After the passing of Stephen Sondheim the weekend before last, this week saw the loss of another iconic theatre figure: South African born actor Antony Sher, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier this year, so at least his passing was not unexpected. But we also lost the more unsung Robert Holman last week, a true playwright’s playwright; I’m sorry I missed his last produced play at the Coronet now, The Lodger, that played there in September
It’s also been a week of growing alarm around the rise of the new Covid variant Omicron, as theatres up and down the land started bringing in their own mandates on mask wearing; in the absence of any decisive leadership from SOLT and UKT, they finally felt it was right to take responsibility themselves. Meanwhile, too, Julian Bird — CEO of both of those organisations — announced his departure from both organisations next year.
MY COLUMNS AND REVIEWS OF THE WEEK
- Monday November 29: My ShentonSTAGE Daily Newsletter for today: https://shentonstage.com/shentonstage-daily-for-monday-november-29/
My ShentonSTAGE Daily Newsletter for today (emailed to subscribers, send message to ShentonStageMailingList@gmail.com to be added) is on #StephenSondheim's passing, and (the ongoing lack of) COVID safety in West End now that Omicron is on its way…. https://t.co/UJqBRhiHjg pic.twitter.com/W646Qp82Na
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 29, 2021
My That Was the Week That Was column for Nov 22-28: https://shentonstage.com/that-was-the-week-that-was-6/
My regular THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS column, of my columns, reviews and tweets of theatre from London, New York and elsewhere, is here: https://t.co/ihCc6QjMiC including, of course, the passing of #StephenSondheim last Friday. pic.twitter.com/6rMMyC4N6s
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 29, 2021
- Tuesday November 30:
My ShentonSTAGE Daily Newsletter: https://shentonstage.com/shentonstage-daily-newsletter-for-tuesday-november-30/
My ShentonSTAGE Daily Newsletter today (sent to subscribers, em ShentonStageMailingList@gmail.com to be added) is here: https://t.co/OoprkhSbLF including @TheRSC implementing mandatory face coverings, and the ungracious feature on #StephenSondheim on @guardianobits. pic.twitter.com/aar0mZ6Sp6
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
- Wednesday December 1:
My ShentonSTAGE Daily Newsletter: https://shentonstage.com/shentonstage-daily-for-wednesday-december-1/
My ShentonSTAGE Daily Newsletter is here: https://t.co/hGNDJLRJEU, is on more theatres introducing mask mandates (including @E_N_O, @RoyalOperaHouse, @NationalTheatre), and seeing @TheGoodLifePlay (To receive it by em, send em to ShentonStageMailingList@gmail.com) pic.twitter.com/B8b3zPOsbJ
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 1, 2021
- Thursday December 2: My ShentonSTAGE Daily Newsletter: https://shentonstage.com/shentonstage-daily-for-thursday-december-2/
My ShentonSTAGE daily newsletter, emailed to subscribers (send em to ShentonStageMailingList@gmail.com to be added) is here, reporting on @julianpbird stepping down from @SOLTnews & @uk_theatre; & lack of Covid safety at Cardiff’s @theCentre. https://t.co/9O8z8vpLOh pic.twitter.com/WiHbyRvwsS
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 2, 2021
- Friday December 3: My ShentonSTAGE Daily Newsletter: https://shentonstage.com/shentonstage-daily-for-friday-december-3/
My ShentonSTAGE Daily Newsletter is here, https://t.co/XFpOlWRh4y, including passing of #AntonySher, @TrafalgarEnt's Rosemary Squire & @OliverDowden on COVID, and @guardianstage's opposing reviews from Mark Fisher @WriteAboutTheat & @Arifa_Akbar on @LifeOfPiWestEnd pic.twitter.com/IQLQ93cbGl
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 3, 2021
MY REVIEW TWEETS OF THE WEEK
- The Good Life (Chichester Festival Theatre):
Just seen THE GOOD LIFE @TheGoodLifePlay, a new stage version of the 70s sitcom favourite, on tour this week at @ChichesterFT: probably the closest spiritual theatrical home for these characters outside of Guildford. And it’s an utter delight! pic.twitter.com/t2hZdCa9TT
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
And #DominicRowan — one of our most unsung but brilliant straight actors — and @PREEYAKALIDAS are just hilarious as their uppity neighbours. What a retro joy! pic.twitter.com/BNCcf6OXgY
