Once In A Lifetime is a play written by Moss Hart & George S. Kaufman about the rise of talking pictures in Hollywood. In this new adaptation by Christopher Hart, the play sees three friends sell their vaudeville act and head to Hollywood to open a school teaching actors how to talk on film. However things start to take off for one of the trio and becomes a supervisor to the head of a massive film studio.

I really, really liked this play. I adore the Young Vic theatre. They make theatre really accessible to those who can’t always afford tickets. My ticket was only £10 because I’m under 25!

Every single member of the company were fantastic. One of the big names in the cast was Harry Enfield who played the head of the film studio. And he was brilliant! I couldn’t believe it was his stage debut, he has a very good stage presence that seems to come quite natural to him. Kevin Bishop, Claudie Blakley and John Marquez were fantastic as our main trio and the chemistry between all three of them bounced off particularly well. John Marquez was the stand out, he was absolutely hilarious. I also loved his scenes with Lizzy Connolly, a rising star in the London theatre scene and deservedly so. Both of them are equally as funny and they bounce off each other brilliantly.

I have to note the incredible staging as well. The stage was built like a massive cinema screen. So it was like you were watching a film playing out. And the revolving stage was super impressive and so smooth whilst transitioning between scenes, some which showcased the different parts of the studio to a moving train carriage. I was very impressed, considering the theatre isn’t the biggest!

Once In A Lifetime is a brilliant, entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable play currently playing at the Young Vic Theatre until January 14th. You can find more information at http://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/once-in-a-lifetime. 

Stay tuned tomorrow for my review of Hedda Gabler at the National Theatre!

Until then,