Since I’m now in London, I want to share a few theatre reviews with you.  The trip kicked off with Noel Coward’s Hay Fever starring Christine Baranski and Richard E. Grant.  Certainly nobody needs me to share my two pence about this classic drawing room comedy.  Baranski is almost ideally cast as the sharp-tongued fading actress, and yet her concentration on getting the accent right threatened to mar her otherwise stellar performance.  By the second act, she had fully relaxed into the role and gave it her all.  Richard E. Grant never disappoints.  In fact, the entire ensemble is fantastic.  So is the set, which is extraordinarily detailed.  If you can’t make it to London, don’t panic – the play will be televised via National Theatre Live on January 14^th.

During the interval of Hay Fever, it seemed everyone in the theatre got word about the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart.  It was almost poetic to hear this news while seeing a play in London’s West End, where I first met him.  On the Tube, I got word of Barbara Barrie’s brave choice to end her life with medical assistance.  It was a few hours later in my flat that a friend rang me about the passing of my dear friend, Elke Sommer.  All three were very special people, and the world suddenly seemed a bit more drab with their passing.

It struck me as awfully strange to see people bopping their heads to, “We need him crucified, it’s all you have to do.”  I really don’t ever need to see Jesus Christ Superstar again…ever.  The production at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane has had various celebrities playing King Herod, so I went specifically to see Matt Bomer.  He was preceded in the role by people like Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Bob the Drag Queen.  I expect they effortlessly fit into this production.  The role is small and thankless, and I know I will appear both small and thankless in criticizing Bomer.  But, alas, I don’t believe it’s an effortless fit.  He’s dressed as a gay matador – as if that’s not redundant.  He doesn’t look particularly comfortable (or fetching), he doesn’t sound particularly comfortable (or fetching), and his acting doesn’t appear particularly comfortable (or, you guessed it, fetching).  And I want Matt Bomer comfortable…and fetching!  What can you say about a production where instead of being whipped, Jesus is splattered with gold glitter?  39 times!  I’ve had nights like that which were comfortable…and fetching!  Anyway, the audience totally loved the crucifixion, and Sam Ryder delivers as Jesus.  Special kudos to Tyrone Huntley, who is a dynamic, energetic, and buff Judas, and to David Thaxton, who is a scene-stealing Pontius Pilate.  As to Bomer, you can judge him for yourself on BillyMasters.com.

By the by, Glenn Close will play Herod when the show closes on January 9, 2027.  Where else can you see Close, Bomer and Bob the Drag Queen in the same role?  Aside from this…and perhaps Sunset Boulevard.

This next story is one that has a shelf life of literally two minutes.  So we’ll be fleet of fingers and tell you that Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors is being presented at Theatre Raleigh through November 8^th.  I’m only pointing it out because Dracula is being embodied by our pal Nick Adams.  The play has been directed by Telly Leung, and he knows how to show off every inch of Adams’ body in addition to his more thespianistic muscles.  The video clips I’ve seen show him in as good physical shape as ever, and he certainly is, dare I say, a fetching bloodsucker.  Is the show any good?  Who knows?  It’s playing through the end of the week, so it’s almost worth a trip to Raleigh.