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
London, December 1:
Heading to London for an overnight theatrical catch-up: @E_N_O’s new THE VALKRIE tonight; RARE EARTH METTLE at @royalcourt tomorrow afternoon; then @LifeOfPiWestEnd opening tomorrow evening! pic.twitter.com/WGWJknfz60
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 1, 2021
- The Valkyrie (English National Opera at the London Coliseum)
Five hours in a theatre never passed so quickly! And very happy indeed to see the audience taking masking seriously! Felt like EVERYONE was complying. pic.twitter.com/nG5ffPaUkE
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 1, 2021
- Rare Mettle Earth (Royal Court):
Just seen a (very sparsely attended) matinee of RARE EARTH METTLE at @royalcourt: there were less than 60 people. We might have just about filled the Theatre Upstairs, but in the downstairs main house, you could shoot a moose. pic.twitter.com/610LvOxRnK
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 2, 2021
To be sure, there are big ideas rattling around in RARE EARTH METTLE — and maybe a better production would have revealed them less cumbersomely. But the play is a mess and so is the staging. pic.twitter.com/ojuouOrpX8
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 2, 2021
- The Life of Pi (Wyndham’s):
Just seen the transfer (at last, delayed by the pandemic) of @LifeOfPiWestEnd from Sheffield’s @crucibletheatre to Wyndham’s, which is like War Horse on steroids in terms of its use of animal puppetry, & gorgeous theatrical storytelling. What a heartfelt spectacle! pic.twitter.com/VfZ2tewWsq
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 2, 2021
- Merlin (Southampton’s Mayflower):
Looking forward to seeing this tonight (after my aborted attempt to reach Southampton yesterday, derailed by a wartime bomb on the line!) https://t.co/cZlcrLCNQu
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
Apologies: @DrewMcOnie’s MERLIN is presented by @northernballet, NOT @scottishballet.
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
Just seen @DrewMcOnie’s MERLIN for @northernballet, which marks a significant departure from his musical theatre choreography: less angular, more undulating, with alternating romantic and dramatic inflections. Wonderful to hear a full live orchestra accompanying it. pic.twitter.com/Gy6b5onc7w
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
COVID NEWS TWEETS OF THE WEEK:
So @NicolaSturgeon is telling people to TEST for COVID "on each and every occasion you intend to mix with people from outside your household." Yet @SOLTnews @UK_theatre venues in London & rest of England are not EVEN REQUIRING MASKING. What a failure of leadership! @julianpbird pic.twitter.com/ttHmhfRGaw
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 29, 2021
Sorry to hear that @PrinceOfEgyptUK had to cancel tonight. Hope the affected cast members recover soon. (And a reminder to self I must try to see it again before it closes in January). https://t.co/tBWeIigW9i
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 29, 2021
At long last. Given @SOLTnews & @uk_theatres failure to implement safety procedures for audiences, @TheRSC is implementing its own rules from tomorrow. This is long overdue. https://t.co/Uhp6yOx4jr
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 29, 2021
Statement from Cirencester's @theBarnTheatre: mask wearing to be compulsory unless medically exempt.
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
Good to see venues taking the initiative, after @SOLTnews @UK_Theatres total failure of leadership…. cc @julianpbird @EleanorLloyd @stephsirr
@Jon_Gilchrist pic.twitter.com/bMyG10RF82
Another theatre mandates face coverings: Happy to hear that @E_N_O at @LondonColiseum are requiring this, especially as I am going to see THE VALKYRIE there tomorrow…… https://t.co/fuQNcLvmdj
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
The @NationalTheatre makes face masks mandatory from Thursday. https://t.co/jUAGrX1Dam
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
And @CurveLeicester mandate face coverings too. https://t.co/PPA2ikxFL6
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
And @oldvictheatre mandates mask wearing. https://t.co/8jZPuOrtch
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
Another London theatre introduces mandatory masking.
