What makes a good show? That’s what I found myself asking as I left one of London’s theatres a few weeks ago, shortly after burbling a slightly dazed “THAT WAS AMAZING” at the very polite usher bidding us all goodnight (whatever they’re getting paid is truly not enough).
Of course there’s all the technical stuff – are the actors reading their lines off their hands, can they get around the stage without bumping into anything, or indeed, falling off it, did the lights go on and off at the right time, etc, etc. But I feel we’ve reached a stage now where this sort of thing is a rudimentary minimum; if you’re still having these problems come previews you either cancel the performance, or you’re in The Play That Goes Wrong. Continue reading
Riot in the Cheap Seats 