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Bear with me: Sun Bear @ParkTheatre

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If The Light House is an uplifting tale of survival, Sarah Richardson’s Sun Bear gives a contrasting take on this. Sarah plays Katy. We’re introduced to Katy as she runs through a list of pet office peeves with her endlessly perky coworkers, particularly about coworkers stealing her pens. It’s a hilarious opening monologue that would have you wishing you had her as a coworker to help relieve you from the boredom of petty office politics.  But something is not quite right in the perfect petty office, where people work together well. And that is her. And despite her protesting that she is fine, the pet peeves and the outbursts are becoming more frequent. As the piece progresses, maybe the problem lies in a past relationship, where Katy had to be home by a particular hour, not stay out late with office colleagues and not be drunk enough not to answer his calls. Perhaps the perky office colleagues are trying to help, and perhaps Katy is trying to reach out for help. It has simple staging

Fancy footwork: Floyd Collins @WiltonMusicHall


A cave man searching for fame and fortune - and finds it after he gets trapped in one - is the basis of the musical Floyd Collins, currently playing at Wilton's Music Hall.

Based on the true story of Kentucky cave explorer Collins. After getting his foot trapped he becomes a media sensation when a cub reporter (who is thin and small enough to enter the cave) interviews him. His subsequent story becomes syndicated across America.




Written by Adam Guettel with a book by Tina Landau, it was hailed at the time as a new landmark in musical theatre with its bluegrass-infused score. Perhaps some of the music is an acquired taste, but the piece still seems as powerful and as moving.

It's helped with a slick production and delivered a cast of fine singers and performers, headed up by Ashley Robinson as the caver Floyd.

Directed by Jonathan Butterell, it's a simple yet effective production. It makes the most of the cavernous space of Wilton's Music Hall and like a sand cave, it's a rare find. Floyd Collins runs until 15 October.


Photo credit: evocative production images by Hannah Barton

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