The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole - Ambassadors Theatre

It's a brand new musical, with no stars in the cast, at a fringe venue. There is no reason why it would sell out. But it's doing pretty well for saying

I saw it tonight after seeing it first at Curve and loved it and think it's a hell of a show. There's nothing more cringey in this than there is in The Book Of Mormon or something which has done fairly well for itself.

I believe the lad playing Adrian has only just joined the cast for some reason or is some cover or something and it was his first one and he was great.

One thing i thought when watching last night is the fact that despite being a show with children and featuring child main characters that the story is set around, it's strangely actually much more for adults it seems to me.  I think there are things for children to enjoy and the children in the audience seemed to find it funny and entertaining, but all the jokes and references are going to go over their heads and are aimed at the adults that either lived through the era or are old enough to at least be aware of the time ans there are also  bits of sexual innuendo and such obviously for the adults that kids wouldn't pick up on. I also think that there's an element of adults going to ark back to their own childhood or being a parent in that era , i heard loads of people get excited over some of the toys and features of the set and such. The songs and set pieces were visually entertaining for children but the lyrics, jokes and dialogue aimed at older and more knowing mind

This doesn't seem to have been a popular choice for forum members as we are only on page 4 of the thread. Although it didn't sell out like the Christmas shows usually do its certainly not been a flop. The summer offering by the Menier has often been a bit of a hard sell. I can think of Life of the Party and What's it all about, both of which I loved but never sold out.

Anyway I finally got to see Adrian Mole today and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great cast, especially the children. Catchy songs and some very funny lines. There were quite a few children there who seemed to enjoy it but the humour was defiantly aimed at the adults. Reminded me a bit of panto which is often on 2 levels. There were some very funny bits especially the nativity scene which was hilarious.
I, for one, had a right old giggle and spent the interval spotting the old games and toys on the set.

I see where you are coming from and understand. But don't forget the NT is heavily subsidised by the tax payer and sponsorship and fringe theatre gets zilch so they have to cover their costs from somewhere.

I think some places like the idea that they are too expensive for some people. Ditto some Theatre goers (see a recently self-deleted herb).

Hi everyone!

does anyone know what time the mattinee lets out on a Saturday?
xx

Thank you!
xxx

Oh yay! So happy about this. I really love some of the songs. It might be true that there are no massive stand outs or ones you can't stop humming but they all fit into the show so well and are all very clever.

Saw this tonight at the Mernier. First of I'll start with the positives. The child playing Adrian Mole is excellent and never off the stage in over 2 hours. The girl playing Pandora too - super talented so hats off to those talented young people. Barry James is worth the ticket alone. What fun. He is simply superb as the old man. The show also had some super one liners, witty lyrics and yes, I also loved the set with Mr Pop, Orvil the duck and many other games, posters and magazines that are full of 80's nostalgia. It's a sweet show and has a nice book/story and I enjoyed parts of it.

Now to the bad. The music is generally terrible. With a different composer (not lyrics) this show might have been a hit. I also never really understood who this show was aimed at - children or adults because it doesn't really fit with either. Some dodgy Leicester accents on stage, some bad casting (understudies were on I think), some of the book/songs need cutting (the nativity and other parts) and too many actors playing multiple roles (hire more). Ultimately as a show it's a real three star of a musical. It didn't set me alight like so many others do. The boy playing Nigel tonight was also the most OTT gurning performer I have ever seen grace the London stage.

Even in the serious parts regarding relationships, it was a mixture of cringing and laughing - are you laughing at them, with them or for them? Over all I give it 6/10. I think there is a good show in there somewhere but they haven't found it yet and I doubt it will transfer.

The Mernier also need to lower their prices. It's now too expensive for a fringe theatre. It shouldn't be about selling tickets to only a middle class audience of 30-60 year olds.

Well. The child labour law people should be all over this show like a rash. They're acting, singing, dancing AND pushing the furniture and set around. I bet they've got them washing the costumes and sweeping out the chimneys afterwards too.

It's a fun show, a couple of tunes which were catchy for around 20 minutes afterwards and some great performances. Lara Denning as Doreen/Miss Elf almost steals the show but John Hopkins OWNS the show in the dual role of Mr Scruton and the slimy next-door neighbour Mr Lucas. Not only does he look completely foxy with his moustache but that voice is like being covered in a giant melted bar of Galaxy. Mixed with double cream. And brandy. No wonder Pauline ran off with him. I would have done.

Ilan Galkoff was Adrian on the night I saw it. And very good he was too.

Well I saw the mattinee on Saturday and I really really enjoyed it. I saw it a few years ago in Leicester and it has drastically been improved. I thoroughly enjoyed this version. What a fab afternoon at the theatre apart from a slightly uncomfortable situation at the end of the show

Ah, thought so. Curve teased this the other day on twitter.

Can i just say this is the 3rd run of the production and the 3rd artwork. Can they not stick to 1? LOL