Ring Round the Moon

Synopsis

Passion, manipulation, jealousy and deceit - a charade with music. Set at a 1950's Winter Spring Ball. Identical twins, a spoilt millionairess, a mysterious ballet dancer and a wily old Aunt are swept up in a dazzling dance where caution and convention are thrown to the wind.

Our Review:

20 February 2008

The bittersweet plays of Jean Anouilh have lost whatever shaky foothold they once held in the British theatre, so Sean Mathias’ revival of this famous 1950 translation by Christopher Fry (first directed by Peter Brook, starring Paul Scofield) of one of the very best of them, does at least have a curiosity value. Does Ring Round the Moon stand up to modern scrutiny, for a start?

Enjoyable though the production is in parts, I’m not at all sure the answer comes as a positive. A pair of twins, Hugo and Frederic, one scheming and hedonistic, the other shy and forbearing, both played by the same actor – JJ Feild, best known to date for his television work, making his West End debut – are embroiled in a series of romantic liaisons by the light of a winter moon under the supervision of a wise old chatelaine.

Yes, I know. It sounds just like A Little Night Music, a show Mathias once directed at the National. It has the same sort of wry, cynical tak...

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Latest User Review

PWH1980 - 23 February 2008:

Actors not knowing lines, a set which is frankly embarrassing, music which does not fit the show and horrendous dancing combine to make this one of the worst shows I've ever seen....

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