This image from newspapers.com on licence, click here or Observer embed below.
I went to see this one with Marianne Gilmour. Unfortunately I didn’t get/keep a programme, but I do remember it being a long, but very entertaining, evening of theatre.
My first sighting of Antony Sher live, no doubt. I vaguely recall that the idea of going to see this show was entirely predicated on the notion that both Marianne and I wanted to see Anthony Sher on stage.
Here’s my diary entry for that day:
Thursday 2 January 1986 – Went to Finsbury Park to do stocktake at Sam Phillips – ok – spent most of day there + then went back to office. Met Marianne – went round shops -> Chinese food meal -> Torch Song Trilogy (Antony Sher) – V. good indeed. Went back to Stanmore with Marianne & stayed there.
There was more to it than Anthony Sher. My sense is that the whole cast and production was very good, although I found the musical element of it a bit camp and shmaltzy. But you can hardly complain about that if you go to see a show named Torch Song Trilogy, can you?
Here is a link to the Theatricalia entry for this production.
Here’s what the experts said. Step forth, Michael Radcliffe in the Observer:
Torch Radcliffe Observer 6 Oct 1985 The Observer (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
My friend Michael Billington was not convinced by the play but was convinced by Anthony Sher:
Torch Billington Guardian 3 Oct 1985 The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Milton Shulman in the Standard hated the play and also derides Sher’s performance as being:
…like a harassed Jewish accountant in need of large doses of chicken soup.
Torch Shulman Standard 2 Oct 1985 Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
That’s horribly near the bone, Shulman.