Reader Reviews
Privates on Parade (Noel Coward Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | The Michael Grandage season gets off to a fantastic start with this brilliant revival of Peter Nichols' riotously funny musical comedy which also emphasises how much Grandage is missed at the Donamr. His time there may not have been particularly noted for comedies but the laughter is in full flow from the start, some of it deliciously filthy, but there are also plaenty of touchingly human moments and no stinting on the shocking racism of the period and there is a masterstroke at the end wich I think is Grandage;s addition. Angus Wright is superb as the incompetent officer filled with Christian missionary fervour and there is great support throughout. Until playing Stalin and Timon the great SRB had been getting camper with each performance and here he is let off the leash and revels in a quite wonderful portrayal of the cross-dressing Captain Dennis but also brilliantly captures his essential kindness and decency beneath the glitter. Mind you, when he plays Lear next year it will be difficult to banish the memory of his plump and cheeky (literally) Marlene Dietrich. If the rest of the season lives up to this superb production it's going to be a memorable year at the Noel Coward. - David Baxter | 14 Feb 13 |
| If you want a guaranteed great theatre outing, just book anything with SRB in -a knighthood on its way soon presumably! - DCH | 02 Feb 13 |
| Excellent turns from Simon Russell Beale and John Marquez in particular, although personally I feel this play needs a stronger plot to really make it a fully satisfying piece of theatre. - Jennie | 06 Jan 13 |
| Utterly wonderful - SRB is a joy as always. Music numbers superb. Only false note was the coda at the end which was unfair and historically inaccurate (the Brits did defeat the communists and then left). - addicted to theatre | 02 Jan 13 |
| A tired, dated play which gives the excellent cast little to work with. Hugely disappointing and not worthy of revival - Paul Wallis | 28 Dec 12 |
| Brilliant. I saw it many years ago with Denis Quilley who was really good but Simon Russell Beale is just superb--the role could have been written to him. It is just what the West End needed an Oomph night of entertainment. A great cast, the corny but funny gags and all in all a great night out of theatre and everyone should go and see it. - Joe Spiteri | 14 Dec 12 |
