Tag: Jane Robinson

Equally Divided by Ronald Harwood, Richmond Theatre, 24 October 1998

We were on a Richmond kick that quarter, for some reason, with three visits to The Orange Tree and two visits to the Richmond Theatre. Coincidence really, I should imagine.

Janie liked it more than I did.

That is my log’s pithy conclusion.

Excellent cast, with Stephanie Cole, Stephanie Beacham, Benjamin Whitrow & Gerald Harper. Christopher Morahan directed it. A transfer from Bath, as was often the case at Richmond.

Here is the Theatricalia entry.

Here is Jody Lindbeck’s take on it in the local gazettes:

Equally GazetteEqually Gazette 23 Oct 1998, Fri Ealing and Acton Gazette (Ealing, London, England) Newspapers.com

Reading that review 25 years later, all I can think of is the wonderful Peter Cook quote: “I go to the theatre to be entertained. I don’t want to see plays about rape, sodomy and drug addiction – I can get all that at home.“

Torch Song Trilogy by Harvey Fierstein, Albery Theatre, 2 January 1986

This image of Antony Sher from newspapers.com, 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 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 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 Torch Shulman Standard 2 Oct 1985 Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

That’s horribly near the bone, Shulman.