With West End long-runner
The 39 Steps finally shutting up shop this year, it
could be that the people behind it are hoping to replace it with another iconic film
turned into a frantic four-actor comedy. Whether it'll be making a trip to the
Criterion is anyone's guess, but for the time being
Ben Hur is providing a
lot of laughs at the Tricycle, with surely the silliest Christmas show outside of
panto. This time Patrick Barlow's script has a touch of
The Play That Goes Wrong
about it, as we meet Daniel Veil (John Hopkins,) the self-styled theatrical
impresario who's written, directed and produced his stage adaptation of General
Lewis "Lew" Wallace's biblical novel, and will of course also be taking on the title
role. Alix Dunmore, Richard Durden and Ben Jones join him to play everyone else, and
to try and keep the constant set and costume changes running smoothly.
