Dominic Cavendish finds a dichotomy in the West End between sell-out big hits and struggling theatres with empty seats.
A big day in the West End is looming. After two rescheduled preview performances at the end of last week, owing to some slight technical teething troubles, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is throwing open its doors for the first time at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane tonight, with the critics unwrapping their verdicts as to what Sam Mendes and co have made of Roald Dahl’s time-honoured children’s classic from June 25.
Even before the first note has sounded in the auditorium, though, the oohs and aahs should have started in the foyer areas; this week sees the unveiling too of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s £4 million Regency-faithful restoration of the theatre to mark its 350th anniversary. I happened to be in the Really Useful Group building back in March when Lord Lloyd Webber asked one of his assistants to get on the blower and look into him buying a copy of Canova’s The Three Graces – which he has now added to the theatre’s permanent statue collection after parting with the sum of £600,000. He made the request as swiftly and casually as you or I might ask someone the time.
A big day in the West End is looming. After two rescheduled preview performances at the end of last week, owing to some slight technical teething troubles, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is throwing open its doors for the first time at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane tonight, with the critics unwrapping their verdicts as to what Sam Mendes and co have made of Roald Dahl’s time-honoured children’s classic from June 25.
Even before the first note has sounded in the auditorium, though, the oohs and aahs should have started in the foyer areas; this week sees the unveiling too of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s £4 million Regency-faithful restoration of the theatre to mark its 350th anniversary. I happened to be in the Really Useful Group building back in March when Lord Lloyd Webber asked one of his assistants to get on the blower and look into him buying a copy of Canova’s The Three Graces – which he has now added to the theatre’s permanent statue collection after parting with the sum of £600,000. He made the request as swiftly and casually as you or I might ask someone the time.