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
I hope this means it will be now become an industry-wide initiative — and actually be enforced. (It is in New York, and NO ONE objects). https://t.co/O5gKCaZTSl
As more & more theatres are mandating mask wearing as a condition of entry, WHY has @SOLTnews @uk_theatre even now not taken the lead in mandating it across the industry? I’ve been calling for this since “freedom day”. But CEO @julianpbird told me people had “different opinions”.
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
A friend tells me: "Mask wearing at @ComeFromAwayUK last night was near 100%! Very encouraging." This is indeed good to hear.. pic.twitter.com/tzmbtoCR2V
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 1, 2021
Uh-oh: @moulinrougemusicaluk cancels shows tonight and tomorrow, owing to COVID positive cases in company. https://t.co/vFqFtFeh6G
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 3, 2021
MOULIN ROUGE @moulinmusicaluk has officially cancelled its press opening on Wednesday.
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
My thoughts are extended to the company, wishing all a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/VNIK7y4VxW
The (long-overdue) introduction of mask wearing in London theatres is reported by @alexmarshall81 for @nytimes. https://t.co/OWaaKntcPs. But even now, this is not POLICY but varies venue to venue. @SOLTnews @uk_theatre have FAILED TO LEAD.@julianpbird @EleanorLloyd pic.twitter.com/Ng6XxU9gQo
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 1, 2021
A consultant anaesthesiologist left a performance at Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre @theCentre before it even began, calling it a “profoundly unsafe environment” thanks to non-enforcement of mask wearing. And this is Wales, where it is LEGALLY required! https://t.co/sH6jeFaks5 pic.twitter.com/n7uHczdFN1
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 1, 2021
Clearly, once again, COMMERCIAL interests are outweighing very real PUBLIC HEALTH concerns. Whilst so much is unknown, surely now is the time to be MORE careful, not offer a kneejerk reaction against being rightly cautious. (2/2)
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 3, 2021
Advice from @OliverDowden today: "Keep calm and carry on this Christmas," despite Omicron and rising COVID cases… I wonder if this will age well? https://t.co/swusIRUf93 pic.twitter.com/uZPS8Vakk0
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 3, 2021
If England/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland follow suite, the panto season is going to be decimated. Yet it might just be the right thing to do….. https://t.co/0i5DLpebwD
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 3, 2021
Good to see this — but note, it is REQUEST, not INSIST.
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 3, 2021
When I saw it at @TrafTheatre, hardly ANYONE AT ALL was wearing a mask…… https://t.co/Mm57jCsO7S
The government’s response in DELAYING measures on Omicron until there’s more certain information is a failure of leadership, says Sage expert. It’s the same failure of leadership from @SOLTnews & @uk_theatre in mandating preventative measures in theatres. https://t.co/V0Bo9ahEVH pic.twitter.com/jRn99LbhEK
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
GIven that "the danger posed by the Omicron variant may not be clear until January", it would be prudent to mitigate against "weeks of intense mixing while the variant spreads", suggest scentific advisers. https://t.co/R6743Un71z pic.twitter.com/Him61yr9Pj
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
LONDON HEADLINES OF THE WEEK
London’s @TurbineTheatre to premiere its first original musical BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER: THE MUSICAL, running Feb 18-April 16, press night Feb 23, originally presented there as part of @fest_mt in 2019. Press statement below right from @PaulTaylorMills. pic.twitter.com/ovqPy6ZZJk
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 29, 2021
