It's a phenomenon that's already certain to turn up in my theatrical memes of the
year, and one nobody will be looking back on fondly: Theatres' insistence on
programming long shows without an early start time to compensate for it. Adding its
name to the
National,
Almeida and, worst offender, the
Old Vic, the Theatre Royal
Haymarket joins in with what seems almost spiteful scheduling: At just over two and
a half hours,
How The Other Half Loves is just longer-than-average rather
than an epic, but an inexplicable 7:45pm start time makes sure nobody gets home before
11pm - if they're lucky. That unwelcome slice of 2016 aside, it's like any other
year: If it's spring there must be an Alan Ayckbourn revival somewhere, and
Memorable Actor Matthew Cottle must be in it. Vanessa loves Ayckbourn so she always
gets an early birthday present she'll like, even if my own feelings about his work
are more variable.
