Good shows in London

The best part about being in London for two weeks is the chance to see shows.  I also checked out the London Triathlon and a couple blues bars, but the real entertainment to be had is on stage.  I've seen a good variety of shows lately, so I thought I might share what I've seen and what I thought of them.

Macbeth, by William Shakespeare
I've always enjoyed watching Shakespeare's plays live far more than reading them, and The Globe is an amazing place to watch them.  £5 is all it takes to get a ticket to stand in "the yard" right next to the stage.  The plays start with music and end with a dance.  It's quite a trip.  The intensity of emotion from Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were simply astonishing, and I even had the pleasure of seeing Billy Boyd (of Lord of the Rings and Master and Commander fame) as Banquo.  Really, there's no less expensive and more enjoyable way to spend an afternoon in London.

The Pirates of Penzance, by Gilbert & Sullivan
I've been curious for a long time to check out some of the works of Gilbert & Sullivan.  Their comic operas were really the first step toward modern musicals.  This one was hilarious.  If I were still directing musicals, I'd seriously consider doing this one.  There pirates that refuse to be ruthless, blundering cops, dancing ladies, sword fights, and a major general that brags about his smarts.  What's not to like?  The production I saw was actually just a community theater show, but even that was great.  There must be a ridiculous amount of talent here.

A Chorus Line, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban and a book by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante
I've been meaning to see this one for a long time.  I remember Mom enjoying the movie when I was young, but I didn't like musicals much then.  Honestly, I'm still more of a play man today.  This turned out to be one of my favorite musicals ever.  The story and characters were so much more interesting than most musicals, and the set up was amazingly simple.  It followed an audition for a Broadway show and basically just went right down the line introducing and exploring all the characters.  One part that truly wowed me was when the back wall became all mirrors (it did this periodically, as though in a real dance room) during a big solo.  It was like I could see the stage from the perspective of this star, and it was a chilling feeling to see the audience and the lights from that vantage point.  It was like putting an exclamation point on the statement of "This is why we want to be on stage so much."  Great show.

The Curious Incident About the Dog in the Nighttime, by Mark Haddon, adapted by Simon Stephens
This was a popular book, and the National Theater of London put on a production last year that won more Olivier Awards (British version of the Tony's) than any play before it.  The production grew beyond its home in the National Theater and moved to the West End, just like War Horse did.  The play is about a teenager with asperger's who tries to find out who killed a neighbor's dog.  It's a mystery, but told from a first person perspective.  It's also a technological extravaganza with lights and projectors doing a large amount of the work of setting up scenes.  The stage itself is one big square grid that looks like a holodeck.  In the end, they actually explain a mathematical solution in a way that makes me think I really need to step up my game in the classroom.

Private Lives, by Noel Coward
I'd actually seen this play before, but I had to see a British production.  Noel Coward is a master of banter in a distinctively English way.  There are only 5 people in the play, and it's really mainly about two of them.  Elyot and Amanda are old lovers who mistakenly meet on their 2nd honeymoons 5 years after they had divorced.  They are obviously still in love, and they bicker and flirt in the most adorable way.  This is a classic show from the 1930's, and to me, it's dialog is no less hilarious today.  The last time I saw this show was in Annapolis, so suffice is to say this was quite a step up.  It's amazing what money and incredible actors can do for a show.

The Mouse Trap, by Agatha Christie
This is the longest running play in West End history.  It's a basic whodunit in classic Agatha Christie style, set in a snowed in guest house in the English countryside.  I'd been thinking of doing a Christie play sometime, and this may very well have been the one.  It's a unit set (no scene changes), and the house has lots of hidden passages.  It's a great show all around, and after the final bows, the cast actually make a request that "Now you know who done it, and we ask you to keep that secret in your hearts."  It's worth keeping the secret, because they do a fantastic job of making you suspect everyone in the house.  Great show.

The Book of Mormon, by Matt Stone, Trey Parker, and Robert Lopez
I had to see this show, and it's damn near impossible in New York.  It's having just as much success in London, but I was able to get a ticket.  I spent more on this ticket than several other shows combined, but I did not feel even a little ripped off.  This show is brilliant.  Matt Stone and Trey Parker are the South Park guys, and if you know anything about their work, you know they write intelligently vulgar comedy.  They also incorporate music into their work anyway.  Robert Lopez wrote the music for Avenue Q, a South Park-esque parody of muppets.  These three made natural partners, and how can you not have fun writing songs about missionary work?  As much of a parody as it is, it is actually not as cruel as you might expect it to be.  Then again, I'm not Mormon, so I probably shouldn't make a judgement there.  Personally, I loved it, which surprises no one.  The music is amazing, the plot and characters are actually interesting, and the material is relevant.  I laughed harder than I've laughed at any musical since Little Shop of Horrors.

So, these are some of the kinds of shows I like.  These past two weeks in London, I've found myself wanting to see shows more than anything else.  So, I've been indulging.