A fine walk in the park

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
Wyndham's Theatre

WHEN I saw Sam Buntrock’s production of this Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical at the groundbreaking Menier Chocolate Factory last November, I urged everyone I cared about to see this magical show. Now that it has transferred to the West End I am doing the same.
Buntrock’s breathtaking and emotionally charged production grabs your attention from the outset leaving you touched and delighted in equal measure. Part of its tantalising appeal stems from Timothy Bird’s visually captivating multimedia effects which use colour and light to create famous works of art on David Farley’s stylish white set – trees move, dogs and soldiers come alive and characters walk in and out of paintings.
There is also a terrific cast with a unique onstage chemistry between leads Daniel Evans – who plays celebrated pointillist artist George Seurat as well as his great grandson, George, 100 years later – and Jenna Russell as George the senior’s model and mistress Dot and then elderly daughter Marie.
The magnificent ensemble are virtually unchanged from the Menier. One notable exception is Jenna Russell who takes over from Anna Jane Casey and plays both parts with a knowing confidence.
Throw into the pot marvellous numbers – We Do Not Belong Together, Everybody Loves Louis and Move On – with Jason Carr’s orchestration and only five talented musicians – and you have a sensational must-see theatrical event.
The 1984 Broadway musical which received its British premiere at the National Theatre in 1990 focuses on the people behind Seurat’s famous canvas A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte and in particular the complexities of its artist whose work was his true love – something that perhaps Sondheim is saying about himself.
Until July 22
0870 950 0925

CLICK HERE TO BOOK THEATRE TICKETS