A year has gone by since the last set of awards. It’s time for some new ones. They go to . . .
An Ideal Husband Vaudeville
This was the highlight of the Vaudeville’s Oscar Wilde season. Everything about the production was spot on but what a joy to see Edward Fox and Susan Hampshire bringing the house down with their masterful delivery of some of Wilde’s best jokes. They share the award.
The Lieutenant of Inishmore Noel Coward
Martin McDonagh gets the award here. Since writing this play he has gone on to hit the Hollywood big time with Three Billboards but this play, which begins with a dead cat and ends with a stage filled with dismembered corpses, is a comic masterpiece which was brilliantly revived here by Michael Grandage.
Miss Littlewood RSC
A quickfire resume of Joan Littlewood’s life, making clear her importance to twentieth century theatre without being at all reverential. The style is light, engaging and funny. Some terrific dancing.
Songs for Nobodies Wilton’s Music Hall
Bernadette Robinson takes this award. Her one-woman show has a brilliant premise. Imagine the mere mortals who met or worked with legends such as Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Maria Callas and Edith Piaf and let them tell the stories of their encounters with the big stars. Combine this with perfect performances, in character, of some of these singers’ greatest songs. Absolutely brilliant.
Girl From The North Country Old Vic
I want to use the word’ beautiful’ to describe this show. It’s not a word that is often applied to theatrical productions but I think it’s the right one here. It sounds like a terrible idea to produce a musical based on the songs of Bob Dylan. They don’t seem to lend themselves to the musical genre. What Conor McPherson has written is more of a play with songs than a West End musical and the result is beautiful. It is moving and exhilarating. The performances are magical. It is a perfect theatrical gem. I’ve seen it twice and I want to see it again. Awards to all involved.
School of Rock New London Theatre / Gillian Lynne Theatre
Just a lot of fun but strangely moving at times. Incredible young talent.
Slaves of Solitude Hampstead Theatre
A very clever piece. Who would have thought that a boarding house in Henley-on-Thames in 1943 would be the right setting for a play to address the current state of the nation ? Playwright Nicholas Wright and director Jonathan Kent get the awards here.