If you only see two things by the end of the year, make it these ....
If you spend most of it laughing, it's a good evening I reckon. And by that measure, Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense at London's Duke of York theatre is an exceptionally good evening.
Stephan Mangan plays Wooster and, while never being a huge fan of 'Green Wing' (it was a bit too silly, even if that was that point), I now suddenly love him. He's excellent in this - hammy, a bit stuffy, yet endearingly idiotic - only a truly talented actor could pull this off and not turn the character into hammy and stuffy for real. I am henceforth a groupie.
Matthew Macfayden is Jeeves - smooth, sophisticated, ironic, sardonic, he's just the right shade of smug to make it work. But possibly the real star of the show, who pulls off the best comic lines and turns in this very funny script, is Mark Hedfield as Seppings the butler.
The plot is drawn largely from PG Wodehouse's third book in the Jeeves & Wooster series, 'The Code of the Woosters', published in 1938. Detailing the previous 24 hours in the life of Bertie Wooster, it's the perfect way to represent a book on stage - making the characters demonstrate the story as it unfolds, acting out the parts of all the players involved - a book brought to life, a play within a play, using the audience as real-time witnesses. It's a dramatic device that is used to great comic effect but needs experienced actors to carry it - lucky we are in capable hands here
I thoroughly recommend it, and may even go back to see it again. It’s at Duke of York's, St Martin's Lane, until March 2014; book at 0844 8717615 or or www.atgtickets.com
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013
If you haven’t yet seen the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 exhibition but are thinking about it, I urge you to go. If you’re not thinking about it, I urge you even more strongly.
Running at the National History Museum until March 23 2014, if you only see one exhibition in the next few months, this should be it. Because there can’t be many places in London – or the world – where you can experience the thrill of a tiger cub staring into your eyes, or of watching a baby elephant in motion, his back leg a blur as he dashes past you. Where you can have your heart moved to melting point by a pair of drenched baby gorilla twins, cuddled in the arms of their mother, and where you can almost catch the screams of two jaguars, leaping at each other, teeth bared.
Moving, magnificent, majestic - images that will stay with you long after you’ve left all the lemurs and baby lions behind.
It’s a very popular show, particularly at weekends, and was completely sold out the day I visited – so it’s best to book in advance. Tickets: adults £12, children £6 (age 3 and under free), family £33 (up to 2 adults and 3 children). More information on the website.
Visiting the Natural History Museum? Where to eat nearby
Coming soon
There's still a chance to snap up last minute tickets for Brahms Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday November 20, performed by St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society, with proceeds going to the Eve Appeal; tickets from £7.50 to £38, booking and full information here
Book now for 2014! Conor McPherson's 'The Weir' was one of the most talked-about hits of the theatrical year - you couldn't get tickets for love nor money (I know, I tried) - so book early for its transfer to the West End. It is set in a small Irish rural pub and has been described as 'haunting' and 'a modern classic'. Featuring the original cast of Risteárd Cooper, Brian Cox, Dervla Kirwan, Peter McDonald and Ardal O’Hanlon, it previews at Wyndham's Theatre from January 16 2014. Tickets from £10 to £55, with £10 tickets available on the day of performance, for more information and to book visit www.theweirlondon.co.uk
For great value theatre breaks- hotel accommodation and tickets to top shows at discounted prices - visit www.superbreak.com
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