London's theatrical landscape is currently defined by a stark contrast between Alan Ayckbourn's comedic chaos and the musical spectacle of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. These major productions, both running until September 19, showcase the diverse range of performances currently available across the UK's capital.
Roger Allam’s comedic chaos at the Old Vic
The Old Vic is currently hosting a revival of Alan Ayckbourn's ingenious comedy, How The Other Half Loves. The production centers on the complicated lives of three miserable marriages, specifically focusing on two couples who invite the Featherstone family to dinner on consecutive nights, resulting in overlapping chaos at the same dining table. As the report notes, Roger Allam delivers a standout performance as the pompous and inept character, Frank, providing what the review calls a "blissful study in blind befuddlement."
While the comedic timing is sharp, the production has faced criticism regarding its emotional resonance. The cast, which includes Dorothy Atkinson, Rowan Polonski, and Laura Elsworthy, has been described as delivering solid performances, yet they have reportedly struggled to convey the necessary emotional depth required by the script.. This lack of truthful subtext is a significant point of contention for those looking for the heart behind Ayckbourn's orchestrated mayhem.
The "rat-like tails" of Drew McOnie’s Cats at Regent’s Park
In contrast to the subtle comedy at the Old Vic, the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park is seeing a high-energy staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical, Cats. Directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie, this production draws from T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and utilizes a diverse musical palette of jazz, rock, funk, and bouncy music hall melodies. The visual direction has been noted for its unique use of body-stockings, though some elements, such as the "unappealing skinny, rat-like tails," have drawn specific attention.
The production has become a significant hit with audiences, with many attendees opting to dress in leopard-print and cat-eared hairbands to match the atmosphere. According to the review, the cast—including Gary Wilmot, Rachel Wooding, and Danny Nattrass—has delivered outstanding performances. Danny Nattrass, in particular, earned loud catcalls for his portrayal of Mungojerrie, alongside his cat-burgling partner, Rumpleteazer. Following its London run, Cats is scheduled to begin a UK and Ireland tour, starting in Plymouth on October 6.
Wagner Moura’s Portuguese-language Ibsen in Edinburgh
The current season of theatre extends beyond the London bubble to the Edinburgh International Festival. There, the festival is presenting a modern-day, Portuguese-language version of Henrik Ibsen's play, A Trial - After An Enemy Of The People. This production is brought by Wagner Moura and is set within a Brazilian spa town where the protagonist, a local doctor played by Moura,discovers that the water supply has been contaminated by industrial waste.
Will the Old Vic cast find the missing emotional subtext?
The current reviews leave several specific questions unanswered for theatergoers . While the Old Vic production of How The Other Half Loves is praised for its comedy,it remains to be seen if the cast can bridge the gap in emotional depth before the show closes on September 19. additionally, while the Cats production at Regent's Park is a hit,it is unclear if the specific aesthetic choices, such as the "rat-like tails," will be received as well during the upcoming tour in Plymouth. Finally, the decision to perform the Ibsen play in Portuguese in Edinburgh raiises questions about how the production will engage with non-Portuguese speaking audiences at the festival.
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