It's not often that an off-west end theatre could be called smart, at least not the ones I usually attend. 'Efficient', yes, 'welcoming', usually, but 'smart verging-on-glamorous' is definitely unusual.
Given the location, perhaps it's not so surprising. A three- minutewalk from Warren Street tube station, it lies on the other side of Euston Road, in a newish area of high-rise offices called Regent's Place. It's not far, either, from Regent's Park tube.
I sipped a cider in the sparky wine bar among a crowd of fashionable young office-workers, with fashionably loud voices. The two sitting next to me, though, were actresses, evidenced by their gossip about auditions. It's usual for supporters to turn up on press night, so I wasn't suprised. I just hoped they wouldn't try to orchestrate a standing-ovation at the end of the play. (They did)
The theatre itself doesn't disappoint, with its nicely-raked rows of well-padded seats, upholstered in the theatre complex's signature orange. Studio theatres-in-the-round encourages an intimacy with the actors, but if someone tall sits in front of you it can be a problem. No need to worry about that here.
The play didn't disappoint either, with its instantly engaging scenario - a perky young woman waits in her flat for a fridge to be delivered, and while she does she takes the audience into her confidence. As she waits, and chats, we learn with an increasing sense of dread about the events that have led up to this point.
Here's my review on The Public Reviews Website
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