View this Article in Magnus
Edit this Article in Magnus
 

2 must-see shows: Jeeves & Wooster and wildlife photography

If you only see two things by the end of the year, make it these ....

by Bernadette Fallon

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

Comment Print

Post your comment

About This Blog

Escaping to the country, abroad or just down the road for a long weekend – exploring the world around you. Follow our team of staff writers and add your comments to kick off the debate.
Read more Subscribe to this blog via RSS

About The Authors

Alice  Jones

Alice Jones

Alice Jones is intern on All About You; she has an obsession for all things fashion and beauty related.

Read more
Carla  Griscti

Carla Griscti

Editorial assistant on allaboutyou; Music lover, travel bee and food fanatic.

Read more
Emma Marsden

Emma Marsden

Food consultant of All About You, loves creating something out of nothing and decluttering.

Read more
Nola  Ojomu

Nola Ojomu

Freelance contributor to All About You. Mission - to have the perfect eyebrows

Read more
Harriet  Edgar

Harriet Edgar

All About You intern; likes fashion, jogging, blogging and EastEnders

Read more
Bernadette  Fallon

Bernadette Fallon

Editor of All About You; an online journalist with a fetish for glossy magazines.

Read more
Adrienne  Wyper

Adrienne Wyper

Deputy editor of All About You. I love cycling, cooking and creating

Read more
Carol  Muskoron

Carol Muskoron

Associate editor of All About You, loves life (mostly) and one-pan recipes (always).

Read more
Rachael  Ashley

Rachael Ashley

SHE's deputy editor and single mum of two embodies the SHE motto 'Busy and loving it!'

Read more
Kate Gilbert

Kate Gilbert

Lifestyle Co-ordinator Good Housekeeping; believes in style,substance and big girl shoes.

Read more
Marie  Campbell

Marie Campbell

Marie Campbell is assistant to the editor at SHE and also writes for the lifestyle pages.

Read more
Natalie  Glock

Natalie Glock

Editorial assistant on All About You; a Parisian in training and amateur baker.

Read more
Ruth  Chandler

Ruth Chandler

Assistant features editor on Country Living, Ruth lives on a smallholding in rural Essex.

Read more
Julia  Goodwin

Julia Goodwin

Editor of House Beautiful since 2006, Julia has been a journalist for over 30 years.

Read more
Josa Young

Josa Young

Josa Young is a writer, cook and internet content consultant.

Read more

MORE FROM ALLABOUTYOU

View by magazine : View by magazine Prima
production
Page built from scratch in 1 wallclock secs ( 0.57 usr + 0.01 sys = 0.58 CPU) (click to hide)