Theatre review. The Custard Boys & What The Butler Saw

I do get to see quite a number of theatre shows, but I’m not going to be reviewing every one. Every now and then one or two come up which I think should be recommended and just recently I’ve had the pleasure to see two such shows.

THE CUSTARD BOYS, 

Tabard Theatre, 2 Bath Road, London W4 1LW

Boys of the Empire Productions

Based on the novel by John Rae

Adapted and directed by Glenn Chandler

10 April - 12 May 2012

The Custard Boys is promoted as “A play about love, war and grown-up stuff”, the story of a group of boys evacuated to Norfolk during WW2, it follows their adventures and misadventures when boys will be boys and have a lot of growing up to do. My mum, uncles and aunts was evacuated to Norfolk at the start of the war so this had an additional poignant significance, but I’m sure they never got up to these things. When a new boy is introduced to the mix, neither local nor one of the London evacuees a whole new set of emotions are awoken.

Performed on a small intimate stage this is a powerful and emotional production, with a strong performance by the entire cast of seven young actors, all of which I would expect to see going on to bigger and greater things. If you’re in the area this is certainly one to catch.

Follow the links for more details,

http://www.tabardtheatre.co.uk/

Boys of the Empire Website is here:

http://www.boteproductions.co.uk/

WHAT THE BUTLER SAW by Joe Orton

Vaudeville Theatre, The Strand, London

http://www.whatthebutlersawtheplay.com/

Does this play need any introduction? The third of Joe Orton’s three farces written not long before his untimely death at the hands of his lover in 1967 and first produced in 1969, this has to be one of the funniest plays I’ve seen in a long time. Just starting a new run at the The Vaudeville Theatre on The Strand staring Omid Djalili, Tim McInnerny, Samantha Bond, Georgia Moffett, Jason Thorpe and Nick Hendrix. Completely un-PC this play welcomes you to the world of psychoanalyst Dr Prentice where just about everyone should be committed to the madhouse as from a simple mistake (Dr Prentice tries to seduce his new secretary) all hell breaks loose.

Let me just say this was only their second night and I left at the end with tears of laughter still rolling down my face, so sit back and enjoy. Very much a must see.