Evening Standard from London, Greater London, England • 276

48 MONDAY 23 JUNE 1997 Reviews EVENING STANDARD Women who are losing in love let their Hare down Amy's View Lyttelton Theatre NICHOLAS DEJONGH writer enables her to gamble her way to huge profits before being ruined by limitless debts This though is just one facet of a complex play whose focus grows fuzzy Esme Allen the widowed actress tremendously played by Dame Judi Battle of wills: Dame Judi Dench and Samantha Bond VIEW is David first old-fashioned play: having so eloquently conveyed and criticised the essence of i Mrs England he now turns tail In form plays have been fresh and bracing famous for their insight and the force of their moral indignation View still captivates and concerns fortified by the emotional dynamism of Richard production But as smartly set by Bob Crowley in rural upperish middle-class heartland complete with veranda summer house and old granny Hare harks back in style and sympathies to the 1950s plays of NC Hunter and Robert Bolt That old playwriting form where well-heeled gentlefolk in country houses lament the fading of dreams and a brash end-of-empire world has long passed But here Hare sounds a requiem for the passing of their securities He also shapes a battle of wills between two women suffering those pangs of betrayal and loss caused by men true View spans the Thatcher-Major years rather than the '50s And Hare describes an England in recent decline and free fall But apart from incidental references to a pub converted into a wine bar serving yak and the rise of independent television production companies scant period sense Besides hard to illustrate the moral iniquities of Thatcherite England by creating as your example a famous actress whose status as a poorly advised under- tie of wills with daughter Amy set upon marrying Eoin bland Dominic an aspirant film director of no known social status While Amy subsequently acquires children losing Dominic to adultery and his brilliant career her view of the world which involves unconditional love comes to seem as flawed as her unworldly romanticism Samantha Bond although swallowing the ends of sentences so they often become inaudible powerfully charts change and decay as she sinks to haggard querulousness Their last encounter memorably reeks of a pain and anger years in the making Both women are victims of their circumstances and their men Ronald Pickup endearing as a smitten inebriated widower is the cause of financial downfall Hare however keeps widening the range of his view of this world until the focus grows confused: view of the theatre as infinitely superior to the charms of film and TV involves an insubstantial dragging debate in which she puts Dominic down like a dead weight The actress's professional and personal decline ironically mirror each other until in the closing scene Hare shows Esme rediscovered and committed on a stage which has become her entire lonely life It is an enticing romantic finale and Dame Judi who so magically blurs the line between being and acting does convey the bitter-sweet triumph with absolutely piercing effect A road to ruin paved with great performances LSO Barbican RICK JONES longest work held a sell-out audience enthralled for its three-hour duration last night in the second concert of this City of London Festival It was a night to mention in awards panels later in the year Top people were involved John Eliot Gardiner conducted lightly but urgently the London Symphony Orchestra (chamber version) and his own Mon- tale suited composer and librettist If only the rake had shared their attitude to work he would never have taken the road to ruin Ian Bostridge depicted Tom Rakewell as an arrogant fool Deborah soprano has the right arrow-straight timbre for the innocent fiancee Soprano Anne Sofie von Otter as the nagging (but who would not want to be nagged by such a voice?) Baba the Turk spends Act under a paper bag None outsang Bryn Terfel whose thunderous baritone and dominant presence as the tempter Nick Shadow stole the show How the Cardiff Singer of the World judges must regret not putting him first in 1990 Can Hvorostovsky act? Tonight pianist Maria Joao Pires and violinist Augustin Dumay perform the first of three chamber music concerts Box Office: 0171 638 8891 teverdi Choir who occupied a scaffold like a crowd at Hie races and sang lines marked Whores and Roaring Boys written with a smirk by WH Auden (with Chester Kallman) eight-part morality No stars adequate good very good outstanding poor ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE a' rtrv v'sSs rAv -v Vxv yjA vi a j-sa GIELGUD THEATKE0171 4945040 OpensTomanwat8pm SHOPPING AND by Mark Ran AM 'Areal coup de theatre1 EvStd Ews8pmMatSat5pm DUCHESS 0OccO171 494 5075(no bkgfce) cc017l 344 4444420 OOOO(bkgtee) KayalSkikeqpeirtCeaipaiy THE HERBAL BED ftter Whelan's wonderful ptayalove stay a moral ttvifier and a courtroom drama THRILLING FAN AND AWAY THE BEST THING IN THE WEST Mon-Sat7J0MabWedASat3J)0 CHAPEL OF LOVE -PICCADILLY CIRCUS 0171 413 143828744334200000 THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY DTd GET INVITED TO THEWEDDING USAPARTT ITS A FEAST Tti the wtddieg ritow that ku few reSeg Price includes stow Swmusicand endless KaKan buffet Tacs-Fri7j4SSalSJISH Ml LYCEUM ccOI71 656 18010990500800 34444444200magb)Gips4l66076 ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR feeds skints ndi dew the nice' DTd Eves 74i Mats (no bkgfce lor personal cakrs it the lceum boi office 1 0am-8pm) CIS tkkeb hr atedeib anl Maa-Thi rtkackikkieidnicc Nawkaakiub March 19M be uib anl el deer Me e-Ttar HAMPSTEAD0I71 7229301 Eves 8 Sat 3J0 A 8 BeiBrawi'i ALL THINGS CONSIDERED CRITERION 369 1737344444 REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY in THE COMPLETE WOIRS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (abridged) AI37phyiia97 bieetts VpmrMp feeiy1 Standard Hysteric OMai Malsmjrat3pmSaiat5pm Sun at 4pm Eves at 8pm THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMEK1CA (abridged) lemriTcBriu' HaSdTribune HONOWr Slimes Lsida'i Latest RmieiCtady Hid New BedburTeJia 18 AS CONDITIONED THEATRE 10171830 14200000 STRAND 8800 fee) 0171 3444 om 413 332101 FORTUNE B04CC017I 83622383120033 4945388 NOW IN US Ilk HU YEAR EWAN MICHAEL HOOPER HADLEY SuaeHMV THEWOMAN INBLACK Adapted byStephenMaRatratt ThebutariBegudcUfaf piayhryeus'aUai BUDD The Buddy Holly Story "BRILLIANT" Sun BUDDY YONDERFUL STUFF" Sun BUDDY Man-Thur 80 Fri 330 A 830 Sat 500 A 830 kLL SEATS 12 PRICE FRI 3 lh ELECTRIFYINCUiftAR Nriahhooking TiMJlirvmr 2000 APOLLO LABATTSBOcc(ukbhe) 0171 4166083 cc no bkgfce 344 4444420 0000 Grps4166075 freephone 0800614903 SUMMER HOLIDAY The UBSmIc Fed Gad Shew CM Richard The Sun Stvrieg DARREN DAT Limited Summer Season 04 July-20 Sept APOLLO 24hrcc0l714945070 aOI7l 344 4444 (bkgfce) $01714945454 4 ELTON'S POPCORN 'A Bleed? 