Ruth Wilson will star in Ivo van Hove’s adaptation of Jean Cocteau’s THE HUMAN VOICE, originally produced by @ITAensemble, at @HPinterTheatre from March 17-April 9, press night March 22. Press statement below right from Wilson & @SFP_London. pic.twitter.com/qy3BkYp0cS
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
COLUMN OF THE WEEK:
- Libby Purves and David Pugh on price inflation in the West End:
West End ticket price inflation: LIbby Purves @lib_thinks on the greed of producers & especially dynamic pricing. And producer David Pugh @davidsoho1 writes it doesn't have to be this way, either https://t.co/iKb1KQTAmx pic.twitter.com/1x9aJO6S8t
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 3, 2021
REGIONAL/ TOURING HEADLINES OF THE WEEK
Casting announced for the world première of Dr Semmelweis, based on an original idea by Mark Rylance, and written by Stephen Brown with Rylance, who also stars, at @BristolOldVic from Jan 20-Feb 13, opens Jan 26. pic.twitter.com/HhLlxL80M7
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 29, 2021
New production of INTO THE WOODS to be staged by @NIOpera at @LyricBelfast, Feb 3-27, press night Feb 9, directed by artistic director Cameron Menzies. https://t.co/fSyHi49J36 pic.twitter.com/8a8k8yrYrc
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY @dylanmusical to embark on UK/Ireland tour, kicking off at Dublin's @3olympiatheatre from June 25-July 30. Full tour dates below right. https://t.co/VLQTM0ihyn pic.twitter.com/ra60Ds8jwB
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH to be revived at @LeedsPlayhouse, co-produced with @HOME_mcr, running April 2-23, starring @Divinadecampo in the title role (left). Press statement from director Jamie Fletcher right. pic.twitter.com/Kd7ArnbTBo
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 1, 2021
SHE LOVES ME is genuinely one of the great but most underrated of musicals. I can’t wait to see it at @crucibletheatre, directed by Rob Hastie. https://t.co/nUCAig7MdL
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
BROADWAY (AND BEYOND) HEADLINES OF THE WEEK
This is a GREAT initiative! https://t.co/eRrgnuJgmC
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
The best of theatre On and Off Broadway in 2021, from @nytimestheater critics, incl @JesseKGreen, @mayabphillips, @collinshughes, @ASoloski, @EVincentelli & editor @hellerNYT: https://t.co/XIC6fDL9EC pic.twitter.com/Nuhl2JjCBQ
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
Broadway's MRS DOUBTFIRE @DoubtfireBway finally opens – after a 609 day delay! @MichaelPaulson reminds us of his piece from Ma https://t.co/l3dCL3DIC6
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 5, 2021
BOOK OF THE WEEK
Director Max Stafford-Clark, former artistic director of @royalcourt & @Out_of_Joint (now Stockroom) has published a new book, Some Letters I Never Sent (And One Or Two I Did), reports @TheStage. https://t.co/b0c7K8YPSh pic.twitter.com/t767IM3Oln
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
EXECUTIVE AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE WEEK:
According to @nytimes reporter @alexmarshall81, @julianpbird has stepped down as CEO of SOLT…. https://t.co/RD8YFJPzzU
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 1, 2021
SOME THEATRE BIRTHDAYS OF THE WEEK:
Theatre birthdays (NOV 29): @SimonAmstell, 42; @JulianOvenden, 45 (pic: in South Pacific at @ChichesterFT, touring in 2022 and at @Sadlers_Wells); David Rintoul, 73 pic.twitter.com/12SNNEw9WM
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 29, 2021
Theatre birthdays (NOV 30): Gael Garcia Bernal, 43; @JohnBishop100, 55; David Mamet, playwright & Donald Trump supporter, 74; Mandy Patinkin @PatinkinMandy, 69 (pic: EVITA, 1979); Ben Stiller, @RedHourBen, 56 (Pic: In THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, B'way 2011, with Edie Falco) pic.twitter.com/z9o05wcNqZ
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
Theatre birthdays (DEC 1): Woody Allen, 86 (pictured: the 2014 Broadway musical version of his 1994 film); Stephen Lowe, playwright, 74; @BetteMidler, 76 (pic: as Dolly Levi in HELLO, DOLLY!, Broadway, 2017; Jeremy Northam, 60; Stephen Poliakoff, 69 pic.twitter.com/WelmZSDCgO
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 1, 2021
