The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 31

GUARDIAN 31 THE GUARDIAN Friday May 13 1988 ARTS THEATRE: Irish melodrama is happily revived at the National and fine acting makes for an outstanding touring Government Inspector An run out A fine Iba of Yeov phiil Michael Billington at the Olivier IS critics say he looks too good to be true and maybe the rest wonder if it isn't Hi the other way round. Honesty stereotyping of the English captain who keeps beginning sentences with "You Irish." And, if you listen to the text, you realise that Boucicault is the avowed enemy of those who want to translate Ireland into a picturesque escape-route. One of the key charges against the villainous Kinchela is that he has turned the Ffolliott family estate into a tourist trap and is even charging sixpence a head for admission. Odd moments make one uneasy: the illiteracy of Conn, The Shaughraun, is treated as a humorous plot-point. But Andrew Parkin gets it dead right in his published Introduction when he says that Conn is tough, good-hearted and crafty and "totally different from the blustering buffoon of a stage Irishman." Boucicault also opened the door to Synge, O'Casey and Behan by bringing on stage the spendthrift richness of Irish speech.

The best moment comes when Conn, taxed with his promise to leave off drinking, replies "I did, barrin' one thimbleful a day, just to take the cruelty out of the water." Boucicault may romanticise rural Ireland. But he also celebrates it and enters a plea for clemency towards political prisoners. And Howard Davies's production not only hits the right note of unpatronisihg delight but also, in William Dudley's design, creates some of the most remarkable effects yet the drum-revolve, Mr Dudley has created a wonderful Gothic folly of a set combining brick turrets, ivy-covered abbeys, tumbling rocks, thatched cottages and narrow ginnels leading the eye straight to the shimmering sea. My only qualm would be that scenes such as that in which Conn's apparent corpse springs to life and runs rings round a pair of thuggish criminals are so fluently choreographed as to lose some of their rough fun. But Stephen Rea's Conn is a miraculously tactful performance that plays down colourful Oirishness and instead brings out sheer good-hearted-ness: when, for instance, Mr Rea whips trout and grouse out of his hunting-pink jacket like a deft conjuror you are reminded that it is his charitable poaching that is keeping the women alive.

Like a Synge hero" Mr Rea also combines mercurial bravado with pure filial terror. Shaun Scott as the English captain exudes exactly the right bloodless courtesy, Felicity Montagu makes his Irish love a twinkling equivocator and Stephen Moore as the squire and Anthony O'Donnell as his stubby accomplice give the villains a comic edge. With the aid of Dominic Muldow-ney's sweetly melancholic music, the evening offers a pleasurable vindication of melodrama rather than a tasteless exploitation of Irish folksiness. WHEN the Abbey Theatre brought Dion Boucicault's The Shaugh-raun to the Aldwych in 1968, many Dubliners voiced the fear that it would project the wrong image of their country. And my good friend, Frank Delaney, raised a similar point this week about the validity of a revival in the wake of Enniskillen and Gibraltar.

It is a serious question; but the best answer is provided both by Boucicault's play and by the affectionate exuberance of Howard Davies's superb production. The Shaughraun is comic melodrama rather than social realism. But it invites us to laugh with the Irish rather than at them and strikes me as a plea for political tolerance. Its abundant plot has to do with efforts to thwart a villainous squire who has had a Sligo gent deported to Australia on trumped-up charges of Fenian-ism. He is outwitted by a combination of the returning convict, the eponymous ragamuffin poacher and a compassionate English redcoat.

It is, in fact, the very reverse of a 19th-century Irish joke. It celebrates wiliness and bravery rather than stupidity. It con pel." Reporting must bo accurate, we must be fair, wo nm-i be impartial. Applaud. he does assume Thai journalism is always synonymous with reporting, which it isn't.

But apart from these- cik-i strictures, his main ai umm-iii was that unless the media ptii their own house in nnlt-i-. the Government would (In it tor them by legislation. What worried me was what he was proposing the piv. c.i-. about its lions- viriicular.

If I have undi'i'sicoti him accurately, he wauls ihe l'res Council to have real sanctions, including substantia; taws to be levied on offending newspapers, and he wants all newspapers to enter into loyalty binding contracts in observe the council's rules and be subject to its rulings ami accept its sanctions. If a paper sticks to its story and refuses to accept the sanctions, is it then, under the legally binding contract, ai risk of contempt of court The threats that nave been used against both the press and the trade unions so successfully in the past few Is this an invitation for the press to put their own house in order, or an invitation for them to put then-head in another Government nooso? And where exactly does Birt stand on a programme like Waiting (10 Minutes. BBC2). about two patients in the queue for NHS Paul (aged 46) needed a heart bypass operation and finally -nr it. Fred (79) needs a prostate operation, and has been waiting lor ir for years in some pain and a great deal of humiliating dis comfort while his condition gets worse.

Paul's doctor reckons ideal ly the bypass should have been done within about two weeks. He waited eiht months, ettiiiit worse, and with his familv relationships visibly crwnbiin'j. his work in building threatening him with a heart attack. The picture, on the evidence of the doctois i'-ii-i viewed. is oi' a health -i has in some crucial yroinnl to halt.

Does Birt think this programme ought to have included Mrs Thatcher parroting (loaded word there, caroiun the- statistics of how much of our money she is spending on the NHS. so we don't get the wrong idea" is the wild card of the Third Force. What Makes Paddy Run? (This Week, Thames) is the easy question, and there he is in the first shot in white shorts and vest doing serious road work. Paddy Ashdown does not look like a mere jogger. The hard question, as always, is running whither? Robert Harris's profile comes spot on time as David Steel backs out.

