Tag: Rupert Frazer

The White Devil by John Webster, Olivier Theatre, 6 July 1991

My log from the time simply says:

Josette Simon was indisposed the night we went, which was a real shame.

I can now exclusively reveal that the understudy we saw instead was Souad Faress. I subsequently did get to see Josette Simon; in The Maids, a few years later. Bobbie might not have been so lucky.

I’m not sure I was wild about the play either. Jacobean tragedies don’t always float my boat and I have a feeling that I sensed that this one wasn’t entirely my cup of tea. The White Devil is heavy on courtly intrigue and light on laughs.

Fine cast as always with a National production, with Eleanor Bron and Denis Quilley as the big draw names along with Josette Simon. Philip Prowse directed. Here is the Theatricalia entry for this production.

Michael Billington was not so keen on this one, claiming that it wasted the actors:

Billington on White DevilBillington on White Devil Thu, Jun 20, 1991 – 23 · The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com

Whereas Michael Coveney loved the production:

Coveney on White DevilCoveney on White Devil Sun, Jun 23, 1991 – 61 · The Observer (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.com

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.