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It seemed a long time since we last visited the West End theatre - it was 5 months - and so we were anxious to pay another visit. The problem was that we prefer to see something that we haven't seen before, and then if seats were available they had been at silly prices. "The Devil Wears Prada" only got 2 to 3 star reviews, but it would be an overdue day out in London, and so why not give it a go? It was on at the Dominion Theatre, and we got two seats in the front of the dress circle (there is only one circle) C5, and C6, somewhat to the side but good seats with a perfect view of the stage. We paid £47 each which was very acceptable - usually we expect to pay about £60. The place was packed, but there were not many men in the audience. Definitely no queue for the men's toilets! Sadly we agreed with the 2 star review, but the cast and orchestra were very good.
The Dominion Theatre is at the junction of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road. We have been here several times before, and each time we seem to go a different way. This time it was drive to Broxbourne station, train to Tottenham Hale, tube to Leicester Square for our usual visit to St Martins in the Field Cafe for morning tea, and then over the Thames to the Southbank Cente for a sandwich lunch, and finally about a half hour walk up Charring Cross Road to the theatre. Our return journey was a No 8 bus from New Oxford Street to Liverpool Street station, and the train back to Broxbourne.
I hadn't seen the film of the same name, but have read that this version sticks closely to the script. Briefly Andy is a young, female award winning college graduate who wants a career as a writer, but can't find a job. She lives with her very supportive and lovely boyfriend. She does get an interview to be a PA to the legendery Miranda, boss of the Runway Fashion House. There Andy is like a fish out of water. Everyone is like a fashion model, tall, slim, and elegantly dressed. She is "comfortably" attired. Miranda is an all demanding dragon who wants everything done instantly, from early morning to very late night. Previous PAs have never been any good, and so Miranda gives the job to Andy - but calls her Emily, or Andrea. Every one says she will not last the day, but she is determined to prove them wrong. She is not a quitter. Over time she changes. Initially she laughed at how seriously everyone was taking the fashion business, but she changes her mind, and is then excellent at her job. But this means long hours, and no private life, and her boyfriend is being left behind. Is she turning into a Miranda clone ? At the very end, sanity prevails. Andy quits the job so many would kill for, gets a job as a journalist, and makes up with her boyfrind. So it's a happy ending !
Why just two stars ? The first half was just one long continuous rock number, with one song running into the next. All prancing, walking up and down, posing, no variety, no light and shade. The second half was a bit better. All that said, the cast did what was called of them excellently, sang and pranced well, and the orchestra were in great form. I think Elton John wrote some of the music, but there wasn't a big set piece number for me to exit whistling. I did like one song, however, sung wistfully, by Andy's boyfriend "I miss the old you." And of course, it must be admitted that I was not the target audience. All in all theough, 2 stars, or maybe 2.5 stars as the cast and orchestra were good.
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We are always on the look out for good seats to see something new in the West End, and so I was pleased to find 3 apparently available seats in the front row of the Colisuem Theatre to see The Great Gatsby at a matinee on Thursday, 29th May, 2025. However when I clicked on the seats only one was available. Rather than give up we settled on two seats in the second row , B56 and B57, which were further along to the side. These seats were OK / good, with plenty legroom, and a good view of the stage, but we wouldn't want to be much further along to the side.
The Coliseum Theatre is slightly up St Martin's Lane on the right (with Trafalgar Square behind). We were last in the Coliseum in June, 2019 - quite a while ago, but two years were lost to Covid. We got to the theatre by driving to Broxbourne station, train to Tottenham Hale, tube to Leicester Square for our usual visit to St Martins in the Field Cafe for morning tea, and then over the Thames to the Southbank Centre for a sandwich lunch, and finally about a half hour walk to the theatre. Our return journey was a No 26 bus from The Strand to Liverpool Street station, and then the train back to Broxbourne.
When I write about the books I read I am always careful not to write a spoiler, but with Musicals the plots are usually well known and so I give the whole story. However here there is a sad surprise ending which I will not spoil. The musical is based on Scott Fitzgerald's well known book, but one I have not read. The show opens with Nick Carraway, the narrator, arriving in Manhattan, finding accomodation too expensive, but then chancing on an affordable cottage in the grounds of a grand mansion. The mansion owner is ultra rich Jay Gatsby who is a fellow soldier also plagued by nightmares and eager to offer Nick a helping hand. However, Nick "just happens" to be the cousin of Daisy who was Jay's girlfriend in pre war days. She was rich then, but he was poor. He went off to war, and wrote to Daisy via his father, but he never passed on the letters - "poor boys shouldn't go messing with rich girls." Daisy thought she was abandoned and married rich Tom Buchanan. Now they have a baby girl and live in Manhatton. Jay wants to win Daisy back - never mind that she is married. Living across the bay from Daisy, Jay holds lavish parties that he seldom attends, but plays an old favourite Daisy song that wafts across the bay. Jay asks Nick to invite Daisy to his cottage for tea, and he will just happen to be there. Nick says he will think about it, but doesn't want to break up the Buchanan marriage. Jay gets his wealth through prohibition era alcohol smuggling, and one of the temporary warehouses is a local petrol station owned by George Wilson. Tom Buchanan has affairs which Daisy tolerates. With Nick in the car, Tom picks up George's wife Myrtle and takes her to bed in a posh hotel suite with the horrified Nick Carraway sitting outside. If Tom is not faithful, why should Daisy? And so Daisy visits Nick's cottage for tea. The only humour in the story is here when Jay turns up at 7 am to cut Nick's grass, and later florists and caterers descend on the cottage. "It's only a cup of tea", wails Nick. Jay takes Daisy to see his grand mansion, they fall in love again (it's not again for Jay) and jump into bed. Next the Buchanan's are invited to one of Jay's lavish parties - yes husband and wife. Daisy is to leave Tom, and they all go to a posh hotel suite - Tom, Daisy and Jay to talk things over. Concentrating on wooing Daisy, Jay has let things slip at his booze business. Let me add just a little more, and then no more - Myrtle is pregnant and the police find the illicit booze at George Wilson place. It's a sad ending that doesn't end well. Daisy survives - not the most endearing of characters.
The show had received mixed reviews - spectacular presentation, very professional song and dance, but failing to pick up the nuances of the Fitzgerald book. It was all done to the highest of West End standards, and the lavish scene changes seemed to be done by magic. But most of the time it was Jay and Daisy belting out songs of their love for each other - and I longed for more variety, and more content. However for presentation I would give the show 3 stars.
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