The worst thing thrown at Ash-down was the famous corruption of his nickname earned three years ago Paddy Backdown. In 1984 he very publicly rejected cruise missiles. The following year he swapped sides, and the most damaging thing John Cartwright could say from the Owenite camp was see his wobbles on Trident that because he didn't want to upset people, Ashdown doesn't take a firm position. But here the image was of warm toughness. Ex-Royal Marines Special Boat Service, degree in Chinese does he know something we don't? he threw up the civilised comforts of a Foreign Office career to fight in rock-solid Tory Yeovil.

There hadn't been a Liberal MP there since 1892. Ashdown quoted David Penhaligon who once faced a similar climb to the House: "I was too naive to know it was impossible." Now why does that make me think of John Birt? That's right, in Opinions (C4) Birt was putting his views on why we need Decent Media and how we can get them. By now his views are pretty well known. He is agin sin. He favours virtue.

He castigates media axe-grinders and those journalists who believe the day is wasted when they do not discover a villain: journalism, he insists, is much more than that, investigation is more than that, and harder. His advice to journalists of that persuasion: "Throw away your hatchet and buy a scal Romantic idyll? Julia Dearden and Stephen Rea in The Shaughraun photograph: douglas jeffery seen on the Olivier stage. Using stantly punctures the racial The official line on small-town hilarity Nicholas de Jongh at Richmond rIME and modern scan- aais in municipal xown halls have done little to diminish the force and of performance. Only when he assembles large set tableaux of actors in stylised attitudes of fascination or amazement does the production acquire a personal signature. And virtually all the principal actors transcend these limitations, and the abysmal stage designs by David Cockayne, which consist of little more than unfunctional, cumbersome wooden faccades.

The best of the actors people the remote Russian town with a ramshackle crew of posers and hangers-on, stuffed out with pomp and cirumstance, strut-tins or decrepit, up to their tiation and hypocrisy and the false gods of money and rank prove as alluring now as then. And the comedy of discomfiture shines through while the officials grovel and scrape to the tune of a young clerk and impostor playing the role of Inspector. A very young and virtually unknown actor, Paul Rhys, takes the title role in a dazzling star debut. Don Taylor's production, however, seems to lack any clear governing idea or impetus. He fails to emphasise the fact that fear of officaldom is a dominant emotion and he al eyes and a slim, gangling frame, plays the impostor as a childlike fantasist, lost in a world of wounded and querulous hauteur, who cannot accept the impoverished depths to which he has sunk.

He succumbs to bribery and blandishment to the manner born, as if all these were his due, and having established himself as a fantasist, he spins his central story with delighted relish. The Government Inspector at the Richmond Theatre until 14 May; Theatre Royal, Bath, from May 16; Theatre Royal, Norwich, from May 23; Theatre Royal, Newcastle, from May 30. quite bring out the man's blustering furies. But in a shrewd and comic display he reveals the contrast between the mayor's public and private manners, standing in stiff and flustered pomp to greet the inspector, grandly emoting in the tones of a sergeant-major trying to ape the speech of his supposed betters. I have rarely seen a double-take work to such lovely comic effect as when he surrenders to a bribing propositon.

He is an ideal foil to Paul Rhys's government inspector. Rhys, with his Russian appearance, those perpetually startled thy Bateson's frock-coated and vacuous schools' superintendent, tottering towards senility, Wolfe Morris's charity commissioner, stuffed out like a turkey and exuding chronic self-importance, John Woodnut's Judge, furtive as a shoplifter, and Phillip Manikum's gabbling landowner, in the first flush of juicy gossip, all manage to avoid the pitfalls of grotesque playing and beautifully evoke the play's lurid comedy. So too does Sir Anthony Quayle, at 75 heroically leading his company all over the country. He is not naturally cast here as a furtive bully, and does not the gleeful fun of Nikolai Gogol's 19th-century satire. The play is set in an eternal present where small-town bureaucrats, deep in corruption and bribery, are plunged into consternation by news of the government inspector's imminent arrival.

The dread of being caught in glazed eyes in gullibility. Timo lows too many clashing styles the act, the black arts ot ingra- Entertainments Guide SHAFTESBURY THEATRE. LYRIC THEATRE. 01-437 WVNDHAM S. 836 3028 CC 379 6565741 9999379 1 PHOENIX THEATRE.

01-836 2294 credit cards 240 9661 741 9999 24-hr cc with bkg fee 379 4444240 7200. ARTS 836 2132. CC 379 4444. 24 hours. 7 days (no tec).

Hull Truck in John GARRICK. 379 6107 CC 240 7200. 24 hrs. 7 days. 74t 9999.

379 4444 Open all hours, (no bkg. fee) Groups fee), 24 CC 379 4444 (bkg. fee) 240 7200 (bkg fees Groups 836 3962930 368601-734 5166. EMERALD CITY A comedy by David Williiitn cnn. "Punchv vitality i-4u lam.

tVRS. a. iviac. London -rarkl0 with Wit. tee, oroups oik-o.

BEST MUSICAL Laurence Olivier Awards 1987 Drama Maqazine Awards iqR7 Guardian. Evas. 8.0. Mats RENOIR. iniswi; slf 1 I 1)1 1 3A3ETTE-E FEAST il I (iv Knit II, -st I I-1 1 Til 1-i'Kjs 'J I (I 4.20, s.

