The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole - Ambassadors Theatre

Makes me wish we still had Ian Dury around to provide some lyrics.

I also saw this in Leicester and originally enjoyed Sue Townsend books, just like every other teenager did my age.

However it is very much a product of its time and when I saw this 3 years ago, it just seemed dated.

I will try and see the Menier production, but if i did miss it, I won't lose much sleep.

Tickets on sale as follows:

Souffle & Chocoholic Members - Monday 22nd May
Brownie Members - Wednesday 24th May
Cupcake Members - Friday 26th May
Public - Tuesday 30th May

Greggs ? The cheek of it. I'm Patterisie Valerie all the way ...

Casting now officially announced: www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/secret-diary-adrian-mole-menier-casting-dean-chisnall_43910.html

Dean Chisnall might leave the production 2 weeks early due to scheduling conflicts with Blood Brothers (autumn tour). Nothing confirmed yet though.

This is previewing now. Has anyone seen it? Any thoughts?

I can still squish one more show into my trip early September and this would be the front runner as I loved the Adrian Mole books back then. But I'm just not sure if the musical is worth it. So I'd love to hear some opinions.

Fwiw, my other ideas are "Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour" which closes that weekend - I'm very late to the party but I've read the book on which the play is based only now and think it would be worth it for the performances alone. Or 42nd Street. I saw the Chatelet version in Paris last winter and I've seen this particular staging in Germany eons ago, so I haven't rushed out to see this again, but of course I'm still curious. So, opinions please.

I'm hopefully seeing it tonight.

Saw this tonight, and loved it. Propulsive in it's staging, if not in it's narrative, faithful to the source material, this is a delightful, loveable, eccentric, joy from start to finish!

Some spoilers follow. . .

All the threads from the novel are there, as I recall, in this tale of an eventful year in the life of a teenage boy: the acne, the unfaithful mum, the rotter she falls for, the moping dad, the bully at school, the competition with his friend Nigel for the attention of new girl, Pandora. In fact, the only story thread that is short-changed is the acne, which was definitely far more significant and traumatic in the novel, and indeed, in most teenage lives.

And because there are so many story threads, the narrative is necessarily somewhat meandering.

But in every other way imaginable, I thought this was a gorgeous entertainment, full of love for people and period, graced with memorable songs, marvellous performances, and wonderfully eccentric, comedic moments.

Twice, all these elements came together to achieve the kind of magical and delirious set-pieces that make a musical unmissable and unforgettable: in the songs, "If You'd Lived" and "The Nativity," the former a wacky teenage version of "It's a wonderful Life," the latter the most bizarre and funny Nativity play you ever saw! It's worth attending just to see these set-pieces.

But all through there are delights. John Hopkins, no stranger to being very very silly, most memorably in "Ben Hur," is hilarious again, as the principal antagonist, a moustachioed, thrusting baritone, named Lucas, with more deep throbbing sex in his voice than Barry White. In the song "Begging You for More," he gets all Escamillo the bullfighter, in his passion for Adrian's mum, Pauline, and it's a laugh riot. Pauline is played beautifully by Kelly Price, sympathetic yet horrifically self-absorbed.

As Pauline's cuckolded husband, George, Dean Chisnall is as likeable and moving as his love rival is unlikeable and funny, the musical a triumphant blend of sentiment and comedy. Chisnall has the loveliest voice in the ensemble, duetting beautifully with Kelly Price on the songs, "I Miss Our Life" and "My Lost Love."

As for the kids, three share each role, but the central duo we got tonight, of Harry Potter lookalike Connor Davies, as Adrian Mole, and Hermione lookalike, Georgia Pemberton, as Pandora, were absolutely perfect: Davies channeling Adrian Mole's clueless resilience, while Pemberton channeled Pandora's poise and grace.

Overall, while meandering story threads do slow down the narrative, every single element of this show put a perma-smile on my face, which I can't seem to shift. Don't miss.

4 stars 😊

Seeing it on August 27th. Not my lucky day

Okay, makes sense! Tbh, I found 42nd Street a bit dire in Paris, I mean, yea, the tap dancing is great but the story is soooo lame.

Based on Steve's excellent review I'm now very close to booking Adrian Mole though. Waiting to hear 1-2 more reviews...  Still plenty seats available for the performance early September, might even treat myself to a Meal Deal, especially as it's only £8 more than a standard seat and I'd spend £8 even on a fast food lunch. 

Edit to ask: How long's the running time? I see the matinee doesn't start till 3.30pm and I need to be over at the National Theatre for Follies at 7.30pm that day...

I remember hearing that Dean is going back into Blood Brothers which starts again on the 29th August. 

Yes, that's the reason he is leaving early.