Last week, something wonderful happened to London. Sunshine! Five days of glorious sunshine. So I did what any other self-respecting Londoner would do; I got out my luminous white legs and headed to the park. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre to be exact.
If you’ve never been to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, I urge you to go. It’s one of the largest theatres in London yet it feels incredibly intimate thanks to careful positioning of its 1,256 seats. There’s a large stage framed by beautiful, gigantic trees; a patch of lush green grass for a pre-theatre picnic and a pretty good selection of food and drink which you can pre-order.
We watched On The Town, a revival of the classic Broadway musical lead by Strictly Come Dancing finalist, Danny Mac. Directed and choreographed by Olivier Award-winner Drew McOnie (music is by Leonard Bernstein and book and lyrics are by Betty Comden and Adolph Green), the show follows three American sailors – Gabey (Danny Mac), Chip (Jacob Maynard) and Ozzie (Samuel Edwards) on a 24-hour shore leave in New York City.
Fast, energetic and colourful, On The Town mixes humour with romance against a backdrop of 1940s New York. Danny Mac’s routines were impeccable, Sienna Kelly lit up the stage like the star she is about to become and Lizzy Connolly’s voice was something else – I was captivated by her. On The Town gets the thumbs-up from me – just don’t forget your waterproof jacket as the auditorium is completely uncovered and we all know how unpredictable British weather can be…
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Inner Circle, London NW1 4NU
