Review – The Female of the Species

At the end of last week’s cliffhanger episode our heroes zeros had vowed never – but never – to go to the theatre ever again until they could once again wave at a Dame of the British Empire through a proscenium arch in a crumbling West End theatre…

Grey Gardens coming to London

We promised to bring you more thoughts on the extraordinary Nicholas Hytner vs. The Critics kerfuffle but something far more interesting has come up.

Noh contest!

“It’s only about 45min long max and there’s a pub below!”

Hats off to blogging playwright Ben Yeo (who came to our party) who has got the Whingers’ number.

Ben emailed us to say that he has persuaded the producers of his adaptation/translation of the Noh play…

(or as we always insist on saying: )

…Nakamitsu (which plays at the Gate Theatre in Notting Hill from 24 May – 16 June) to give free tickets to theatre bloggers.

Apparently it involves a “beheading, duty and sacrifice”.

The theatrical event of the whinging year

Well, it’s all go at the Whingers’ respective headquarters in Kentish Town and Vauxhall as preparations for tonight’s party go into overdrive.  Moods are rather fractious as it’s 10.15am and in deference to their duties this evening neither Phil nor Andrew has had a drink all day.

Putting the Drowsy in Chaperone

The producers of Broadway transfer The Drowsy Chaperone are obviously desperate to seduce the Whingers. Or just desperate.

In a previous blog the Whingers noted the strange wording in their promotions. Now, presumably having taken heed from WEW, they’ve come up with another tag line in their ads, which have surely been worded specifically to woo the Whingers alcohol marinated hearts.

Yet another trip to Little Shop of Horrors?

Those crafty producers at Little Shop of Horrors have come up with a cunning ruse to part the Whingers from yet more of their hard-earned cash.

The Whingers are practically angels to this production having partly financed it both at the Menier and the Duke of York’s. True, this financing principally took the form of purchasing tickets and underwriting some of Sheridan Smith’s bar bill but that hardly comes under the heading of small change.

The Drowsy Chaperone: we know what you mean, but…

Don’t get us wrong.

We’re willing The Drowsy Chaperone to be good, albeit just on the strength of one video on YouTube.

But we’re not convinced that today’s ad in the Evening Standard is going to help.

Ticket offer – The Glass Menagerie with Jessica Lange

West End Whingers are just big old softies really.

Just as they can’t resist a good offer, they also can’t help sharing them with others. Beady-eyed as ever, they’ve see an interesting one for the almost sublime production of Tennessee Williams’ classic The Glass Menagerie at the Apollo Theatre.

Fierstein, Chayefsky, Bette Davis, Considine, SOB

Only connect. Now this is complicated, so pay attention.

The eyes and ears of WEW’s favourite Broadway blogger Steve on Broadway report (Note to Andrew – it’s probably the lips or the fingers that actually did the reporting, not the eyes and ears;  I am now the acknowledged expert on writing since – did I already mention this – it was my phrase, not yours, that was quoted on The Guardian’s arts blog – Phil) that Harvey Fierstein (right) is “planning a return to Broadway via a musical version of  Paddy Chayefsky‘s The Catered Affair.”

Donmar Warehouse booking whinges

Another very fussing letter from the Donmar insisting that the Whingers decide NOW what they want to do in September. All very stressful.

Billie Piper – Name above the title.

It’s not a huge vote of confidence in Billie Piper (or perhaps it’s merely recognition of why audiences are bothering to turn up at all), that the producers of Treats at the Garrick Theatre have taken the unusual step of publicly offering punters tickets for an alternative performance if the leading lady doesn’t show.

Hairspray the musical finally to hit London

It must be difficult for Steve on Broadway to navigate everyday life with his ear so permanently to the ground of the Great White Way.

But thank goodness he does, for he brings the Whingers welcome news that the stage production of Hairspray the musical will finally reach London although rather ominously we hear that it will be staged in the Shaftesbury Theatre (home of the hits).

The show’s transfer from Broadway has been much delayed, probably to avoid conflicts with the forthcoming film which features John Travolta in the role of Edna Turnblad, the role created by Divine in the original John Waters film and on Broadway by Harvey Fierstein.

Coming soon – Review of Daniel Radcliffe in Equus..and more!

[Update (20 Mar 07):  Equus review is here.]

Never usually ones to drag our hooves, the kindly Whingers are giving yer actual Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe a couple of weeks to settle into his already highly praised Equus role (co-starring the marvellous Richard Griffiths) at the Gielgud Theatre. Will the Whingers be so fulsome in their praise?

If you’re already chomping at the bit, the Whingers will be casting their beady un-blinkered eyes over, amongst others:

Ticket Offer – The Lord of the Rings

CONFIDENTIAL MEMO

To : Andrew
From : Phil
Date : 24 February 2007
Subject : Misery

Andrew

Thank you for your recent memo. Don’t despair. Help is on the way.

Donmar – Parade, Pinter and the absurd

News reaches the Whingers of the Donmar’s latest announcement. To stem the barrage of enquiries about our official reaction, here’s a summary: