Evening Standard from London, Greater London, England • A45

InLondon tonight On edge with the Iron Lady A la st ai ir Screen test: Alex Topham Tyerman and Russell Anthony in the studios FOR MORE REVIEWS thisislondon.co.uk/reviews FOR MORE REVIEWS thisislondon.co.uk/ restaurants REVIEW MISS WHERE were you the day Margaret Thatcher died? Pre-empting the actual event somewhat, playwright Tom Green has come up with the sort of headline-generating title few dramas have a hope of living up to, and so it duly proves. biggest hitters, David Hare say, or Peter Morgan, might have taken on the Iron ulti- mate demise and won on points but the best Green can manage is a lit- tle slight comedy and a lot of point- less whimsy. Where to begin with a hard- headed re-evaluation of legacy? is answer as, in these 60 minutes, pol- itics barely gets a look-in. Instead, in keeping with our tiresomely self- centred times, various people tell us how they feel about Mrs T. Green would have done better to stick to a single narrative strand, rather than interweave three.

By far his strongest section is the one set in a television newsroom, where a sombre newsreader first imparts the titular information, before reporters are sent out to gauge reac- tions around the country. Nightly bulletins could have been a nifty way of navigating a week of high emotion and tempting to won- der what Morgan, who made such a fine job of seven days of similar intensity in The Queen, would have done but instead precious time is wasted listening in on a unil- luminating therapy sessions and a monologue from a funeral director. Director June Abbott keeps her production attractively fluid and has fun with the excitable news cor- respondents out the for a two-way with the studio. Leanne Elms and Craig Murray, as Dana and Bobby, capture perfectly the infuriating, familiar sequence of the pause, wise nod and sentence started with the news name. Alex Topham newsreader, Jonelle, is impressively sombre on camera, with an accent that makes Celia Johnson sound common.

More could, and should, have been made of off-screen frolics with her boorish producer. Journalists from all sorts of inter- national media organisations have been enticed to Hoxton for this but they probably wish saved their England expenses for the real thing. Until 2 March (0870 1630717), www.thecourtyard.org.uk FIVE BEST FILMS There Will Be Blood mins Paul Thomas blistering version of Upton Oil. Daniel Day-Lewis excels as oilman Plainview. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly mins The true story of the paralysed fashion editor who wrote a book by blinking to signify each individual letter.

Sweeney Todd mins Tim Burton and Steven Sondheim perfectly matched, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter at their best. Months, Weeks and Days mins Best European film of the year, as a Romanian student seeks an abortion and finds something like hell. Not There mins Todd Haynes on Bob Dylan, using six actors, including the amazing Cate Blanchett as the man himself. FIVE BEST PLAYS Happy Now? Cottesloe, SE1. Until March (www.national theatre.org.uk) Olivia Williams as a harassed mum.

The Sea Theatre Royal Haymarket, SW1. Until April (www.trh.co.uk) Eileen Atkins is delectably withering in Edward black comedy. Othello Donmar Warehouse, Until Feb (www.donmar warehouse. co.uk) a sell-out but tickets plus standing are released at daily. Choice Trafalgar Studios, SW1.

Until March (www.theambassadors.com) Sam West directs a fraught poker night. Hairspray Shaftesbury Theatre, To March (hairspray themusical.com) Evening Standard Best Musical, starring Michael Ball and Lianne Jones. FIVE BEST EXHIBITIONS From Russia Royal Academy, W1. Until April (www.royalacademy.org.uk) Gems among some dross. The Age of Enchantment Dulwich Picture Gallery, Until Feb (www.dulwich picturegallery.org) Illustrations from to Andy Warhol Portraits and Landscapes Timothy Taylor Gallery, W1.

Until Feb (www.timothytaylorgallery.com) black-and-white photographs by Warhol, taken during his later life. Terracotta Army British Museum, EC1. Until April (www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk) Imperial China tickets released daily at Rachel Howard Haunch of Venison, W1. Until Feb (www.haunchofvenison.com) Seductive paintings from Damien former assistant. FIVE BEST OF THE REST CLASSICAL: Dante Quartet Tonight, Wigmore Hall, W1 The four strings play Haydn, and string quartets.

POP: Kerrang! Tour Tonight, Brixton Academy, Hard-rock bloodbath featuring Coheed and Cambria, Madina Lake, Fightstar and Circa Survive. ROCK: Les Savy Fav Sunday, Astoria, Art-rock New Yorkers. COMEDY: Jimeoin On Ice Tonight, Arts Theatre, Outstanding stand-up. TALK: Global Impacts of Climate Change Tonight, Birkbeck College, WC1 free. Biosphere and Human Interactions lecture given by Jonathan Cowie.

Shappi Khorsandi Tonight, Soho Theatre, W1 The snappy comedian relays colourful snippets of her Glastonbury (www.glastonbury registration.co.uk), June Tickets for the muddy music festival slip away fast so register now to ensure in the running on April when they go on sale. So far the confirmed artists number Jay-Z and Neil Diamond but the rumour mill suggests they may be joined by Kylie, Oasis, The Raconteurs, Portishead, Led Zeppelin, Goldfrapp, Marianne Faithfull and Amy Winehouse. Though capacity was expanded to last year, the booking lines were still swamped due to the widespread popularity. The registration period will close on March. TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE REGISTER NOW The Lover and The Collection Tonight, until May, Comedy Theatre, SW1 MEET ME Hamburger Union Tottenham Court Road, W1 Mon-Sat Sun When seeking a good hamburger, it is always best to enquire about the provenance of the meat, because while a good bun and relishes may lift an average burger, when you start with poor meat, all the ketchup in the world will not save it.

Hamburger Union boasts of using organic meat from free-range herds and says the meat is hung until mature. What you get from the encouragingly short menu is a good burger, skilfully cooked and well presented for between and An admirable pit- stop that will fill you up. The Death of Margaret Thatcher Courtyard Theatre, N1 FIONA MOUNTFORD thisislondon.co.uk CHOICE EVENING STANDARD FRIDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2008 45 Two of Harold rarely performed one-act plays are directed here by Jamie Lloyd. Gina McKee plays the wife in The Lover, a short, sharp play with three characters that explores what happens when domesticity and desire come head to head. The Collection features two couples and a web of jealousy and suspicion.

Timothy West and rising star Charlie Cox (Stardust) play the men in this funny treat, which veers towards the dark side. exile from Iran, from which she largely draws her inspiration. Born in Tehran, Khorsandi was forced to flee to London at an early age after her father satirised the Ayatollah in a poem. With her cheeky anecdotes, she provides a light-hearted take on heavy issues. Since performing at Comedy Madhouse in she has appeared on Radio and in she made a solo trip to the Melbourne Comedy Festival in Australia with her new show Asylum Seeker.

She has been nominated for best breakthrough act at the Chortle Awards..