Showtime Rich May 09 23/4/09 12:05 Page 1
SHOWTIME
CHOICE
Richmond Theatre
Look to the West
The Playboy of the Western
World – One of Ireland’s
He’s one of Britain’s most accomplished actors. But beware of
most celebrated theatre
companies, Druid, performs
boring him on the phone. Lucy Johnston gives Timothy West
a story of love, rivalry and
a bell as he heads for the local stage Lucy Johnston
betrayal. JM Synge’s comic email: editorial@sheengate.co.uk
masterpiece tells the tale of
Christy Mahon, who
stumbles into a pub
A
spring morning in Kingston, where a new
production of an old favourite is on its way.
The Winslow Boy, Terence Rattigan’s classic
claiming to have killed his tale of a pupil wrongly expelled for theft, comes to
father and captures the The Rose Theatre this month. Rehearsals begin
heart of local girl Pegeen
today, but before they do, Timothy West phones me
Mike.
from home for a chat. The time is 9am.
May 19-23
“We have five weeks of rehearsal time, which is
Box office: 0870 060 6651
pretty generous for this industry,” explains the
Orange Tree Theatre
seasoned character actor, husband of Prunella Scales,
whose big break came in 1975 with the title role in
Factors Unforseen – Written
ITV’s Edward the Seventh. “Mind you,” he reflects
by Michel Vinaver, Factors
in his wonderfully honed voice, “it’s a complex play,
Unforseen tells the story of a
with 11 cast members – quite a lot by today’s
small French cosmetic
standards. It seems to be trendy now to have as few
company at which business
people on stage as possible.”
centres on a popular suntan
So how did he land the part of Arthur, father of
lotion. But company sales the accused, in this production?
plummet when a young and “I’ve known and worked with Stephen Unwin
beautiful princess, dying of
(Artistic Director at the Rose) for years. And Peter
skin cancer, agrees to be
Hall is also a good friend, you see, so I’ve been
interviewed regularly in the
involved with the Rose since its conception. I think
weeks leading up to her
it’s a marvellous project.”
excuse to hang up. You’re not boring though,” he
Indeed it is, I agree, adding that I’ve also spent
death. An incredible story
chuckles, “so not to worry!”
quite a bit of time there recently – deliberately with
of growth, collapse and re-
I try a chuckle of my own. A weak chuckle, in
Stephen and accidentally with Alistair McGowan.
growth, all in the name of
truth, as I now feel a bit on trial. Best to hurry on and
Chewing the fat before shows in Carluccio’s, just
global capitalism.
ask whether, in addition to his stage and TV
around the corner, is fast becoming a way of life.
April 29 – May 30
appearances, he has ever tried his hand at directing.
“Ah yes, Stephen and I have had the odd meal
Box office: (020) 8940 3633
“I have in the past, though not for a good couple of
there too,” says Timothy. “I’m so glad you like the
years now. I seem to be all booked up with being on
Rose Theatre, Kingston
theatre. I think the public are perhaps a little
stage for the next year or so. Although, with the
The Winslow Boy – Timothy
reluctant to engage with an unfamiliar venue and,
economy the way it is, you never quite know if
West heads the cast in this
for new theatre audiences, taking that first step over
something might be cancelled or postponed, so you
powerful drama, based on
the threshold can be a bit daunting. But whenever I
can’t really make definite plans,” he sighs.
a true court case. Terence
go to the Rose it’s full of people, which is wonderful.”
Still, as a South-West London resident, and a good
And the answer to the question?
Rattigan’s celebrated play friend of Richmond Theatre, he must have inked in
“Ah yes, sorry. So, Stephen and I were looking
depicts a father’s attempts to the theatre’s 110th birthday celebrations this year?
around for a play to do together, as it‘s been a while.
clear his son’s name, in
The Winslow Boy seemed just the ticket. It’s going to
“Oh yes, absolutely,” he enthuses. “Another
defiance of the naval
be great getting the cast in the same room for the first
superb venue. There is some talk of doing Pirates of
establishment (see right).
time and working together on bringing the play to
Penzance, I think, though don’t quote me…”
May 7-30
life. The days of the autocratic director who tells you
He sings too?
Box office: 0871 230 1552 how it’s going to be are over, thank god!”
“Oh goodness me, no,” he growls. “I’ll just be
Precedent, however, is a powerful force. Is it not
attending in support. Getting me to sing would need
New Wimbledon Theatre
difficult to invigorate a play without being unduly
a whole lot more warning than this!”
Dancing Queen – Time to
influenced by previous productions, or – as in this
a73 The Winslow Boy is at The Rose Theatre, Kingston
dig out your flares and
case – a celebrated version on screen?
from May 7-30. Tel: 0871 230 1552
head back in time, as the
“No, not really. We live in a world of revivals at
curtain goes up on the best
Back on the bridge
the moment, so really the way in which a previous Arthur Miller’s A View From the Bridge is one of the
Abba party in town. With
director has staged a play or shot a film should be most brilliant and unsettling plays of the past
all your favourite hits, such
irrelevant. And once you get into character, and meet
century – and the new revival may turn out to be the
as Knowing Me Knowing
the rest of the cast, you tend to forget what you’ve
best production yet. Directed by Olivier Award-
You, Money Money Money
seen before anyway. You get immersed in discovering
winner Lindsay Posner, it stars Ken Stott, whose
and Take a Chance on Me,
the character for yourself.”
performance as dock worker Eddie Carbone has
this glittering production will The doorbell rings. Does he need to answer?
been described as both “mesmerising” and “inducing
have you dancing all night “No, no, it’s okay,” he assures me. “Someone is
shudders of revulsion”.
long.
dealing with it. I must say though that sometimes, if
Then again, what would you expect from a man
May 12-16
the person on the phone is particularly boring, I get
who once shone as Adolf Hitler?
Box office: 0870 060 6646
someone to ring the bell on purpose, so I have an
a73 Richmond Theatre, May 26-30. Tel: 0870 060 6651
www.richmondmagazine.co.uk 65
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