Fugee, National Theatre, 7 Jul 2008

Abi Morgan has gone meta on us.

Rejoice.

2000 Feet Away, The Bush, 21 Jun 2008

The morning started omniously as I watched the very lovely ushers at the Bush wrestle a young fainted lady.

Irregular and disjointed, and not in the good way, 2000 Feet Away suffers from underdeveloped characters the most. But with some powerful stuff in it. There's an exceptional scene between the Deputy and a pre-teen nymphet that managed to make me hold my breath.

Ian Hart was predictably excellent. But Joseph Fiennes was somewhat a surprise, at least for me. Never cared too much for him as a film actor but on stage he is an oddly compalling presence. Meticulous, committed and above all with a perfect sense of timing. If the play feels half-cooked at times but Fiennes is a triumph.

Mixed emotions but it's always great to be in the Bush and for ten quids the ticket I don't really complain at all.

Tinderbox, The Bush, 2 May 2008

The most absurd reasons to go to the theatre often result in a good night out.

I wanted to see "Tinderbox" merely on the basis that Brian Dyck had been in Blackpool, a tv favourite of mine. He is a fine enough actor and quite pleasing to look out. I left the theatre in love with Sheridan Smith. The girl had done well enough in sitcoms and I admired her energy in portraying the new Doctor's companion in the Doctor Who audiobooks, but it's in theatre where I find she is at her best.

The play itself was promising. Irregular and oddly cast (the actors were younger than the characters by far) but fresh at times, and with some quality satire. Lucy Kirkwood also shows a healthy interest in language and relationships between rhythms and words and I, for one, am thankful for that.

Like it quite a bit, with reserves.

Never So Good, National Theatre, 19 Apr 2008

I am normally a fan of Brenton but...

God did this one drag on.

I'm not saying it's not good -it is good. Just not my thing. Kind of seemed endless to me. Or maybe I just dislike the Lyttleton stage for being so annoyingly big.

Whatever, anything to see Robert Glenister, even in a very supporting role.

Mark Ravenhill Double Bill, Royal Court, 16, 17 & 19 Apr 2008

Yes, I went to watch the "Fear and Misery/War and Peace" double bill three times.

And it wasn't just because of Joseph Millson. (Though I can't deny his flawless performance had a lot of weight in my decision).

I have no trouble admitting just how much I love Ravenhill's work and I think he is getting better and better at short plays (the New Connections assigments are really joyful to watch on stage). I like "Fear and Misery" slightly better (and then again, maybe it's just Joseph Millson) but both pieces are excellent and putting them together helps them achieve a fuller impact on the audience.

Burn Gorman was a pleasant surprise and he was quite impressive in his role. Will have to follow his next steps closely.

I can't honestly remember a night out at the theatre where I felt this satisfied in months. Well done, Royal Court, well done.

God of Carnage, Gielgud Theatre, 3 Apr 2008

I somehow had forgotten how hilarious Ralph Fiennes could be.

Great fun of a play, one is thankful for the lack of interval and although I wish Tamsin Grieg's character had a bit more flash, all in all there's little to complain about in Reza's comedy. I am sure it dealt with many great themes but seriously, I couldn't be bothered with a deep analysis of it.

As the big fan of Takin Over the Asylum that I am I enjoyed seeing Ken Stott on stage a great deal, too.

This is probably the kind of play one could recommend to practically everyone, it's a crow-pleaser and for once I don't use that expression with as much disdain as I could.

The Lover/The Collection, Comedy Theatre, 27 Feb 2008

Charlie Cox was very good in it. Like very VERY good. Colour me surprised. A star is born.

The rest of the thing was excellent as well. One has to love Pinter's playfulness, always. Great set design and with Gina McGee (I was so excited upon seeing her) and Timothy West in the cast very few things can go wrong.

Friggin expensive, though. Worth it, anyway.