’re lucky enough to get tickets, it’s worth looking for seats near the front. In the third row of the Duke of York’s Theatre, I was mesmerised by every anguished expression and each desperate breath. It’s one of those experiences I know I’ll never forget.
Oh my god, I saw The Play That Goes Wrong when I was in London late last year and it was a riot! The whole audience were in stiches before the show even started! Sucha genius idea for a play!! #citytripping
It’s brilliant, isn’t it! I agree, such a simple idea for a play but so cleverly done.
These all sound fantastic. Mary Stuart sounds especially mesmerising. Lucky you to have seen so many excellent plays in such a short time. Thank you for linking up to #CulturedKids
At the time, I thought I was going a bit mad booking all the plays at the same time but the experience was so fantastic, I’d have no hesitation in doing it again. It’s just making the effort (and keeping an eye on the costs!)
Mary Stuart sounds so very intriguing! And the fact that they toss a coin to see who will play which queen at the beginning of each show has me floored. You’d have to know the whole play by heart and not get mixed up over which lines were yours that night. #CulturedKids
I read an interview with both actresses and they said they try to keep their minds open before going on stage but that it’s easier to be slightly more ready to play Mary, as she speaks first. Elizabeth doesn’t appear for a while so there’s a bit time to get into character. But, I agree, I find the whole idea staggering.
I’ve been a fan of Mary Queen of Scots since I was a girl. And a fan of Juliet Stevenson since I saw her in the film Truly Madly Deeply. Sounds a fascinating performance, especially throwing the coin toss into the mix. #culturedkids
Yes, me too, loved her in Truly, Madly, Deeply. It was amazing to see her act up close up. Lia Williams was an excellent sparring partner for her.
How exciting, not to know which actor will play the parts of Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth. I wonder if many people book repeat visits to try and catch them the other way round? Sounds as though you’ve had a fantastic theatrical extravaganza. #CulturedKids
I wondered that. It would be just my luck, we would keep getting the same result!
You certainly got your fill of theatre Trish in a short space of time, well done! I’d love to watch all of these…I don’t get to the theatre half as much as I’d like. I do like the idea of switching roles, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller did it for Danny Boyle’s production of Frankenstein at the National (another one I missed) to critical acclaim but I think they knew which night they were doing – alternating roles. Tossing a coin just before is a exciting twist! Thanks for linking #citytripping
Oh yes, I saw that production – screened at our local cinema. It was brilliant but, as you say, at least they and the audience knew who was playing which character each night. Lee Miller played the monster when we saw it. Of course, now I’d like to see it the other way round to compare.
It was lovely to catch up when you were in Cambridge to watch This House. And the tour around your old Uni was very lovely too! 🙂 x
And now you know you can wander around Emmanuel whenever you like – very welcoming to visitors. There may be baby ducklings in the pond now.