It is very rare that a production has me gripped from the first second, but 84 Charing Cross did exactly that, I was hooked from the moment the lights went down and actor musicians took to the stage.
84 Charing Cross Road is a series of letters sent by Helene Hanff, an American author to Frank Doel of Marks and Co an antiquarian book shop on Charing Cross Road. She has discovered this gem of a bookshop and over a 20 year period takes delight in asking for them to hunt certain books she is after. Over this 20 year period Helene’s relationship with Frank develops in the most engaging way. Helene is very forthright from the start pacing around her apartment, smoking cigarettes and drinking gin, but she shows some incredibly tender moments. Frank is the perfect gentleman as he changes from his stuffy business style correspondence to developing an almost romantic feel to his letters.
The supporting cast playing other members of the shop workers and also writing occasional letters to Helene also cleverly show the passage of time over the years through their music and song.
Stefanie Powers as Helene and Clive Francis as Frank are outstanding. Through their series of monologues they show what incredible actors they are, drawing you into the small endearing part of their lives, you can almost smell the antiquarian books.
This production does exactly what you often want from theatre, to be transported to a different world where you just don’t want to leave. This is one of the most tender and engaging productions I have seen this year.
Runs until Saturday 26th May.
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