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A nudity-drenched Cabaret, plus the Young Vic's first play after its refit and a new-old Godot are some of the treats in store next week, says Richard Godwin.
Waiting for Godot
New Ambassador's, WC2
Sir Peter Hall was the first director silly enough to take Samuel Becket seriously - or serious enough to take him sillily - putting on the first English version of Waiting for Godot in 1955. Now he's having a second go with this 50th anniversary new production, scheduled for last year but blocked by the Barbican, who hold the rights to the play. Alan Dobie and James Laurenson play bored tramps Vladimir and Estragon. (0870 060 6627). Previewing now. Press night Mon 9 Oct. Booking to Sat 18 Nov.
Cabaret
Lyric, W1
Advance word says there's an awful lot of nudity in Rufus Norris's take on this classic musical of decadence and doom in 1931 Berlin. But will the flesh-fest prove gratuitous or gratifying? Anna Maxwell Martin is singer Sally Bowles, stripping for her supper at the raunchy Kit Kat Klub, alongside Sheila Hancock and James Dreyfuss. (0870 4000 626). Previewing now. Press night Tue 10 Oct. Booking to April 2007.
King Lear
Barbican, EC2
Shakespeare's least penetrable tragedy performed in Russian may not scream "hit!", but that won't stop in-the-know theatre goers flocking to the Barbican. All you need to know, in fact, is that the production is the work of Lev Dodin's amazing Maly Drama Theatre of St Petersburg - which is as good a guarantee of five star theatrical excellence as you're going to get. (0870 120 7550). Tue 10-Sat 14 Oct.
Tobias and the Angel
Young Vic, SE1
After a £12.5 million nip/tuck, the much-loved Waterloo theatre re-opens with a new community opera about one boy's journey towards love and selfknowledge. The music is by Jonathan Dove and Young Vic artistic director David Lan, and the huge chorus is drawn from local Lambeth and Southwark singing groups. (020 7922 2800). Wed 11- Sat 21 Oct.
Notes from Underground
Trafalgar Studios 2, WC2
Will Adamsdale won comedy's Perrier Award a couple of year's back for Jackson's Way, a wacky self help spoof, then promptly ducked under the radar. Now he's back in a straight acting role, as a reclusive New Yorker in Eric Bogosian's adaptation of Dostoevsky's dark tale of self-loathing. (0870 060 6632). Previewing from Tue 10 Oct. Press night Thu 12 Oct. Until Sat 4 Nov.
Reader views (2)
Simon Boccanegra at the Bloomsbury Theatre is Dark and dramatic piece full of action and great acting. If there wasn't any singing it would be a great piece of theatre but the voices add to and are part of the action. When the soprano(whose name I cannot pronounce) sang of her desperation at being abducted, my heart leapt, I believed her. Her costumes were divine and her voice too soft at times showed an inate largesse that shows real promise and makes me believe this role is new to her. Though it must be said that I found her relationship with her newly found father(the Doge) more inimate than that which she has with her lover, a true dramatic tenor in all ways. The music in this opera is as beautiful as that you would find in any Verdi though the orchestra seemed a bit taxed at times. I saw this production on its first night and am sure to go see it again. I think like a fine wine it will mature.
- Fran Holder, Carshalton on the Hill, Surrey, 10/10/2006 09:18
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Don't miss Godot at the New Ambassadors a superb production worth waiting for. It is clear clever and no nonsense. The Beckett characters communicate in their surreal way through four extraordinary performances by Alan Dobie, James Laurenson,Richard Dormer and Terence Rigby. It is a treat to hear them listening and speaking their language as they interact with eachother. It is an exceptional company and a very special production, dont miss it.
- Sarah Simmons, London, 08/10/2006 23:40
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