Sitting in the crowd, yearning for something fun

These prejudices have been informed by some special moments at this wonderful venue: Topol belting out “The Night They Invented Champagne” in a sublime production of Gigi in 2008, and, in 2010, when it started to rain during an equally unforgettable revival of Into the Woods, looking behind me and seeing a soaking wet Judi Dench smiling sublimely.

So my expectations are high and these expectations are perhaps for good old-fashioned musicals. Something at least I’d have a sporting chance of enjoying. 

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Jessie Buckley and the worst night of theatre in 50 years

Tim Walker

So far this season at Regent’s Park there has been a musical called Shucked – scarcely in the league of Gigi or Into the Woods – and now what can only be described as an earnest adaptation of Blackman’s thoughtful novel about racism, which encompasses suicide, sex and capital punishment.

A barrel of laughs it is not, but Tinuke Craig, as director, has fashioned an impressive looking production with her set and costume designer Colin Richmond and the cast do what they can to bring Dominic Cooke’s somewhat wearingly faithful script to life.

As the star-cross’d lovers, Callum (Noah Valentine) and Sephy (Corinna Brown) acquit themselves well, but, on a hot night, sitting among such a good-humoured crowd, I just found myself yearning for something a bit more fun. Normal service will hopefully be resumed at this venue with Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon, which is next up.