Tag Archives: outdoor

Hobson’s Choice, Regent’s Park Open Air

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There is something so exhilarating about attending an open air production, especially when you are escaping from a super-urban city like London. I always choose Holland Park for opera and Regent’s Park for plays and musicals, and I am never disappointed.

Hobson’s Choice is a humble play, a quaint and old-fashioned comedy by Harold Brighouse. It is a bashful and modest opening show for the Regent’s Park 2014 summer season, but it is an enjoyable and touching story and, on press night, the audience seemed to delight in the light-hearted humour and nuanced acting.

It is the ultimate underdog tale. Selfish and lazy shoe shop owner Henry Horatio Hobson has three daughters to deal with since becoming a widower. He debates marrying them off but detests the lack of control that may lead to, and definitely won’t spend money on them. And so his eldest daughter, Maggie takes charge, coupling herself with the meek, uneducated, but brilliantly talented young boot-maker Willie Mossop and vows to change their lives forever. After a series of comical events, the young couple triumph and Hobson is left with whatever scraps of business and reputation he can retain. An unlikely love story with a satisfying finale.

The rotating set is very successful, simple and functional with a rugged-retro charm. It creates a believable sense of place and transports us back in time. The play is immaculately cast, each character seems so comfortable in their role taking on the 1960s character and Northern accent with no trouble at all. The interactions between the ensemble are so natural, it is a joy to watch. Mark Benton leads the cast as the drunken father, he is full of oomph and anger and causes much entertainment. Most memorable though is the defying couple, Jodie McNee as headstrong Maggie and Karl Davies as the reformed man, who depict their evolving relationship on stage with ease and elegance.

As long as the sun shines this vintage production will continue to enchant Londoners, the perfect escape at the end of a long day in the office.

Continues until 12th July, book tickets here.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Kensington Gardens

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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is an unforgettably vivid story, a classic novel by C.S Lewis that has acquired a following through manifestations on screen and stage. This whimsical production in Kensington Gardens captures the mysterious allure of the tale while adding to its fun with impressive dancing, music, puppets and aerial acrobatics.

It is a joy to once again see Rupert Goold directing, his ability to translate a story to stage is fluent and creative. The show, which you’d assume was solely catering for kids, is unpredictably good. The world of Narnia is perfectly contained in the illuminated Kensington Gardens circular tent, a challenging environment for any production. Of the night’s surprises it is the visionary puppetry that really made me gasp with excitement. The puppets are an instant reminder of the National Theatre’s hit War Horse with imaginative thrilling creatures coming to life with careful and precise human movement and intervention.

It is a seriously slick production with no blips considering the complex ideas. Trap doors, air entrances and trees on stilts are just part of the set, the rest is conjured up with ethereal video projections, a passionate score from Adam Cork and copious mist from smoke machines. The aerial work is thoroughly enjoyable, though at times perhaps a little unnecessary. It brings a circus like appeal to the show, a cross between Cirque du Soleil and the Lion King.

There is no denying that of the children Jonny Weldon as Edmund is the most captivating, a believably stroppy teenager lured by Turkish Delight. The other children, admittedly not particularly meaty roles to take on, are less sparkly on stage, though I did enjoy Rebecca Benson’s youthful enthusiasm as little Lucy. Sally Dexter is suitably venomous as the White Witch and Forbes Masson is fabulous as Mr Tumnus, producing a gorgeous countertenor sound for one of the early arias.

The great lion Aslan, is a spectacle in itself, a giant and beautiful puppet. The animal moves extremely elegantly thanks to experienced puppeteers: Christain From, Jane Leaney and Will Lucas. David Suchet provides the bellowing voice, a familiar authoritative sound that almost moved me to tears at times.

It seems perhaps counter-intuitive to produce this wintery tale at the height of summer but still through the power of escapism, this show manages to be magical, memorable and utterly mesmerising.

Continues until 9 September 2012, book here.