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STARLIGHT EXPRESS THEFASTEST SHOW ON EARTH White knuckle mm 1945 daftr 3pm Tickets from £1150 CAMBRIDGE0171494 50804166060 344 4444 4200000(bkgfce)Groups494 5454 41660754133814365588 GREASE Surriig SHANE RICHIE 'A Meaner Hit' DMinw ALBERT IJFfltTRE BOTWHjJ 369 1730 344Nofees) Giotps 413 332 5069 ARY W1LMOT ANNCRUM1 HE GOODBYE GIRL ANewMasfcal Wondei buenuioMl Herald Tribune? by Neil Simon Music by Lr by Dm Black Mat 3pm Stt 5 1 EKOFLONDOJtfKASON LYRIC ShaltesbuyAKOI71 494 5045 (ct bkg fee) Grps017l49454540l71 344 4444 (bkgb) Eres 745 Wed ASat mats 3pm SIAN PHILLIPS fcibty kriSiat' asPAM GEMS' MARLENE Directed by SEAN MATHIAS THEATRES ADELPHI0171 413 I777(24hts) Grps 08006149030171930 3000(no fee) ledicrairfjrebtrtaiiiaf'DTel JERRY LEWIS DAMNYANKEES SHOULD BE PLAYING DUO THE NEXT Id price Tkm Mb Red price Fiwiy Ticktb ALBEIT 369 1730 cc 344 4444 (No lees) Gtps4l33321 3125069 CARYWILMOT ANNCIUMB THE GOODBYE GIRL ANewMHkal TEKRIFK On if Ac keb tiffas Ml Bock by NedSimoa Music by Marvin tafcch Lyrics by Don Bbck EvpMon-Fri8praWedMai3pm1Sals548J0pm Lum Scum cm Joe 21 IHALWEEKOFLONDON SEASON ALDWYCH 0171 4 166007(11 bkgfce) 1171420 MOO (24knatkk(fee) GronsOm 4166075 mats 3pm THE BEST ORIGINAL PLATIN TOWN-lfctbdTHbwe MICHAEL ALEC GAMBON McCOWEN TOWERING EwSkl TOM CLEM STEPHENCRCHEn Directed by RICHARD WILSON "HIGHLT ENJOTABLE UTd DOMlNIONTicketfines0171 656 18820990 20302009902040200171 4200000CUmfce) Gqs0171 41660960171312 19970800614903 Lealaa ku falei lire with DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST THE NET HU MUSICAL AN ENCHANTED EVENING GENUINELY GLORIOUS Rid A FEAST OF GOOD DMai Man-Sat7J0WedASatMab2J0 DONMAIWAREHOUSE 369 1732 THE MAIDS NATIONAL THEATRE BO 0171 928 2252: Grpa 0171 620 074l24hrccbkgfceOI71 4200000 LYTTELTON Tool 7 30 AMY'S VIEW anew pit David Hare Tomor 7 JO THE CRIPPLE 01 IISHMAANanewplwby Martin McDonariL COTTESLOE Toni Tomor 7J KING LEAN CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE 01243781312 Jin232526(MatAEteL28(Ew)k29 DORA BRYAN BELINDA LANG TWIGGY LAWSON STEVEN FACET BLITHE SPIRIT byNeeiCewird JbR242728(MaO STEPHANIE BEACH AM JOHN McCALLUM C00C1E WITHERS LADY WINDERMERE'S byJeaiGeiet New Pmriewii Oieu Wd at 7m Mcn-Sal8pm3iaismjiSal4pm HER MAJESTTS BO24hr 0171 494 5400 (bkg fce)OCOI7l 344 4444420 0000 (bkgfce) Gnu 494 54 544133311436 55hl Tlds also atHMVTower Records ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S AWARD WINNING MUSICAL THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Directed twKAROLD PRINCE NOW BOOKING TO DEC 17 Eves 745 Mats WedSSat3J)0 AppdaitoBoi Office lor returns LONDON PALLADIUM BOCC 494 6020344 4444 0000 Grps 0171 494 5450 4200200 lids also at HMVlmwr Records BARIT HUMPHRIES RETURNS AS FAGIR OLIVER! 3rd BIEPRESSIBLE YEAN LIONEL BART'S MASTEIPIECL YOU CANT ASK FOR MORE'S Times Eves7JOMabWedASat2JO SOME COOD SEATS AVAILABLE NOW FOR WEEKDAY PERFORMANCES GARRKK017I494 5085312 19904945388 (nobkgfee)Groups0171 494 5454 Wiuer if 19 Majar A wards The Rayal Natiiul Tkeitre PrdietiH PIP SUZANNE DONACHT BEKTISH BAIRTSTANTON JB Priestley's AN INSPECTOR CALLS THRILLING MUST BE SEEW a Mai TWO HOURS OF ENTHRALLING VISUALLY STUNNING DRAMA' DTei A YM AM MET 930 8800 344 4444420 0000 Sfee)Eves8Mats1iur34Sat5 Eiduege Tkeitre Cibun 'ILOES CLASSIC COMEDT LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN IRRESISTIBLY GLAMOROUS' Slim WONT MISS IT Obs LAST 2 WEEKS Mon-Sal7J0praWedASal mats 3pm GREASE NOW IOOK1NG INTO 1998! 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