I’m going to shut my eyes and you are going to write down your three favourite musicals.
Here are mine and I bet they are not on your list: The Betrayal of Nora Blake, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg and A Chorus Line. Runner up: Cats.
Tomorrow I’m going to a matinee of an adaption of a book and a 1956 (The Man Who Never Was) and 2021 film that has had good reviews and, not being cast led, seems likely to be on in the West End forever. It’s not a promising subject – Operation Mincemeat; not an obvious subject for a musical. But then nor was Springtime for Hitler – “Rhineland’s a fine land once more”.
Meanwhile I take my pleasures where I can, enjoying the last fleshy magnolia blossom and finding a new biscuit.
I outsource as much as I can but I have to wear in new shoes. Queen Elizabeth II had an aide, Angela Kelly, to do this for her. If you wear size eight, wide fitting, apply here.
Robert and I took some American friends to an Operation Mincement matinee a few months ago, and we LOVED it! You won’t come out humming any tunes, but the inventiveness and role-swapping was so clever, and very energising. The Americans were too – and this pair definitely know their way about the theatre – two of Ellen’s sisters write plays, for a start. I hope you love it.
Guys and Dolls
Gigi
Salad Days. This for sentimental reasons. Written for the Bristol Old Vic, I went to a party before it opened, attended by the cast, who performed all the songs. The memory is all mixed up with Bristol, being young and boy friends.
Re. Operation Mincemeat, the author of the book, Ben McIntyre, spoke at one of our Literary Festivals. The story of the ill fated corpse was hilarious. I have recently read his book “Colditz” which I can recommend.
I forgot G & D better, much better, than G & T
C xx
I saw Operation Mincemeat last November, absolutely loved it!
It works so well in a small theatre like The Fortune.
And a worthy successor to The Woman in Black.
Hope you enjoy it!