Review – Company, Southwark Playhouse

What with the endless 8oth birthday celebrations for Stephen Sondheim, revivals of his shows now seem almost as common as gold stars for The King’s Speech with more to come (celebrations to mark Mr Sondheim’s 81st birthday commence on 22 March).

But the latest production of Company at the Southwark Playhouse is billed as “a major new revival”. So that’s different.

The Whingers quite like Company (with a big C, not each others’ company) because it’s sharp, witty and tuneful. But having seen the Union Theatre’s excellent, but presumably only minor, revival less than two years ago we weren’t sure we were quite ready for another.

But then if we didn’t go it would always be gnawing away at us: how was “The Ladies Who Lunch”?

Review – The Drowsy Chaperone, Upstairs at the Gatehouse

Last Sunday afternoon’s trip to Highgate to see The Drowsy Chaperone turned out to be that rare thing: a truly life-changing experience. For the Whingers made the startling discovery that Sunday lunch at The Gatehouse is just £6.99 (your choice of beef, lamb, chicken, pork or vegetarian) including a glass of wine. Sundays will never be the same again.

This put them in a very good place indeed, their stomachs, their moods and their pockets all feeling pleasingly attended to. Nothing but nothing would be able to prick their bubbles of contentment. Although Upstairs at the Gatehouse certainly had a bash.