Tag: Paul Eddington

Playbill: The Browning Version & Harlequinade by Terence Rattigan, The Royalty Theatre, 26 April 1988

The Browning Version is one of Rattigan’s best known plays, originally performed, as it was in the production we saw, jointly with Harlequinade. This Wikipedia piece explains all that background and has good links.

I have little recollection of this particular production and midweek evening at the theatre with Bobbie.

Starry cast, we saw, with Paul Eddington and Dorothy Tutin as the Crocker-Harris couple in The Browning Version. The same cast and crew performed/produced both plays.

Here is the Theatricalia entry for this production of The Browning Version.

Below is Steve Goldman’s Guardian review:

Steve Goldman on RattiganSteve Goldman on Rattigan Mon, Mar 21, 1988 – 32 · The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com

Below is Kate Kellaway’s Observer review:

Kate Kellaway on RattiganKate Kellaway on Rattigan Sun, Mar 20, 1988 – 40 · The Observer (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com

I think I concluded that Rattigan isn’t really my thing when I saw these plays. It all seemed rather old-fashioned in style, although I do also recall that there were interesting themes and the plays were well written.

Bobbie might remember more…but I doubt it.

Jumpers by Tom Stoppard, Aldwych Theatre, With Annalisa, Johnboy & Mandy, 27 September 1985

The diary entry for that day reads:

Full day on [Financial Training] course – went to Annalisa’s -> meet John and Mandy. Saw Jumpers and had Chinese meal.

Again, nothing specific about the Chinese Restaurant. Probably Mayflower or Joy King Lau, is my guess.

Jumpers. I remember enjoying the play and the production without being bowled over by it. The cast was very 1970s/early 1980s sitcom heavy, which made them familiar, perhaps to excess. At least in those days you didn’t get sycophantic audiences giving “stars” standing ovations simply for turning up and walking on to the stage.

Here is the Theatricalia entry for the production. Peter Wood was a fine director and was especially adept at Stoppard, amongst others.

Here is some professional take on what we saw. Firstly, my friend, Michael Billlington, who liked it:

Jumpers Billington Guardian Jumpers Billington Guardian 2 Apr 1985 The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Francis King in the Sunday telegraph also liked it:

Jumpers Telegraph King Jumpers Telegraph King 7 Apr 1985 Sunday Telegraph (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

I sense that John Barber in The Daily Telegraph liked the production more than the play:

Jumpers Telegraph Barber Jumpers Telegraph Barber 2 Apr 1985 The Daily Telegraph (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Michael Radcliffe in the Observer, perhaps bedazzled by Felicity Kendall, had this one down as a “don’t miss”:

Jumpers Observer Radcliffe Jumpers Observer Radcliffe 7 Apr 1985 The Observer (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

I do remember the evening as a memorable and enjoyable night out with friends. One or more of them might chime in with memories of their own about it.