Christopher Walker reviews Groundhog Day playing at the Old Vic
Do you ever feel every day is the same? Maybe question the meaning of life?
If so, I have the show for you.
Groundhog Day the movie has come to the London stage.
Under artistic director Matthew Warchus, the Old Vic goes from strength to strength.
He himself tracked down Danny Rubin, the movie’s writer, and extracted the rights for a stage adaptation.
He also bagged Tim Minchin, the creator of Matilda, to write the music and lyrics.
Opening night had nearly every star of British stage and screen, from Stephen Fry to Downton’s Carson the Butler, (Jim Carter).
Warchus is theatre’s ‘Mr Fixit.’
The story is an unusual one and requires some cultural notes.
Firstly, while in the UK weatherpeople tend to be badly dressed boffins, in the United States they are idolized media stars.
And, secondly, whilst some Londoners may look down their noses at their Northern cousins, this pales into insignificance compared to the visceral contempt New Yorkers show for the ”flyover states,” and those who live in them.
The Democrat voting “coastal elite,” applauded FBI agent Peter Strzok’s infamous text “I just went to a South Virginia Walmart.
You could SMELL the Trump support.” A country of two tribes at war.
This is important background for a plot which sees slick weather anchor Phil Connors stranded in the hick country town of Punxstawney on Groundhog Day, when the little critter predicts whether Spring will come.
Connors dismisses the “hayseeds” and sings “there’s nothing more depressing than small towns.”
Worse. He’s trapped in a time loop cursed to repeat every day again and again, longing for Spring.
Until…until what?
Andy Karl is perfectly cast as Connors and gives a five star performance.
Tanisha Spring (yes ‘Spring’) certainly has the voice for Rita, the girl he falls for, and Eve Norris shines as Nancy the town tart.
The Highschool band are wonderfully hick – Nick Hayes stands out as the only one who can dance.
In the end it’s an old fashioned ‘morality tale’ and there are some lulls.
But Matthew’s strong directing holds it together.
Tickets: www.oldvictheatre.com
Picture: The Company in Groundhog Day at The Old Vic. Picture Credits: Manuel Harlan
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