2 Hcrzog's COBSA VERDE IV.J,s. 7 Mi's I I-M Till sl Altls 1 HI kovsky's IVAN'S CHILD-HOOD iri.j plus Borqman KARIN'S FACE II 1.1'rons 1 .511. 4.5. S.M. 8.35.

SCREEN THE HILL. 10, TAMPOPO 18). 3.0 ADELPHI. 836 7611 or 240 79134. CC 741 9999 836 1 ues.

o. sat. ot a. 13 NOEL COWARD'S EASY VIRTUE "A Triumoh." D. Mail UODDfirs TEECHERS MARVELOUSLLV FUN- NY" The Times.

"A WINNER HIGHLY RECOMMENDED" D. Tel 8. Fri. Sat ft A 9 IJR4D. Snr SUSAN HAMPSHIRE MARRIED LOVE by Peter Luke Directed by JOAN PLOWRIGHT London BARBICAN 1.

CC 01-638 8891 Dolby Stereo. All seats bookable. Credit Cards accepted. THE LAST EMPEROR (15). 7.0.

CINEMA 2: L'AGE OR 115) LE SANG D'UN POETE (IS) 6.0. L'ATALANTEZERO DE CONDUITE (PC). 8.0. 69 4444. nrst rail PLAZA 2.

off Piccadilly Circus. MOONSTRUCK 12.30,2.45.5.0. 7.1h.J 30. Late show Friday S.n. 11.45 pm.

PLAZA 3. off Piccadilly Circus. DRAGNET (I'Ci). 12.15. 2.30, 4.45.

7.15. 9.30. Late Show Fri. St Sat. 1 1 .55 in.

PLAZA 4. off Piccadilly Circus. FATAL ATTRACTION (18). 12.5. 2.25.

4.45. 7.10. 9.30. Late show Fri. St Sat.

1 1 .55 pm. CURZON MAYFAIR. Curzcin St. 499 3737. Yves Mimt.wirt ill MANON OES SOURCES IPG).

Film at 1.15 not 3.30. 6.0. 8.30. "It has the mark ol' a rl.issir." Times. inurs.

o.u, ats. o.u 8.30. Open all Hours. 01-379 4444. CCTB 01-741 9999 (No Bk.

Fees). First HIK JOHN MAYALL SESSIONS STEPHEN JOHN FRY GORDON SINCLAIR SARAH PAUL BERGER MOONEY THE COMMON PURSUIT Written and directed by SIMON GRAY Notto be missed" S. 24 nr. ccz40 7ZUU(noriKu. lee).

GrauDSnles 930 6123. Plays Players Award 1987 Lei. Hiiartaus wan-drrful stuff" S. Exp. BOOKING TO OCTOBEH 2 WINNER OF 3 MAJOR can 2-nr.

oay uriis 0 1-240 7200 Bkq. Fph) Group Sales 01-93Q 6123. fits. 1 nif 1 nr. before Eves.

8 p.m. Sats. 5.0 St GLOBE. 01-437 3667741 perf Lmtd. period Tearhers 9999.

First Call 836 3464 mice MAYFAIR. CC 629 3036. 379 YOUNG VIC. 928 6363. CC H.J II Ih.

se.e.s 4444. inurs. b. tr. et "A SPLENDID CAST.

A Ho Atii 4444 (no OKg leei. rcuu ovtonHnri In Mnu 28. siauuaru uramii twvtii us 1987 BEST MUSICAL diana julia rigg Mckenzie daniel massey david healy dolores gray FOLLIES The SondhelmGoldman Musical SPARKLING PLAT Standard. Mon. to Thur.

sat. S.4U ac 8. lu. RICHARD TODD in "Rest thriller for years" Marlowe-s DOCTOR FAU- STU5. Tms weeK sola out 8 p.m.

Fri. St Sat. 6 p.m. St THE BUSINESS OF MURDER except ion t. ot lomor.

r.ou AWARDS. 19BS DAVID BONNIE SCHOFIELO LANGFORD PATRICK CARGILL ME AND MY GIRL THE LAMBETH WALK MUSICAL Directed by Mike Orkrent Nightly at 7.30. Mats Wed. Ht 2.3u St Sat. 4.30 St 8.0.

-THE HAPPIEST SHOW IN TOWN" S. Exp. o.3 p.m. VflllMR VIC STUDIO. 92R PICCADILLY.

437 4506. CC "An unaDasnea winner Sunday Express "Sensatlonar Times. BTH THRILLING YEAR 6363. Until May 28 NXT IDKq ICC). MAGGIE SMITH MARGARET TYZACK in LETTICE AND LOVAGE a new comedy bv PETER SHAFFER with RICHARD PEARSON directed bv MICHAEL BLAKEMORE Evgs.

7.45. Sat, mat. 3.0. "A TRULY FANTASTIC Theatre t-o presents QUARTET una EXILES Mon-Sat. 7.45.

CURZON PHOENIX. IMitirnK olf ChariiKi Cross ltd. 240 9661. ALEC GDINNKSS DEREK .1 ACODI in LITTLE DORRIT (Ul Part 1: Mon Wed 12.30; Fri Sat Sun Tin Thurs 4.0: Fri Mon Wed 7.30. Part 2: Fri Sat Tues Thurs 12.30: Mon Wed 4.0; Sat Sun Tues Thurs 7.30.

LAST WEEKS. EVENING. P.T. Evenings 7 .45 Mats. Wed.

St Sat. 3.0 APPLY DAILY FOR RETURNS 03034444. open all hours. 741 9999. Grp.

836 3962. LAST BLUES IN THE NIGHT LOW PRICE SHOWS FRI. St SAT. 6.30. Mon.

-Thurs. 8, Fri. St Sat. 6.30 St 9. Box Office phone open 10 COMEDY THEATRE.

01-930 2578. VANESSA TIMOTHY REDGRAVE DALTON "Is simply "A remarkable magnificent." performance." Time Out. F.T. in Euqenc O-Neill's A TOUCH OF THE POET Directed by David Thacker "The acting is of a richness and an unswerving truth that takes the breath awav." Independent. "The dramatic evening in own," Int.

Herald Tribune. Evgs. 7.30. Mats. Sat.

2.30. First call 24 hr. 7 clay credit card bookings 01 -240 7200. Open All Hours 01-379 4444. CCTB 01-741 9999 (Bku.

lee). LAST 3 DAYS MERMAID THEATRE. 01 236 556801 -638 8891 VICTORIA CHAPLIN and JEAN BAPTISTS THIERREE in LE CIRQUE IMAGINAIRE "NOT TO BE MISSED" Times. am- pm. Miscounts avail, able for groups for Wed.

Mats. Bi) 133. U(J ut-ttDa OBUU CAMDEN PLAZA, onn. Camden Town Tube. 485 2443.

BROADCAST NEWS (15). Progs 3.5. 5.45. 8.25. Seats bookable tor evening perfs.

CHELSEA CINEMA. Kings Road SW3. 351 3742. Susan Seidelman's MAKING MR RIGHT (15). Progs.

2.40. 4.45. 6.50. 9.0. MUST EN1J THURS.

Starts Fri May 20: BABETTE'S FEAST (18). Seats bookable. AccessVisa. CIC CINEMAS PROGRAMME INOIJ1RIES: 2O0 0200 CC. TELEPHONE BOOKINGS: "FIRST CALL" 240 7200 24-HRS.

7 DAYS A WEEK (BKG FEE.) All seats bookable in advance forall performances. Advance booking offices open dailyll amto9 pm. (Sunday 1 pm to 9 pm). ALL CINEMAS NO SMOKING. EMPIRE 1.

Leicester Square. THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING (18). l.O. 4.30. 8.0.

Late show Krj. St Sat. 11.30pm. CROCODILE DUNDEE II from June 22. Advance Booking Office now open.

EMPIRE Square. CRY FREEDOM (PC). 12.5. 3.0. 6.0.

9.0. Late show Fri. A Snr. 1 1 .55 flm. ST MARTIN'S, 836 1443.

CC No d444. Fvas. 8.0. ALBERY. 836 3878.

CC 379 6565741 9999379 4444 240 7200. Croups 836 3962. NICHOLAS LVNDHURST "A Born Comedian" Gdn. Larry Shue-s new hit comedy THE FOREIGNER "Inspired and lunatie" Sheridan Morley. Punch.

Evgs. 8. Mats. Sat. 3 Now Booking to Oct.

OVER 100 PERFS! Previews June 2. 3. 4. 6 at PLAYHOUSE WC2 839 4401 (no bkg. lee).

Evenings at 7.45. Mats. Sat. 2.30 (May 16 at 7.0) MARY STUART by Friedrich Schiller, translated by Robert David Macdonald. Tues.

2.45. Sat. at 5.0 St 8.0 upen June fdi pm REDUCED PRICES! v-i- ui-4u isuu iai nrs. bkg. fecl01-741 9999(bkg.

fee)01-379 444 (24 hrs. -St I TfcAK Vt AGATHA CHRISTIE'S THE MOUSETRAP NATIONAL THEATRE SE1 London BARBICAN HALL. 01-638 8891. Today 1.0 GUILDHALL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA. George Hurst (cond), lane Atkins (Viola).

Ton-t. 7.45 LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. Vale-ry Gergiev (condl. Vadim Repin (violin). Prog inc Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in n.

HAMPSTEAD. 722 9301. Box Office CC 01-928 bkg. fee). Grps.

01-240 7941. "This lovelv story moves you to laughter and STRAND. 836 2660. CC 836 ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS. i HI Ol- LVI 74.

Wl. Open tl.lllv I') lie i sun. trrilsu '-it ivtte s.m until 1 45) CEZANNE: IHE EARLY YFARS 1859-1372 ft OLD MASTER PA.NT-HGS FROM THE TWVS-SEN-BORfJEMIGSl COl -LECTIO?) fun iliiluni wr.i-S If. 'Mniio. Durer.

ikilui-lli l.l(, l-i i'ii. Kiihi-us. i. in I i 1, W.ltteu.i. BARCELONA NOW.

TOP CATALAN ARTISTS THE SOLOMON GALLERY. 1( I )oer sti-iM 'IV! 4-1-1 40 1 Open ItmLiv -I. U) to ltmvl.lv tj -pt TATE GALLERY. Milium). Mil.

DOUGLAS COOPER COLLECTION until Me. OAViD MACK until luilv2o TURNER AND AP.CK iTEC-TljaE leili! Ml Hi Into. 0 I -f 1 7 1 BRITISH LIBRARY. Li Husi l.ii; ii 1 'I intern. itu.u il Trill CITY IW MAPS Mon I s.m 1 o.

-itin I TIS LAME GALLEHY. C. it is; Ml.i:.M.. in, 1 -1 l.V'""! I irii if CRITERION. S.

930 3216. CC nvgs a pm. sat. t.ou and 8.30 pm ARTHUR MILLER'S DANGER: MEMORY! "Miller writing as well asever." FT. "Acting so brilliant as to be educational." S.

Tel. Extended to May 21. zzsz. tgenctes. OKg.

lee: 379 4444 240 7200 741 9999. NATIONAL THEATRE OLIVIER tears unrorgeiiaDie. a. Post. CATHERINE COOKSON'S THE FIFTEEN STREETS OpcnsMay20at7 p.m.

Red price prevs. from Ton't. Eves. 7.30. Thur.

Sat. Mats. 2.30. CURZON WEST END. Shaftesbury Avenue.

Wl. Tel. 439 4805. lien Kiuuslei in Tony Palmer's TESTIMONY 1'G). 5.0.

8. IO. "An exceptional film An undoubted hit," S. LIMITED SEASON. LEICESTER SQUARE THEATRE.

(930 52521. A PRAYER FOR THE DYING (15), Sep. prons. daily 1.0. 3.30.

6.0. 8.40. ate Neilit Show Fri. St Sat. 11.45 pm.

All prntis bookable advance. Credit Card Hot Llne(AcressVisaAinExH30 7615. 24-hour service. LUMIERE CINEMA. St Martin's Lane, WC2.

379 Sol 4 836 0691. Bertolucci's THE LAST EMPEROR Pross. 1.20. 4.35. Late Niuht Fri.S.it.

11.15 pm. EXCLUSIVI- 70mm noLBYSTEREO ATI ON. ADVANCE HOOKING OFFICE OPEN DAILY 12.30-9 pm. TICKETS I (lit 4.35 St 7.55 BOOKAHLI ACCESS VISA. 4I43D19U.

ISt UUII Z4 hour 836 3464 (bkg fee). Groups 930 6123. BARRY HUMPHRIES "The Greatest Comic Enter tainer of Our Time." Ind. BACK WITH A VENGEANCE! ODOD.SO ft 9999. Crps.

836 3962. Evgs. 8. Mat. Blurs.

2,30. Sat. 5.308.30. "BRITISH FARCE AT ITS Mail. The Theatre of Comedy Co PATRICK MOWER QUAYLE ERNIE WISE HAYMARKET THEATRE ROYAL.

Box Office 4 CC 01- Tont. 7.15. tomor. 2.0 St 7.15 'TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE by John Ford. Tue.

7.15 THE ALDWYCH THEATRE 01-836 64040641. CC 379 6233. 741 9999. First Call 01-836 3464 BkJ. Fee).

Evqs. 7.30. Mat. Wed. 2.30.

Sat. 4.08.0. FELICITY NIGEL KENDAL HAWTHORNE ROGER REES in HAPGOOD TOM STOPPARO'S NEW PLAY "FOR SHEER INTELLECTUAL EXCITEMENT HAPGOOD HAS NO RIVAL IN LONDON." S. Tms. Directed by PETER WOOD EMPIRE 3.

Leicester Square. PRINCE EDWARD. 734 SHAUGHRAUN by Dion Boucicault. Wed. 7.15.

Thu. 2.0 St 7.15 A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS. LYTTELTON Tue. 7.30. aaa I.

au Tel. cc bkgs. First Call 24 Hr. 7 Days 836 By far the funniest new show UNA AIMI STUBBS MACDONALD RON LESLIE ALDRIDGE LAWTON I nt uai. 12.5.

2.25. 4.45. 7.10. 9.30. Late show Fri.

St Sat. 11.55 pm. PLAZA 1, off Piccadilly Circus. EDDIE MURPHY RAW 118). 12.30.

2.30. 4.45. 7.O. 9. 15.

Lute show Fri. Sat. 1 1 .30 pm 1.30 am. THE 24th BUXTON ANTIQUES FAIR, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton. Derbyshire.

0298 4620. Open until May 14. 12 noon-9 pm daily. Final day 12 noon-6 pm. ot ine year pnenomenai exolosive and entertain 3U tfuaz.

tram May zg at 7.0 PENELOPE KEITH ANTHONY JOHN BATE NORMINGTON and DAVID YELLAND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by Terence Rattioan Directed by Alan Strachan Evgs. 7.30. Mats. Weds. Sats.

3.0. Wed. 2.15 7.30 CAT ing." Obs. Tues. -Fri.

30. Sat. 2.30 A ON A HOT TIN KOUF Dy Tpnnip Willfnms. Thur. 464, orp.

sales 93U 6123. Evqs. 7.30. Mats. Thurs.

St Sat. 2.30. BEST MUSICAL 198S. Drama Maqazine. CHESS A GRAND MASTER OF A SHOW" Newsweek.

8. Season extended to 7.45 WAITING FOR July 9, STRATFORD UPON AVON RUN FOR YOUR WIFE! RAY COONEYd bV LONDON'S LONGEST RUNNING COMEDY Over 2.000 side-splitting perfs. 'SHOULD RUN FOR LIFE." Sunday Express. Box Olr ice St CC (0789) 295623 or First Call (with bkg. fee) OI-240 7200 (RST MINEMA.

45 Kitmhtslirul.ie HAYMARKET TH ROYAL. PRINCE OF WALES 839 5989 Regional AMBASSADORS 836 61 1 1 2. CC 836 1171. CC with Ukci fee 240 7200. 01-741 9999 Croup sales 930 6 1 23.

Evgs 7.30. Wed. Mat. 3. Sat.

4 8. ROYAL SHAKESPEARE CO. LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES Winner or 4 "BEST PLAY" Awards. SEATS SOMETIMES AVAILABLE! CALL TODAY. GODOT.

COTTESLOE Tont. 7.30 (preview). Wed. 7.0 (Press night) THE WINTER'S TALE by Shakespeare. Tomor.

7.30 (preview), Thu. 7.0 (Press night) THE TEMPEST. Mon. 7.30. Tue.

