King Charles III - Wyndham's Theatre

I loved everything about this production. The story (though slightly unrealistic in places) the minimal but effective staging and the actors who have been terrifically casted. Act I of this comedy offers laugh after laugh. The uncanny likeness of Prince Harry played by Richard Goulding and many of Prince Charles mannerisms captured by Tim Piggott-Smith. As the laughs subside a little in the second half, we’re faced with the slightly more serious question of what future awaits the monarchy after the Queens dies. Even if you’re not vaguely interested in the Royal Family nor our government I would still recommend you go see this play – even if purely for the entertainment factor.

King Charles III can be seen @ Wynham's Theatre until 31st January 2015

Electra - The Old Vic

I couldn’t quite determine if what I considered the low energy in parts of this piece should be attributed to the way it was directed or the customary poise and coolness that Kristin Scott Thomas exudes in all the roles I’ve seen her in to date. Still, looking frail and gaunt, she does a tremendous job of portraying Electra, a daughter who is so consumed by sheer wrath over the murder of her father that she resolves to kill her mother in revenge. Her sister’s character, Chrysothemis (played by Liz White) is more subtle yet in my opinion, more intriguing.

All the action takes place besides a solitary tree in the dusty court yard of the palace where her mother now resides with Aegisthus, her lover who assisted in the killing of Electra’s father.

I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Aegisthus (her mother’s lover) before his quick demise…but the focus of this play is very much on the females.

Electra can be seen at The Old Vic until 20th December 

Handbagged - Vaudeville Theatre

Handbagged is a lighthearted yet clever speculation by MoiraBuffini on what might have transpired in the private meetings between The Queen and Margaret Thatacher during her eleven years as PM. The characters are portrayed by 2 actors each – both their younger and older selves, often times interacting with themselves. The two male supporting actors morph in and out of various historical figures who interacted with Thatcher and The Queen over the years. I wasn’t keen on them occasionally coming out of character to comment on the way the show was being depicted – except when Queen and Thatcher contended as to whether there should be an intermission or not.

It’s a witty, intelligent and enjoyable show, even for non-history buffs. Of course it did remind me of The Audience and while I didn’t enjoy it quite as much, it is a piece worth seeing.

Handbagged can be seen @ Vaudeville Theatre until 2nd August

Shakespeare in Love - Noel Coward Theatre

Having not seen the film Shakepeare in Love (despite it winning 7 Academy Awards) before watching this production, I had no idea of the story or what to expect other than a romantic comedy. So wonderfully surprised was I, that not only did I watch the film the next day, I returned to the theatre the following week to see the show again!

TomBateman pulls off a convincing Shakespeare who is suffering from writer’s block, until he meets and falls in love with Viola (Lucy Briggs-Owen). However he firsts meets her under the guise of Thomas Kent, a young ‘man’ wishing to audition for a part in Shakespeare’s yet-to-be-completed play. The rehearsal process is beset by problems and even after several obstacles have been overcome, there is backstage chaos on show night.

The play is hilariously witty with several great supporting performances from Abigail McKern as Nurse Paul Chahidi as Henslowe whose hopeful optimism of ‘it’s a mystery’, in relation to how it will all come together, turns out to be true indeed.

My favourite line though was delived by Queen Elizabeth (AnnaCarteret)  ‘She’s been plucked….and not by you!’

I’ve seen the matinee, I’ve seen the evening performance …and I may very well see this production again before it finished it’s run.

Shakespeare in Love can be seen @ Noel Coward Theatre until 25th October 2014

Other Desserts Cities - The Old Vic

Christmas can often be a time of drama and conflict in families and in this play it’s true for the Wyeth's family.  When daughter Brooke (Martha Plimpton) returns home to spend Christmas with her ‘well to do’ family in Palm Springs with news on an exposé  book she’s written on their family, the revelation causes a division. Her parents are aghast while her brother and alcoholic aunt seem more supportive.

The cast do a brilliant job of bringing this story to life but what I enjoyed most is that it’s staged in the round and my upfront seat gave me an intimate view of characters facial expressions, movements and gestures from all angles.

Amid the humour, old wounds are reopened and skeleton’s revealed in Lindsay Posner's production of Jon Robin Baitz’s play.

Other Dessert Cities can be seen @ The Old Vic until 24^th May