Monday 25 August 2008

They're Playing Our Song - TNT

Neil Simon's comedies don't always transfer too happily from Broadway to London, and this bland revival of his 1979 musical collaboration with Carole Bayer Sager and Marvin Hamlisch illustrates why. Virtually a two-hander (though each character has three identically dressed alter-egos) it charts, semi-autobiographically and somewhat predictably, the romance between Sonia, a kooky lyricist with a major punctuality problem, and Vernon, a successful composer with a withering wit.
Fresh from The Sound Of Music, reality TV-show winner Connie Fisher has an attractive voice, dreadful wigs and an ex who won't go away, but it's left to impressionist Alistair McGowan to give their relationship more neurotic depth.
Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark St, SE1 (020-7907 7060). Until September 28. £25

No comments: