Theatre Royal, Brighton – until 24th September 2022
Reviewed by Sue Bradley
4****
Starting in India with a scene set at the funeral of the previous hotel owner, the story then opened like a classic ‘who-dunnit’, with this gentle comedy bringing together a group of retired strangers to a past-its-best hotel in Bangalore, having to learn about themselves and each other in an unfamiliar setting that is far from the opulence they were promised.
This is far from a dry exploration of the effects of ageing; rather, it is a wry meditation on re-discovering yourself beyond a point where you might have thought the best parts of your life are over. And, whilst all the men have significant parts to play in this story, it is the women who enjoy the most significant changes; finding unexpected new love and happiness.
When we were younger, we were often told to ‘act our age’. It was an absolute pleasure to see actors such as Hayley Mills (Wild at Heart, The Parent Trap), Paul Nicholas (Jesus Christ Superstar, Just Good Friends, Eastenders) and Rula Lenska (Rock Follies, Coronation Street) very much acting their age and reminding us that there is a great deal of living (and loving) to be had in our retirement years. Harmage Singh Kalirai was also excellent in the several roles that he played, and especially moving as the Sadhu.
The beautifully designed set really captures the feel of an Indian ‘heritage’ hotel and it provides the setting for almost all of the story.
The show took a little while to get going as the first half was slow and the pace was a little uneven – many of the significant transformations for the characters happened well into the second half, but we were kept entertained along the journey. With plenty of light one-liners and throw-away quips we were kept smiling and laughing throughout.
The best-selling book These Foolish Things, by Deborah Moggach, was the basis for the hit film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and she has adapted her own novel to provide the stage play for this show, treading a fine line between the lighter tone of the film and the darker complexities of the book.
Whether this show will appeal to a young audience is yet to be seen but for those of us who have had some experience of life and perhaps feel that some of our better years are behind us this was a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. It was genuinely moving in places and the uplifting end to the show sent us all away happy.