Real drama

Wednesday, 4th July 2007

One of the sharpest theatre critics around, Michael Coveney, now has his own blog at Whatsonstage.com. Competition for the ever-readable Mark Shenton. Coveney's latest post is devoted to reflections on memorable on-stage disappearing acts. He also has his say about A.A. Gill's stinging attack on the West End reviewing trade. For his part, Shenton worries that last week's bomb alert could tip theatreland into a financial crisis.

As for the longer term, the Telegraph's Charles Spencer fears that two-a-penny musicals are finally on the verge of driving out straight drama. He doesn't mince his words:

In almost 30 years of covering the West End, I can't remember the straight play being in a more parlous state. Audiences seem to be losing their appetite for drama, comedy and thrillers, and heading to musicals instead. And producers seem all too happy to encourage them to do so....
A West End that has no place for Wilde, Coward, Rattigan, Stoppard, Frayn or Ayckbourn, as is currently the case, strikes me as impoverished. And, apart from Richard Crane, where is the new writing? There are a few straws in the wind...The fact remains, however, that there will soon be 29 musicals in the West End and only seven plays, the lowest number ever. London's commercial theatre is going the way of Broadway, and we may soon be down to a couple of snob hits a season like New York.

The last West End play I saw, as far as I recall (isn't that a telling phrase?) was The Entertainer. And I have to say that it wasn't anywhere near as interesting as many of the critics made it out to be.