New plays to see

For fine acting the famous MRS WARREN’S PROFESSION**** (Garrick Theatre until 16 August) is the play to see.

Imelda Staunton plays the title role while her real-life daughter, Bessie Carter, plays her daughter Vivie.  While it might seem a bit dated the themes around women and their economic status are still valid. Director Dominic Cooke has pulled together a fine cast to tell George Bernard Shaw’s story of a mother bringing up her daughter alone in the late 19 .  Rejecting the awful plight of her sister working in a factory, Kitty (Imelda Staunton) uses sex work to set up business as a Madam. She funds the education of her daughter, Vivie (Bessie Carter) who now wants to enter the legal profession. 

Pic by Johan Persson

Estranged from her mother for many years, Vivie knows nothing of her mother’s wealth.  The two meet and through the revelations of Mrs Warren’s business partner (Robert Glenister), Vivie’s suitor (Reuben Joseph) and his nervous father (Kevin Doyle) Vivie is forced to come to terms with her mother’s business dealings.  Carter shows that she has real acting chops and Staunton gives another wonderful characterisation. Set and costumes enhance the production.

Pic by Marc Brenner

Summer has arrived and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is flourishing. Now showing Arthur Miller’s THE CRUCIBLE **** (until 12 July) the audience is treated to a classic American play.  This allegory about McCarthy and his pursuit of alleged communists is here given contemporary relevance with its emphasis on mass hysteria as young girls accuses others of being witches. An open air setting is perhaps not the most appropriate for the depiction of a Court of Law and family homes, but the production by Ola Ince is effective and the audience laps up the tension and hysteria that sweeps through Salem, Massachusetts in the 17th century.

If you see no other musical this year, you must go to the revival of the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s FIDDLER ON THE ROOF***** (Barbican Theatre, London until 19 July then touring the country into 2026).  The musical portrays the hard times of the poor Jewish families who live in a tiny community in Tsarist Russia in the early 20th century. Persecuted by random attacks from Russian soldiers and suffering from acute poverty the musical manages to have uplifting songs as well as very moving ones. The 1964 musical shows the milkman, Tevye (Adam Dannheisser), his wife Golde (Lara Pulver), and their five daughters navigating their way through life.

Pic: Marc Brenner

Speaking to God from time to time, Tvye asks for His help in negotiating his daughters’ marriages and how to help his neighbours survive. It is full of the most marvellous songs including: ‘Tradition,’ ‘Sunrise, Sunset,’ ‘To Life,’ and, of course, ‘If I Were a Rich Man.’ There is wonderful choreography including a heart-stopping bottle dance, when young men balance bottles on their heads while dancing.

Book now to see in London or at a theatre near your group.

Written by

CARLIE NEWMAN