theatre review

Playhouse Creatures/A Life In The Theatre

Hello id

Little has changed in theatre, would be one lesson learned, from this double bill beginning with the bitchings of Nell Gwynne and other wretches of Restoration drama followed by Mamet's play about a silly old darling and his protégé. Aging was a fear in both pieces, with Mrs Betterton throwing wobblers reminiscent of Vivian Vile over being replaced by younger playhouse creatures, while the best performance of the night was Jonathan Rice's 20th century queen giving a wonderfully camp show of hiding his bitterness. Nice parallels, but it is a little lopsided, with Mamet's piece being much snappier and funnier than the drawn-out 17th century melodrama, unless this is a statement on how theatre has improved over the intervening centuries.

Upstairs at Three and Ten, 2 – 4, 25 May, times vary, prices vary, fpp 42

tw rating: 3/5

published: Aug-2008

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