Tag: Patricia Budden

Peggy for You by Alan Plater, Hampstead Theatre, 27 December 1999

Our last show of the old millennium.

We rated the play/production “good”.

What was not to like? Maureen Lipman as Peggy Ramsey, with sound support from Tom Espiner, Selina Griffiths, Richard Platt and Crispin Redman, all ably directed by Robin Lefevre.

Here is a link to the Theatricalia entry for this play/production.

Yes, the show was a bit of a luvvy-fest but what else might you expect in the circumstances?

Susannah Clapp in The Observer preferred Mnemonic:

Mnemonic & Peggy Susannah ClappMnemonic & Peggy Susannah Clapp 28 Nov 1999, Sun The Observer (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Our friend, Michael Billington really liked it:

Peggy Billington GuardianPeggy Billington Guardian 24 Nov 1999, Wed The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Paul Taylor in The Independent was entertained but thought that Maureen Lipman as Peggy was a case of miscastology…so at least Maureen got an ology I suppose and for sure she spent a lot of time during the play on the phone.

Peggy Taylor IndependentPeggy Taylor Independent 24 Nov 1999, Wed The Independent (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

The Closing Number by Mladen Materic, Hampstead Theatre, 5 April 1991

Hmm, my memory on this one is very poor.

My diary says I went to see this play with Jilly. Possibly someone Jilly knew/knows had something to do with it.

The performers were Tony Anthony, Denise Wong, Phil Daniels and Kate France. Materic directed the piece himself and it was a Shared Experience production; possibly the first of theirs I saw.

There’s a good interview with Mladen Materic in The List from that time, about this production – linked here. A rare on-line resource from that era.

Michael Billington to the rescue! He previewed the thing in The Guardian – what would we do without him?

Billington Previews Closing NumberBillington Previews Closing Number Thu, Mar 14, 1991 – 31 · The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com

Michael Coveney reviewed it in The Observer – let’s just say he didn’t much like the show.

Michael Coveney on Closing NumberMichael Coveney on Closing Number Sun, Mar 24, 1991 – 60 · The Observer (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com

As for my poor recollection of the evening – perhaps Jilly can come to the rescue on that aspect.