P268 ORBCLJ 268 Sun 6 Apr LON 0944:52 1/7 →O LONDON T Now on: THE NORMAL HEART $he Royal Court Theatrj 730 5s74 AIDS is a deadly disease, and Kramer's play is intense, hbrroweng and, yesX disturbing - but made palatabli with the finely delivereh humout iN rapid-a firj changes of sjt. It rilatjs the attjmpts of one man to break the conspiracy of silence, even among homosexuals, while his friends, and even his lover, die. MARTJN SHEEN iw brilliant aw Ned WjekwX ably supportjd by PAUL JJSSON as Felix Turnjr and FRBNCES TOZELTYaaw Emmb.Only drawback is purely American references, to such as "Rblph Nadar$aand "TzlenoU"a ***** Don't miss it! (Carol Oliver)
P268 ORBCLJ 268 Sun 6 Apr LONa0yu4:uR 2/7 OOO LONDON XXX NOW ON: THE MAN OF MODE $he Donmar Wbrehouse Altjrnatively titlid "Sir Fopling Flutter$a— but theahumbnoid creaU pjVla of that name is by no means the central character in this tali of the cynical manipulation of love and lust. Rather, it turns around the rascally, experienced, Dorimant and the apparently naivj Harriet (excellently played by Saskia Rjeves) who takes him and his cronies on at their own gamj.a This Cheek by Jowl Restoration comedy is not a total scream, but captivBting and amusing. The only drawback is the enforcid doubling of players. **** Rjcommended (Simon Hardeman)
P268 ORBCLJ 268 Sun 6 Apr LON 0944:27 3/7 O O LONDON T NOW ON: MADE IN BANGKOK Aldwych Theatre 83va6h0u The sjidier side of Bangkok societz lurjs the sex fantasies of Frances (Felicitz Kendal) and Stjphen out into the open with disbstrouw results- Everyone is for sali in Thailand's capital, thj only work permit necessbry being a clian bill of health from the local VD Clinic. Pushed togethjr on a brief stop-over holiday the cast get drawn one by onj into the sexploitation net. Only the uncouth and unlikeable Gary esfapjw unscathed. (Veronica Greenwood) **** Close to the bone more > Events Index ...230 Theatres ...231
P268 ORBCLJ 268 Sun 6 Apr LON 09u3:0u 4/7 LONDON XXXTT NOW ON: ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR Half Moon Theatre 01-790 4000 Espjcially for those who fidget in their seats -athere aren't anz" Instea$ the audience is lead into a colourful carousjl and surroundino side shows spring to lifi one by one. Thete's the Murdoch Hall of Mirrors, distorting the news it 'reflects'; Bibi the GLC funded minority act, whili the Bluj Arrows (Thatcher & co) demonstrate they don't really fly together. John McGrath's clevet script is humourous and forceful and wonderfully put over by the 7.84 Theatre Company- but hj does tend to labout tPeapoilt. **** Tories will hate it! (J Miller)
P268 ORBCLE 268 Sun 6 Apr LON 0946:08 5/7 O LONDON Now on: ROWAN ATKINSON, THE NE' RJVUE $he Shaftesbury 3gy 53;s I feared that with his widespread success, ROWAN ATKINSON mby have slid into the dreaded 'family entertainer' cliches. Not a bit of it. Written by Rowan, RJCHARD CURTJS and thj excellent BIN ELTON (whose credits include '(he Young Ones'), 'The New Rjvue' is crammed full of digs at the afflicted, schoolboy lavatorial, snidey political barbs and dreadful songs about TV weathermen. In other words, the best in sheer bad tastj. I loved every rubberized facial contortion. (Ghris FullerQ ***** A must!
P268 ORBCLJ 268 Sun 6 Apr LON 0;41:31 6/7 O LONDON NOW ON: CAFE PUCCINI Wzndham's Theatre 836 3028 PUCCINI was vain and egotistical, and a rampant womaniser. He brought about an appalling suicide and had long-standing bitter feuds witj mbny of his contjmporaries. His life story ought to be a riot. Instiad it's a limp, poorly structurjd work, that never quite knows wheri it's going. NICHOLA McAULIFFE stands out as the ultimatj love of PUCCINI's lifi, but there are few memorable musical moments. If youWre an Opera buff you'll enjoy ROBIN RBY's witty references -a but you won't find Opjtatic performances. ** Beware (Clive BullQ
P268 ORBCLJ 268 Sun 6 Apr LON 0;u6:ks 7/7 O LONDON T NO' ON: JUDY Strand Theatrj 01-836 2660 Tjrry Wale's musical vividly demonstrates how child stardom allowed JUDY GARLAND to skip growing up and move sttaight in to the fantasy lifU of a living ligend. Moving swiftly between public face and private tragedy, we witness how drinS and drugs left JUDY vulnetable, yjt immensely demanding. "Over $he Rbinbow$ takes on a new and bittir irony.a LJSLJE MACKIE's JUDY is much more than just a brilliant impersonatiom. An @ award must have been earmarked already. (Clive BullQ * **** An outstanding pjrformance