Theatre birthdays (DEC 3) Brendan Fraser, 53; Julianne Moore, 61 (pic: in THE VERTICAL HOUR, Broadway, 2006); Paul Nicholas, 77 (pic: as Rum Tum Tugger, in the original 1981 production of CATS) pic.twitter.com/Qiu5AHiQBn
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 3, 2021
Weekend theatre birthdays: SAT DEC 4: Gemma Jones, 79; @shonalindsay (pic: as Christine in @PhantomOpera, with Peter Polycarpou, @polywallydoodle, in 1991); Marisa Tomei, 57 (pictured: in THE ROSE TATTOO, Broadway, 2019) pic.twitter.com/EcZWHbVL1i
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 5, 2021
Weekend theatre birthdays: SUN DEC 5: Joan Didion, writer, 87 (whose memoir The Year of Magical Thinking became a B'way play in 2007, pictured with Vanessa Redgrave who played her); @Hanifkureishi, author/playwright, 67; Walter Meierjohann, @WalterMeierjo, theatre director, 50 pic.twitter.com/6GWMOZMIru
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 5, 2021
FAREWELLS OF THE WEEK:
- More on Stephen Sondheim’s passing:
Tonight lights will be dimmed across the West End for 2 minutes as a tribute to #StephenSondheim — including, of course, at the theatre that bears his name on Shaftesbury Avenue, pictured below. https://t.co/Qtzkz4xrrD
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 29, 2021
This happened last night. #StephenSondheim, the world is a little darker with your sudden absence, but you've shone such a light on our existence and the persistence of the human spirit. https://t.co/n7NIYcvA30
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
What a great pic of #StephenSondheim. https://t.co/vBpVwVQRya
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
- Gracious farewells to Stephen Sondheim:
Sam Mendes on working with #StephenSondheim — including a very poignant story on workshopping WISE GUYS (that became BOUNCE and then ROAD SHOW, without Mendes' involvement). https://t.co/XYCA9TKBAO pic.twitter.com/CahZ1FKzX0
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 30, 2021
VERY useful! #StephenSondheim letters being archived online! https://t.co/52Ag33zosg
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
- And an ungracious one:
I know obituaries don't have to be full of praise, obviously, but former @guardian opera critic Tom Sutcliffe's for @guardianobits for #StephenSondheim is particularly ungracious and grudging. (What a pity Michael Coveney didn't do it instead) https://t.co/WDlI6XBJWO pic.twitter.com/2PmtuJBLnf
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) November 29, 2021
This letter is excellent, re: @guardianobits of #StephenSondheim. I wrote this column yesterday about the same thing:https://t.co/whyrEuPKr0 https://t.co/U9MVIPgzVl
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 1, 2021
- More farewells:
Farewell to Sir Antony Sher, who has died, aged 72, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Pictured with his husband Greg Doran, artistic director of @TheRSC, where he was an Honorary Associate artist. Statement from @TheRSC right. pic.twitter.com/johfwuRLKr
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 3, 2021
Seriously lovely tribute thread from @MissDumezweni on working with #AntonySher. https://t.co/OZLyinHilz
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
Farewell to Terry Wale, actor and playwright, whose play JUDY starred his wife Lesley Mackie, who survives him. His autobiography Pretending to be Someone Else, was published earlier this year. https://t.co/aX1CXn8SRT pic.twitter.com/6FHGjUK8oH
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 3, 2021
Farewell to playwright Robert Holman, who has died, aged 69. https://t.co/KrGu5YxBy8
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
AND FINALLY, A COUPLE OF FAVOURITE TWEETS OF THE WEEK
Our first Xmas wreath, adorning our cottage in Amberley! pic.twitter.com/vVkUJzWjRa
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 3, 2021
What a glorious picture! @Yourallypally, where @XmasCarolLDN opened last night, transferred from @NottmPlayhouse. (H/t for pic: producer @EleanorLloyd) pic.twitter.com/ziLqVaZetU
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) December 4, 2021
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