7.0 (previews) CYMBELINE. Cheap seats days of perfs. all theatres from 10 am. only), kotal shakes. PEARE COMPANY at RST, Macbeth.

Taniaht. Wed. 7.30. Mat. Tomor.

DONMAR WAREHOUSE 240 1.30. Much Ado About Nothing. 7.30. Swan Theatre: Plain Dealer Tonight, Wed. 7.30, Mat.

Tomor. 1.30. Constant EMILE CRAVEN BELCOURT Rodgers Of Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC "WALL TO WALL SHOW STOPPERS" D. Express. "TERRIFIC" Times "A Great Musical" S.

Tms. Monday Saturday 7.30. Matinees Wed. St Sat. 2.30.

Credit Cards 01-836 3464. Croup Sales 930 6123 255 VZ'ili. EMCIKfc OF Ttlfc SUN (lG). Daily: 3. 6.

l. NATIONAL FILM THEATRE. (01) 928 3232. NFT1 2.30 FULL METAL JACKET (UK 1987). NFT1 6.30 THE CRANES ARE FLYING (EST) I-CERT U) (USSU 1957).

NFT1 8.20 POSSESSED (EST) (India 1978). NFT2 6.15 PEARLS SAVAGESCANNIBAL TOURS (Australia 19211987). NEW LONDON, Drury Lane ttJU. tL .1 CHEEK BY JOWL in A FAMILY AFFAIR. Eyas.

7.30. Tomor. Mat. 3.O. Thurs.

Mat. 2.30. UNTIL MAY 21. couple. Mon Stop-over Mealticketpack- HALLE PROMS Tuesday, June 14 to Saturday, July 2 Manchester Free Trade Hall.

7.30 pm nox imice at cc- ui-ou 9832. MICHAEL IRENE HORDERN WORTH 'A comic- 'Glor's gem' Cdn. I). Tel. and MICHAEL DENISON Nimble and mercilessly perceptive." S.

Times. YOU NEVER CAN TELL by Bernard Shaw Toby Robertson's -Splendidly choreographed D. Tel. Evgs. .30.

Mats. Weds. Sats. S.O. 1st Call 24-hr 7-day CC bkgs.

01-240 7200 (bkg tee). Open All Hrs 01-379 4444 (bkg fee). Grp Sis 01-5130 6123. LAST 2 WEEKS. THEATRE ROYAL Stratford East.

01-534 0310. "TRIUMPHANT" THE NFT2 8.40 THE WAY QUEENS. 734 11660261 AHEAD (UK 19441. KAQbED TKOUKtO PHILANTHROPISTS. SIMPLY OOEON HAYMARKET iH.Vi Lonoon COLISEUM, 7.1.M M.itluio 3tl In ENGLISH NATiOHAL OPERA I on I 7 XX ES.

I hui 7 II COSI FAN TUTTC- 7. 'I THE MAGIC FLUTE. The Cunning Littli' Vmn. Isl .1 to 7iQO i'J-1 hr'7 il.i i. GLYMOEBOURNE FESTIVAL OPERA with The London Philharmonic.

1 ill 40 tin it .1 it) pm Die liem Sttrail Tliin s.u o. JO pnt K.it Ml lii'l ts sou i Ol I I i.r possible returHi'il I i mm. i 1JJ.J QY A A HOUSE 01. it I'll 1 i (,., ul on tin' Tilt SOl'Al. BALLET Ton't 1 tin 7 Ondinc.

STUPENDOUS" "MAGNIFICENT COMIC PORTRAY- APOLLO, Shaftesbury Ave. 01-437 2663. Red. price prevs from May 31 OPENS JUNE 8 at 7.0. Winner! 1988 Pulitzer Prize WENDY HILLER BARRY FOSTER CLARKE PETERS DRIVING MISS DAISY By Alfred Uhry Evgs 8.0.

Mats Sat. 5.0. First Call 24hr 7-day CC bkqs 01-240 7200. Booking Ice. CCTB 01-741 9999 (No Bkg Fee).

Open All Hours 01-379 4444 (No Bkg Fee). Group Sales 01-930 6123. At." independent. BEETHOVEN EVENING SPANISH EVENING MOZART EVENING TCHAIKOVSKY EVENING WU. UI-4U3 UUa Ul- 404 4079.

OPEN ALL HOURS 379 4444. Tkts Irom W. H. Smith Travel branches. Evg.

7.45. Tue. Sot. 3 4 7.45. THE ANDREW LLOYO WEBBER T.

S. ELIOT INTERNATIONAL AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL CATS Group bookings 01-930 6123 or 01-405 1S67. LATE-COMERS NOT ADMITTED WHILE AUDITORIUM IS IN MOTION. PLEA5E BE PROMPT. Bars Open 6.45.

NOW BOOKING TO OCT. THE LONGER YOU WAIT THE LONGER YOU'LL WAIT FIRST NIGHT VIENNESE EVENING BALLET EVENING AMERICAN EVENING 7697). BROADCAST NEWS (15). Sep. prois.

diiilv i.O. 5.0, 8.10. Late Neillt Show Fri. St Sat. 11.15 inn.

Ml seats buukable in udwune. Access and Visa telephone bookings welcome. VAUDEVILLE. 836 9987 444424 hr. 7 day CC 836 3464 (bkg fee) Group Sales 930 6123.

FRANK FINLAY GWEN WATFORD "A SMASH HIT" People. By JEFFREY ARCHER BEYOND REASONABLE 3043. CC 4I ISt CUII 856 5464 (HKg. t-ee). REDUCED PRICE PREVS FROM THURS.

ODEON LEICESTER HER MAJESTYS, Havmarket. Evgs. 7.45. Sats. 5.0& 8.30 DOUBT aqUAKl: (9u mil), into.

930 42504259. WALL STREET (15). Sep. pious, daily. 1.45.

5.10. 8.20. Doors open 1.15. 4.40. 7.

5). Late Nlnht show Fri. A it. DRURY LANE THEATRE ROYAL Box Office 4 CC. 01-836 8108.

01-240 90667. Open all hours. 01-379 4444 (no bkg fee). First call 24-hour 7-duy cc bkgs. on 01-240 7200 (No bkg fee) David Merrick's 42ND STREET A SHOW FOR ALL THE FAMILY Winner ot all the best Musical Awards for 1984 voted BEST MUSICAL.

STANDARD DRAMA AWARDS voted BEST MUSICAL LAURENCE OLIVIER AWARD voted BEST MUSICAL PLAYS PLAYERS LONDON THEATRE CRITICS AWARD Evgs. 8.0, Mats. Wed. 3.0. Sat.

5.0 St 8.30. Reduced Price Mut Weds. Students 4 OAP's Standby. Grp. Snles 930 6123 4th GREAT YEAR.

MARIUS GORING JEFFRY WICKHAM BOOKING OPENS THIS SATURDAY Members booking Now Open SEND S.A.E. FOR FREE PROSPECTUS opening may 24, at 7.0 MICHAEL JONATHAN GAMBON PRYCE IMELDA BENJAMIN STAUNTON WHITROW and GRETA SCACCHI in UNCLE VANYA by ANTON CHEKHOV in a new Translation by MICHAEL FRAYN. Directed by MICHAEL BLAKEMORE JOHN HAKKON nirccted bv DAVID GILMORE 8. Mat. Thurs.

3, sat. 4.30. OLD VIC. 928 7616. CC 261 is into.

0I-'-l() BOOKING OFFICE: St Ann's Arcade, St Ann's Square, RAYMOND REVUEBAR. CC 4444 (bkg. fee). 240 7200 (bkg tee). Group Sales 930 6123.

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA DAVE WILLETTS CLAIRE MICHAEL MOOKE BALL Jan Hartley Morris plu.ys Christine at certain performances. Dir. by HAROLD PRINCE. Evgs 7.45. Mat.

Weil. 4 Sat. 3. Sold out all perfs. until March '89.

Queue dally for returns. POY4.L OPERA li-- l.iti )i Oil The Knot i 1.43 pm. Doors open i i i pm. All protls bookable in advance. Credit Card Hot Line Aci I 931) 3232 or 839 1929.

24-hoiit service. ODEON MARBLE ARCH (7'JS 2011). JANE AND THE LOST CITY (I'G). Sep. pi ous dally 1.45.

4.0. 6.15. 8.30. Late Niuht Show l-'ri. 11.0 pm.

All seats book.ilile in advance. Access ami is.i telephone bookiiuis welcome rviancnester mz hw TELEPHONE: 061-834 1712 APOLLO VICTORIA. SS 828 8665. CC 630 6262. Groups8286188.

CC. Open all hours 379 4444. 1st Call 240 7200. K. Prowsc.

741 9999. Croups 930 6123. Evgs 7.45. Mats Tues At Sat 3.0. "Phenomenal.

You have to STARLIGHT EXPRESS Music by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER Lyrics by RICHARD STILCOE Directed bv TREVOR NUNN. SOME SEATS AVAILABLE THIS WEEK OAPs 5 on Tues. Mats. NOW BOOKING TO MARCH 31 '89. VICTORIA.

PALACE. Box s.io'.in WELLS. 78 H-)l(. i Ill- 2411 I JJJ. i 1 1 i i LW1I shows nightly.

8 p.m. St 10 Paul Raymond presents HE FESTIVAL OF EROTICA. 1958-1988. Now celebrating 30 SENSATIONAL YEARS at the world's centre of erotic entertain- Jtszi. Wltn dku lee 24U 7200379 4444741 9999.

ONEWAY rPENDULUM An absurd Comedy by It N. V. Simpson. Directed by Janathari Miller. "A COMPLETE SUCCESS," Daily Tel.

"BEAUTIFULLY ACTED," FT. "CHAOTIC BLISS," Standard. "BIT-INGLY FUNNY." Cdn. Evgs. 7.30.

Wed. Mats. 2.30. Sats. 4.0 St 7.45.

LIMITED SEASON I 'i lis pm I intil TRAVELLING 1 in 1 THE OF SEVILLE. Ulllre St CC B34 1317. CC 741 9999. 1st call 24 hr. 7 day 01-240 7200 (bkg fee).

Open all hours 379 4444 (bkg fee). Group Sales 930 61 23 Robert Hardy Virginia McKenna WINNIE dream Michael Covcney, DUKE OF YORKS. 836 5122 i-uiuiu iui i lines. ROYAL COURT. 730 1745.

KINGS HEAD. 226 1916. Regional HE PEOPLE SHOW Marooned." OPEN AIR, Regent Park. Songs. Laughter.

Victory. cc OJt) io I 7200741 9999. AGATHA CHRISTIE'S AND THEN THERE WERE NONE "QUITE IRRESISTIBLE" D. Mir. "A STUNNINGLY ORIGINAL PLOT D.

Tel. "A TRUE COMEDY THRII.I.FR." lrc. Divuy rutlKT oy Howard Ilrcnton. Evgs. 8, Tomor.

Mat. 4. Final perf. May 16, THEATRE UPSTAIRS. 730 2554.

SORE THROATS by Howard Bren-ton. Evgs. 7.30. rrevitnw Tom may 13 LONDON PALLADIUM. 01- WHITEHALL.

01-930 7765 HALLE ORCHESTRA Free Trade Hall. 7.30 pm This Sunday, May 15 WALTER WELLER CONDUCTS Soloist: CLAUDE FRANK Sponsored by PA Consulting Group BEETHOVEN EVENING: 444424 hrs (Bkg. Fee). THE WINTER'S TALE. Previews from May 27 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

Joins Repertory June 13. Rodger's and Hurt BABES IN ARMS, joins Repertory Aug 1 BOOK NOW! Nearly 1.5 million Guardian readers are looking for Entertaining ideas Fill your empty theatre and cinema seats by advertising in this Section Evgs. 8. MatThur. 3.

Sat. 5 SAVOY THEATRE. 01-836 FORTUNE THEATRE. 836 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE New Victoria. Tel (0782) 717962.

This week next week. THE SONG OF HIAWATHA (clay and evq. shows till May 20). ROYAL EXCHANGE Theatre. Sunday May 15.

7.30 p.m. ALLEGRI QUARTET plays lleethoven StrlnyQuarletUp. 130. ELEANOR BRON CLIVE SWIFT read T. S.

Eliot. Four Quartets. Tickets: E3. 4. 5.

6. Theatre Box Oi In- 061-H33 PALACE THEATRE. 434 tivqs. Mats. Weds.

St Sats. 2.45. Credit cards 01-437 6891, Party bookings 01-437 2055. also 24 hrs 7 days a First Call 01 240 5423 it 01-836 3464. The most spectacular shuw the West End has seen in years." Today.

ZIEGFELD A Musical Extravaganza Party rates available Mon. to Thurs. evgs. and Sat. BARBICAN THEATRE.

01- 638 8891 cc IO am to 8 pm). ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY Ton't. 7.30. Tomor. 2.0 St 7.30.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE "Supremely intelligent production" Time Out. TWELFTH NIGHT rtns May 16-24. THE JEW OF MALTA final perls! I May 25-26 (Student tkts 5 in adv. 4 mats). THE PIT.

Ton't. 7.30, Tomor. 2.0 St 7.30 TEMPTATION by Vaclav Havel "Joyously funny." Independent. THE REVENGER'S TRAGEDY from May 18. SA 4433.

CC .579 6363 4444741 9999240 7200. No bkg. fee. JASON NICKY CONNERY HENSON ANDREW CASTELL In R. C.

SHERRIFF-S JOURNEY'S END "Very funny 4 deply moving," Ind. lir. Justin Greene Evqs. 7.45. Mats.

Thur. 3.0. Overture, Leonora No 3 itijAfaii maior creoit rams. For detaiis ring OODD. ill? O.SI?ftf30 0479.

CC (with bkg fee). 379 4444240 7200741 9999. Groups 930 6123. Evgs. 7.30.

Mats. Wed. St Sat. 3.0. Royal Shakespeare Company in AWARD.VVlVlNNG MUSICAL KISS ME KATE with JAMES STEPHANIE ANDREE BERNARD THE BEST MUSICAL IN LONDON" N.y" Post.

ROYAL EXCHANGE UZdts. Wltn irNi Call 24hr7 days 240 7200 CCTB 74 9999Open All Hours3794444. GroupSalcs 930 6123. Eves. 8.0.

Wed. Mats. 3.0. Sat. 5.30 St 8.30.

SAM KELLY PATRICIA BRAKE and JEREMY BULLOCH In DANGEROUS OBSESSION by N.J. Crisp "HOLDS YOUR NERVES AT GUNPOINT, Doily Mall. NOW BOOKING TO END OF AUGUST OVER 200 PERFSI iiiuih. exci. ucc.

aa. UUS. M4-nr. OI3 44t4 (bkg. fee).

240 7200 (bkg. tee). Grp. Sales 930 6123. "THE SHOW OF ALL SHOWS' Newsweek.

Wi.i- nerBlsTMyu1irCUidLSinC- LES MISERABLES THE MUSICAL SENSATION Evgs 7.30, Mats. Thurs. St Sut. 2.30. Latecomers not admitted until the interval.

"FIGHT TO GET TICKETS" LBC NOW BOOKING TO MARCH 31. 1989. HAMMERSMITH. 01- I'ftttlJ mU al em $tkt Piano Lonceno mu in Symphony No 5 in Minor BOOKING OFFICE: 061-8341712 St Ann's Arcadt, St Ann's Square, Manchester M27HW 061-832 7200 ext. 210.

theatre. Manchester. 061-833 9833. Tonlnht at 8.0 pm. Tomorrow at 4.00 pniund8.0 pm Shakespeare comedy TWELFTH NIGHT with Derek Grilfiths.

Tim Mclnnerny. Soskia Reeves. Gary Waldhorn. Until June 25. day.

Ukg. lee for Faust only). Goethe's FAUST Pts. 1 At 2, Evgs 7.30 pm. This wk.

Pt 1: Ton Sat. mat 2.30 pm: Pt 2: Sat. 7.30 pm. STUDIO: Rutskhis Theatre Co. presents CANNIBAL Eves 8 pm.

CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE. 0243 781312. MAY FEVER, evgs. 7.30. Mats.

Thur. St Sat. 2.30. No Mat. today.

ThiM IbtAtrei Kce pi certain credit cards bv Nhrphone Of et bow orftee..