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New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
Bruce Dessau's rating
Reader rating
Dir: Jeff Merrifield.
Cast: Jud Charlton, Josh Darcy, Jeff Merrifield
Description: Jeff Merrifield's drama offering an uncompromising portrait of the life and career of the late punk musician and poet. Contains explicit language.
Trains: Tube: Leicester Square, Embankment 
Phone: 0844847 2475
Website: www.leicestersquaretheatre.com
Reasons to be cheerful: late replacement Adrian Schiller, pictured with Josh Darcy, is an effective portrayal of the complex rock icon Ian Dury
Maybe not all publicity is good publicity after all. The West End transfer of this play about musical icon Ian Dury made the news last week when it was reported that Chris Langham, the actor convicted of downloading child pornography, worked on the script and original star Jud Charlton had left the production — either sacked or not re-engaged, depending on reports. Omens were bad.
It is a relief, then, that new boy Adrian Schiller is an effective Dury doppelgänger and that Hit Me! is a nicely nostalgic scuttle through the singer’s rollercoaster life.
Dury was clearly a complex man. Director/writer Jeff Merrifield’s high-spirited two-hander portrays him as nasty one minute, nice the next, particularly after a drink. “Jekyll and Hardy”, as it is put.
The plot imagines meetings between Dury and his minder, ex-con Fred “Spider” Rowe (Josh Darcy) in 1980 and 1990, though neither character ages — so much for sex and drugs and rock ’n’ roll being bad. Their expletive-strewn banter makes a night out with Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross resemble a vicar’s tea party, but underneath there is genuine affection.
At the outset Dury is at his Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick heights, a scruffy cross between Johnny Rotten, Albert Steptoe and Harold Steptoe, rebuffing overtures from Andrew Lloyd Webber. Rowe has to protect this “ego on a stick”. A walking stick. Dury contracted polio aged seven in 1949, probably at a Southend swimming pool.
By their 1990 encounter money and fame has fractured friendships. Brilliantly talented, Dury knows he has more to offer, but we fast forward to 2000 and he has died of metastatic liver cancer, his full potential never realised. There is nothing wrong with the sentimental conclusion, though the heavenly encore ladles it on a little too thickly.
Hit Me! is an odd hybrid, perfect for ageing rockers. Not a tedious tribute act, despite the singalong songs, and not Mamma Mia! either.
It is never bland, but it only scratches the surface of a unique talent, portraying yet never quite reconciling Dury’s contradictions. As Spider Rowe says, “there was nobody clever or witty enough to write his epitaph”. Good, but if only Dury could have written this himself it might have been great.
Until 14 February, 0844 847 2475
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Went with my friend on Saturday. She loves the theatre but hadn't heard much of Ian Dury. I hate the theatre but love Ian Dury. We both had a fantastic time and would love to go again. thorougly enjoyable. We both laughed the whole way through. It was also very touching in places. Would reccomend to anyone. Go and and see it as it only runs to mid Feb.
- Mandy, hounslow middx
Already seen it twice Last Thursday and Last Night (Tuesday)
Thought both shows were fantastic
Already got a text from my mate (who also has attended both nights with me) which says "Great night, We cant do it a third time can we?"
Adrian Schiller is fantastic as Ian
I saw the Jud Charlton clip on tv no-way jose is he as good as Adrian
Josh was brilliant too as Fred
10 out of 10 gave both me and my mate a bloddy good reason to be cheerful
- David Allen, Limehouse London
