... Sheridan is festive fare at Greenwich GREENWICH The Rivals THE TROUBLE with malapropisms is that audiences find themselves listening out for them too diligently, hoping to recognise them when they come, and conscious all the while that they can never match Sheridan's speed of wit. Joyce Grant's Mrs Malaprop is, not withstanding, a jewel to treasure in Greenwich Theatre's production of The ...

... Carnival BRIGHTON ON THE face of it, Carnival, the American musical with music and lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Michael Stewart, should be a happy choice for the Christmas show at the Gardner Centre, Brighton, this year. It was, after all, originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick, but the sad fact is that there is little carnival spirit in the rather plaintive little story ...

... A stylish Priestley revival AMBASSADORS Dangerous Corner J.B. PRIESTLEY'S first play, Dangerous Corner, originally produced almost 50 years ago, is at present one of the best plays in the West End, in a stylish revival at the Ambassadors. It is called a mystery drama and it has qualities of a thriller. It is also a serious study of people, with two very impor tant questions. Should the truth ...

... Joseph VAUDEVILLE THE URBANE Bill Kenwright may have made his deepest impression upon the great British consciousness with his portrayal of Gordon Clegg in that everyday drama of downtrodden northern folk, Coronation Street; but over the past decade he has quietly and assiduously produced in excess of 100 plays. His latest product, fresh from a 32- week provincial tour, is living proof ...

... The Ghost Train TAUNTON THE BREWHOUSE Theatre Company only assembles once a year to put on a Christmas show. By tradition, and by stage limitations, period farce is chosen instead of panto. Patrick Lau's production of The Ghost Train elevates a minor piece well above its station. The wayside Cornish railway waiting room is lovingly re-created by Pamela Ingram, in all its tty gloom. John ...

... A slick revue at Kingston KINGSTON OVERGROUND You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, Charlie Brown has returned to Overground Theatre with a sparkling cast and it seems as popular as on its first visit a few years back. A slick revue based on a comic strip cartoon sounds like good theatre and the delighful Peanuts characters certainly make the ideal subject. Kerry Shale plays ...

... Godspell EXETER THE CHRISTMAS SHOW at the Nonhcott Theatre, Exeter, is the famous rock musical Godspell but it is by no means a rehash of the traditional touring version. This is a completely new production and is far removed from the circus-type show with its clowns and capers seen in many different styles since Godspell first appeared in the early seventies. Director Crispin Thomas has ...

... Engaging production at the Round House ROUND HOUSE Canterbury Tales THE ROUND HOUSE had one of its most engaging productions with the New Vic Theatre's Canterbury Tales, adapted from Chaucer by Phil Woods with Michael Bogdanov, with music provided by Chris Barnes and Andrew Branch. Qualities abounded, such as freshness and well pointed enthusiasm, bawdy wit tossed about with a delightful ...

... Tintin and the Black Island UNICORN THEATRE COMPANY HERGE'S CELEBRATED Adventures of Tintin spring into life on the stage of the Arts Theatre where ihe Unicorn Theatre Company are presenting Tintin and the Black Island. Geoffrey Case has adapted and dramatiied this story of the boy detec tive in a Christmas show aimed at an au dience of seven to 12 year olds. However, on the afternoon I ...

... MANCHESTER The Prisoner of Zenda AFTER FOUR MAJOR filmings spread over 40 years, a dramatised version of Anthony Hope's rumbustious and romantic novel, The Prisoner ot Zenda is back on the stage. This time the adapter, Andy Rash- leigh, has gone the whole hog and incorporated its sequel, Rupert of Hentzau in a skilful piece of compos iting, and it is providing the Christmas offering by ...

... BASINGSTOKE The Lion in Winter HELEN OF TROY it said to have launched a thousand ships but Eleanor of Aquitaine had to launch a few life-boats on the first night of the Horseshoe's production of The Lion in Winter. June Brown, who played Queen Eleanor, carried out a full-scale life- saving operation on the other members of the cast, drowning on stage. Nevertheless this production succeed ed. ...

... Touched ROYAL COURT STEPHEN LOWE'S Touched, first seen at Nottingham Playhouse in 1977, has come to the Royal Court, directed by William Gaskill. Set in and around a place called Snein- ton, near Nottingham, it is concerned with a collection of working-class people during the hundred days between VE Day and VJ Day in 1945, when Britain f would soon begin to emerge from the I turmoil, sorrow, ...