Backstairs Billy - Duke of York's

Hope you enjoy it, no running times listed yet as I doubt it has been fully timed yet. But as it opens on 27th Oct I'm sure the running times will be up well before you go to see it or someone on here will have been and will then give the timings.

I'm sure once the running time is published you could always phone the Ivy and change the time. But 9.45pm is presuming the play will be under 2 hours plus 15 mins interval. I wonder if you might be wise making the reservation a bit later. Maybe allow 2hours 30 mins. Always better to arrive early and relaxed than late and stressed. (But maybe that's just me).

Not sure if this was posted already but here’s the first look of Dame Penny and Luke in character and in costume:

http://instagram.com/p/CyDLTGOMg-3

Penelope’s smile reminds me of the late Queen Elizabeth II. She played QEII before, I think?

The show’s arrival is perfect, in time for the final season of The Crown on Netflix. They just announced yesterday that season 6 will be released in two parts - 16 Nov and 14 Dec. Similar strategy that Netflix has employed in some of their top shows (Stranger Things, The Witcher, The Glory). Even if QEQM is not The Crown’s main character, but anyone who likes some royal portrayals would also go to see Backstairs Billy.

Excellent likeness for both. I'm sure Billy would approve of Luke playing him. I had to look back at a photo of the Queen Mum from around 1980 as I still had the much older version of her in my mind and Dame Penny is an excellent likeness in character.

It will be interesting to hear what voice Penelope uses for the QM as there aren't that many recordings of her in later years as she didn't make that many speeches and only gave a couple of informal interviews that were broadcast.

With the quality of the cast and such interesting characters I'd hope it is a good play. I'd think that Luke and Dame Penelope accepted the roles should mean they like the script which should be a good starting point.

The QM cannot really be too comedy but me might find she "gets a bit tipsy" perhaps. Luke can probably have a more freer reign with Billy and switch from fawning, bitchy, being very OTT and I can see him having a lot of fun with the role especially the mannerisms and things like serving the drinks. He'll have a lot of props to play with so can put extra bits in with the director and see what works and doesn't.

Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen is one of the sharpest, smartest and laugh out loud funny plays I've seen. I can't wait to see it again when it opens at the Bush next month, so I have high hopes for this. Exciting to get a double whammy off and on the West End from a truly promising new playwright.

Folks, for future reference please use the Noticeboard and PM  for ticket sales/giveaways. Cheers. 

This really doesn't appear to be selling so am hoping for everyone's sake that its good!

I wouldn't say they are equal star castings tbh.

Yeah, although Luke Evans never seems to have fully broken through to mainstream fame. Yes he did BATB, but aside from that his movie cv is more miss than hit (or a supporting role). People like him, but not enough to be excited (and pay) to see him

My personal view is he also isn't that great an actor either. Quite samey.

If Downton was still on penelope might be more of a draw. But again she's never quite got the same level of fame/love compared to some of the other dames.

Cards on the table: I'm an ardent anti-royalist. I loathe the monarchy -- how they behave, what it represents, and how it acts as the keystone to the British class hierarchy, keeping all others in their place -- with a passion.

So how detached could I be to enjoy a play about that most beloved of royals, the Queen Mum, and her relationship with her flamboyant Page of the Backstairs? It helps that she famously kept her personality out of the public spotlight, so much so that we barely knew how her voice sounded. Writer Marcelo Dos Santos has this to his advantage, because he can create a largely fictional persona and narrative, and it doesn't really matter.

And guess what? It's a total hoot! I haven't laughed this much in ages. And it has two real corgis! What more could you ask for?

The players are uniformly good, including some who double up in quite different roles as various visitors to Clarence House.

There's a scene near the end that will be marmite as to how you respond. I thought it didn't work in its current form in this early preview, but I managed to not let that put me off.

The set is sumptuous, and Michael Grandage's direction is expertly judged, apart from that late scene.

Simply because I had such a good time: five stars.

Act 1: 19:36-20:38
Act 2: 20:59-21:57