York Theatre Royal – until 23 November 2019
Reviewed by Marcus Richardson
5*****
Nigel Slater is a famous food writer known for his several books, one of which is his autobiography Toast: The Story of a Boys Hunger. Now a play on stage which delves into Slater’s childhood discovering his passion for food, relationship with his parents and his own personal journey. Currently at the York Theatre Royal, Toast is on tour around the UK.
Walking into the theatre was an experience in itself as as soon as you see the stage you are treated to the smell of toast, the smell reminds you of a moment maybe your childhood or just of breakfast. The smell of toast made me think of my own experiences and right away made the show a lot more personal. The show starts with a young Nigel (Giles Cooper) reading ‘Cookery in Colour’ by Marguerite Patten, the kitchen counters were weaving around the stage as Nigel manoeuvres over them, all whist Carole King’s ‘I Feel the Earth Move’ is playing. Such a strong way to open the show and grab the audiences attention, then we are left with Nigel and his mother (Katy Federman) about to make jam tarts.
Federman was one of the highlights of the show as the Mum, with being the strong idol for Nigel but also dealing with serious asthma problems, she captures motherly love perfectly. Nigel’s relationship with his Father was less sweet and more savoury. His Father (Blair Plant) was strict and believed in the tradition ideals of manhood. Plant did a good job of making sure that his father wasn’t a villain but it was hard to like him from Slater’s point of view. Slater’s rival as a teenager was Joan (Samantha Hopkins) whom he fought over to get his fathers attention through the power of food; Hopkins played ‘that’ woman very well, cigarette in hand and a sickly sweet attitude but aggressive behaviour to Slater. The last actor in the show is Stefan Edwards who played a gardener Josh when Slater was a child, Josh bought sexuality into the play and explored those moments in our childhood that define who we are as adults. Edwards played other character such as Slater’s best friend, and later a ballet dancer to who Slater has his first kiss with.
The entire play was well thought out with every single moment being both entertaining and important to the themes of the play. I would say the play is sophisticated but doesn’t go over the audiences head, there was a point in the play where Nigel made a game show on which sweets are for boys and girls, something his father believed; then sweets were shared with the audience, I got my hand on Parma Violets, everyone was rustling sweet wrappers and chewing and then straight after was a serious scene so they literally sugar-coated it all. I loved how the show was also a sensory experience with the smell of toast and near the end of the play mushrooms on toast were made on stage and the smell filled the whole theatre, which I absolutely loved and got me craving food.
Toast is one of the best shows I’ve seen and has certain left it’s mark. I will own up that I wasn’t expecting to like it whatsoever, I didn’t know anything about Nigel Slater or have an interest in cookbooks or other food articles. I knew as soon as I entered the theatre that it was going to be something special, they enhanced the show with so many little but important things that just made the show incredible to watch. I would gladly see the show again and if anyone has a spare ticket they better invite me because this show is not to be missed!