At a moment when both female leaders and would-be leaders are rampaging across the news – May, Merkel, Leadsom, Eagle – it is pleasantly instructive to see this revival have a second Richmond season: it’s a comic squib from the young Terence Rattigan (before the dark sensitivity of The Deep Blue Sea and Cause Celebre).
Weekly Theatre Podcast: Xanadu, French Without Tears, A Little Night Music
This week, the learned London theatre bloggers discuss Rattigan’s French Without Tears in Richmond, Sondheim’s A Little Night Music and the UK premiere of screen-to-stage Broadway musical Xanadu.
Text of the Day: French Without Tears
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS – Orange Tree Theatre
Over the past quarter century the reputation of toff playwright Terence Rattigan has been restored, mainly by strong stagings of his classic dramas, such as Deep Blue Sea. But his first smash hit, French Without Tears, has been the unicorn of his output — often talked about, often mentioned, often remembered, but never actually seen. Now Paul Miller, the ever-enterprising artistic director of the Orange Tree, has brought this unicorn into public view, allowing audiences to enjoy a joyful sighting of a rare beast.