Lady Chatterley’s Lover - Shaftesbury (Limited Premiere)

OMG, I can't wait for this! If the previous works are anything to go by, we will be in for an absolute treat!!! I will never forget the evening of hysterical laughter from an audience of about 20 people in the stalls (with the circles all closed), whilst watching Too Close to the Sun. I felt for the cast but I just could not contain myself, it was impossible. LOL

Too Close was a very interesting night at the theatre. I got given a badge which I now proudly display on my coolbag and I look very cool at the Open Air theatre.

It's all really rather tragic.

Professor John Robinson is a retired aerospace engineer and academic - who, despite having no experience or training, dreamt of writing a hit musical. Following his wife's death he decided that he had to get his work to the west end. So he started his own production company to stage his three character musical "Behind The Iron Mask". He produced demo recordings, somehow managed to get investors and book the Duchess Theatre during a summer lull period in 2005. It got universally terrible reviews and posted notice two days later.

That would put most people off - but not John Robinson, who did the same thing again four years later with "Too Close to the Sun". This time it was the Comedy Theatre during a dark couple of summer months, and there were four people in the cast (though once again neither the cast nor the creative team could be described as A list - or even E for that matter). Again terrible reviews and the notice was posted immediately.

And now, more than a decade on, this, from the almost nonagenarian Professor Robinson who is presumably self-producing again (there's no producer listed on the press release). I suppose one should award full marks for persistence but none for awareness. It's difficulty not think that the offstage story is rather more interesting that anything we've seen or are likely to see from the good Professor's seemingly endless cannon of work. I know one shouldn't prejudge, and the old adage is third time lucky, but there's something rather unsavoury about proper theatre professionals taking money from him knowing his track record. 

Positioning this as a west end production is preposterous. Given the creatives - surely the Union Theatre is its natural home, where it could creep under the radar. I mean the total number of people who saw Behind the Iron Mask and Too Close to the Sun probably wouldn't even sell out two performances at the Shaftesbury - so there's no way this isn't going to be anything other than a financial disaster, and the idea of filming it to stream just beggars belief. And that's before acknowledging that as a concept it's a terrible idea.

Or maybe Max Bialystock is actually behind the whole thing.

Good flop - Moby Dick & Merrily we roll along*

Meh flop - Imagine This

And then we have Too close to the sun

*Original Broadway production.

Bu Sasha Regan is involved in this, and she is a brilliant and witty and imaginative director.
Duds - well metropolis was spectacular with some good tunes, and with Brian Blessed being blown up every night, but......

I’ve never seen his earlier works, but then neither has the vast majority of people by the sound of it. I guess I could be tempted to stream it later if it has a decent cast.

Does Sasha Regan cast people she’s already worked with? I imagine Oliver Savile would be perfect for Lady Chatterley’s bit of rough.

This can't be a good idea surely! No one should be singing during all those intimate romps in the barn. Although it might be fun to hear if they can find a fitting rhyme for 'throbbing' 🤣

I too went this afternoon. I have to say that I enjoyed it. It was great to be back in the theatre and as far as I could see people were socially distanced. There was a lot of room between the rows, great as I have long legs. On the way in we were asked to sign in with the COVID app and had our temperature taken..

The show was enjoyable. I liked the music and felt that the cast were great, particularly as they had learned their parts for just two shows. Each half was around 45 minutes. The end was a little confusing but all in all, great to be back in the theatre,