Review – Twelfth Night, National Theatre

Hope you didn’t mind the gap.

Phil felt unmoved to bother writing about his last few theatrical disappointments, he’d been catching up on shows in the last weeks of their runs anyway. Also he’s been going to the pictures. A lot. And by avoiding the disappointments of theatre he’s been able to enjoy being disappointed by some over-praised films.

Review – Jumpy, Royal Court

Hard to believe, but even the Whingers were young once.

Then we took our eyes off the road and somehow time sneaked up from behind, overtaking recklessly, driving off the highway of life and leaving us temporarily stranded in the lay-by of middle age. Happily we are fully equipped with spare tyres to enable our journeys to continue.

Hilary (Tamsin Greig) is having a mid-life crisis. She’s 50 and suffering panic attacks; presumably the Jumpy of the title (another titular reference is revealed at the end). Her job’s in danger and her marriage to a relentlessly dull husband Mark (Ewan Stewart) has become little more than friendship, the aridness of her partnership only hydrated by frequent glasses of wine. Could this be the reason for the Whingers’ drinking too?

Review – Government Inspector, Young Vic

Yet more arts cuts!

As this man has pointed out, there is a new theatrical trend in town –  culling of definite article.

first victim was Seagull at Arcola) and now  Young Vic wades in with Government Inspector.

It’s a trend that rather suits us as it involves less typing and we hereby embrace it wholeheartedly.

Review – Celebrity Autobiography, Leicester Square Theatre

This post is briefly to say that Phil has been called upon to verify Andrew’s gushing Edinburgh review of Celebrity Autobiography and has concurred with the findings of Andrew’s original report. These are words you are unlikely to hear again: Andrew was right. Urg.

The Whingers dropped in to the Leicester Square Theatre on Thursday evening when the line up (which varies from night to night) featured CA creators Eugene Pack and Dayle Reyfel plus Bridget Christie, Doon Mackichan, James Lance, Tiffany Stevenson, Smack The Pony‘s Doon Mackichan, Ugly Betty‘s Michael Urie and someone called David Tennant.

Review – Loot, Tricycle Theatre

What a shambles. What a complete and utter shambles. And how entertaining.

Now that the Menier Chocolate factory has  – for the moment at least – caved in, the Whingers (never ones to rest on their laurels when there’s a handy theatre bar to lean against instead) thought it their duty to turn their attention to the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn.

Regular readers may recall that in an unexpected decision which sent shockwaves through the industry, the Tricycle was the recipient of the Award for Worst Seating in last year’s Whingies and it is looking a dead cert that they will steal the title this year too.

But before judging, the Whingers wanted to get the full picture of the awfulness of the seating policy (and it’s not just us – Russell thinks it’s shocking; so does Helen). So they took a trip up the Jubilee Line to Kilburn on Saturday afternoon to take in the matinee of Joe Orton‘s Loot.