Opening: Blue Man, Coram, Alice, HypochondriacDate: 14 November 2005
Amongst the major shows opening in London this week are:
OPENING TONIGHT, Monday 14 November 2005 (previews from 10 November), the cult Blue Man Group, who have been running Off-Broadway since 1991, finally make it to the West End’s New London Theatre (see News, 1 Jul 2005). The silent, blue-skinned, bald-headed trio (in fact, now many trios) take audiences through a multi-sensory experience combining theatre, percussive music, art, science and vaudeville.
** DON’T MISS the chance to experience Blue Man Group for just £35! – offer ends 16 November 2005 - click here for more details! **
OPENING TUESDAY, 15 November 2005 (previews from 2 November), Helen Edmundson’s adaptation of Jamila Gavin’s Whitbread Award-winning children’s novel, Coram Boy, receives its world premiere at the National’s Olivier Theatre (See News, 4 Jul 2005). The play follows the fortunes of two very different orphan boys in Victorian England. Directed by Melly Still, the cast features Anna Madeley, Ruth Gemmell, Rebecca Johnson, Paul Ritter and Jack Tarlton.
ALSO ON TUESDAY (previews from 8 November), Peter Bowles stars in the postponed world premiere of Laurie Slade’s play Joe and I, at north London’s King’s Head Theatre (See News, 18 Oct 2005). The biographical comedy about playwrights Terence Rattigan, Joe Orton and Oscar Wilde is set in Rattigan’s apartment in 1964, where Terry (Bowles) writes to congratulate Joe on the success of his first play. Joe Harmston directs a cast that also includes Bryan Murray (as Oscar) and Simon Hepworth (Joe). The run continues until 18 December 2005.
OPENING WEDNESDAY, 16 November 2005 (previews from 10 November), at the Royal Court’s Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Juliet Stevenson takes the title role in Alice Trilogy, Tom Murphy’s new play exploring the three ages of one woman (See News, 1 Aug 2005). Royal Court artistic director Ian Rickson directs the premiere production, which runs until 10 December 2005.
ALSO ON WEDNESDAY (preview 15 November), the National Theatre’s Education mobile touring production of Brian Friel’s 1980 play Translations, directed by Sean Holmes, comes to the NT Cottesloe for a fortnight to 1 December 2005 as part of its UK-wide schedule.
ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, the West End’s Trafalgar Studios at last launches its second, smaller venue – the 100-seater Studio 2 - with Cyprus, a British spy thriller by Peter Arnott set on the Isle of Mull, for a run to 17 December 2005 (See News, 5 Oct 2005).
ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, the month’s second helping of the late Sarah Kane sees Phaedra's Love revived at the Barbican’s Pit Theatre as part of the Young Vic’s Young Genius season (See News, 20 Oct 2005). Directed by Anne Tipton, the production opened last month at Bristol Old Vic and runs at the Barbican until 26 November.
OPENING THURSDAY, 17 November 2005 (previews from 10 November), Henry Goodman and TV impressionist Ronni Ancona star in Richard Bean’s new version of Moliere’s 1673 comedy The Hypochondriac at the Almeida Theatre for a run to 7 January 2006 (See News, 5 Sep 2005). A quintet of quacks, a dizzy daughter and a meddling maid. What's a poor invalid to do? Argan, a confirmed hypochondriac, is determined to marry off his daughter Angelica to someone suitable - a doctor - so that he can benefit from free medical treatment for his endless imagined illnesses. Lindsay Posner directs the cast which also features Kris Marshall.
- by Caroline Ansdell
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