... Polyeuct GATE THANKS to the new sadly vanished Jonathan Miller regime at the Old Vic, Pierre Corneille (1606-84) is for London theatregoers something more than a familiar name from histories of French dramatic literature in which he occupies the status of father to French classic drama. But the revival in the Waterloo Road of Ranjit Bolt's translations of Corneille 's come dies, The Liar ...

... Hedda Gabler HARROGATE HARROGATE Theatre complete their current season with a stunning production of Ibsen's famous play Hedda Gabler, in a translation by Christopher Hampton and brilliantly directed by Andrew Manley. This is one of Ibsen's later plays and is about a woman who is trapped between her needs as a woman and her duties as a wife. In this production the action takes place centre ...

... The Village Fete SCARBOROUGH PETER Tinniswood's latest play, which had its world premiere at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, is a delightful piece of theatre, written in his own inimitable style, full of eccentric characters. He has created some splendid characters into whom we get a deep insight as they unfold their fears and reflections. The story surrounds the Epson family, the father, two ...

... SiqNora Joyce New End Theatre IN 1904 AT the age of 20 a young chambermaid, Nora Barnacle, leaves Ireland to wander Europe with James Joyce. Years later when she returns to Ireland her mother says to her, You've travelled far Nora Barnacle, but you've lost yourself somewhere. The Irish Company's production, directed by Deb Jones, explores this journey in an attempt to evaluate exactly what ...

... Mother's pride is a joy to behold Chichester Coriolanus SURROUNDED as we are by countries facing constitutional crisis, including Italy, as well as significant nationalism and people power, the production of Coriolanus at Chichester Festival Theatre by the Renaissance Theatre Company has many modern connotations. However. stripped to its basics it identifies that pride and courage are ...

... Shadowlands Westcliff-On-Sea SHADOWLANDS, by William Nicholson, tells of the unusual love affair between C S Lewis (the author of the Narnia stories) and Joy Davidman, an American divorcee. The play was directed by Christopher Dunham, designed by Judy Reaves, and presented at the Palace Theatre in Westcliff. Probably because of the inclement weather, the fact that a decisive football match was ...

... Noel and Gertie SYDNEY I'VE HEARD of out-of-town tryouts but surely Sheridan Morley has established unbeatable records with Noel and Gertie which has been seen in Hong Kong and Sydney. When it makes its West End debut in October the cast will consist only of Michael York and Patricia Hodge as the eponymous couple. Here in Sydney produced by Robert Morley's other son, Wilton we have seen the ...

... Hello and Goodbye ALMEIDA ATHOL Fugard said the two characters in this play, Hester (Estelle Kohler) and Johnnie (Antony Sher) would be an expression of moods and moments of beauty. Indeed Fugard's script is a master piece of thought, word and deed. But with such power and importance instil led into two characters living in a poor white area of South Africa in 1963, it is not only a very ...

... The Rivals HEVER JUDGING by his previous forays into Kent Rep, Ramsay Gilderdale's name signifies a joyous flamboyancy which is not as apparent in his production of Sheridan's The Rivals as it has been in his acting roles. This time, in his role of director at the Hever Castle Lakeside Theatre, he makes florid attempts at exaggeration which are neither grossly defined nor subtly gentle. This ...

... The Scatterin' DUBLIN JAMES McKENNA's rock'n'roll musical is set in the Dublin of 1958, but the dreams and frustrations of his working class Teds are curiously contemporary. Change the songs cover versions of hits by Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and Elvis Presley and the costumes, and it could just as easily be 30 years later. Frank Hallinan Flood's excellent first act set suggests a Dublin of ...

... Playing against the odds PETER HEPPLE on a charmingly youthful musical revival REGENT'S PARK Babes In Arms THE MOST interesting feature of the Rodgers and Hart musical Babes in Arms is in discovering the context of some of their best songs. For example, My Funny Valentine, usually crooned by a male singer outside its original setting, turns out to be a song sung by a girl to a boy named- ...

... The Met Season NEW YORK NUREYEV'S Paris Opera Ballet was at the Met, he was also at the State Theatre (with New York City Ballet) and on tour with his 'Friends', and the Opera's ballet students were at Juilliard. It was a three-week feast of dance. The season at the Met began dis appointingly, with Isabellc Guerin, Laurent Hiiaire and seemingly most of the company off-form in Nureyev's ...