Sitting In The Cheap Seats

Shadowlands , the William Nicholson play that charts the story of C.S. Lewis’ correspondence-turned-relationship with the American poet Joy Gresham, is such a perfect fit for the Chichester audience it’s almost a surprise it isn’t a regular feature here. “jack” Lewis’ evolution from Oxford don debating theology to heartbroken widower is a wonderful through line on which to hang a play.

There is a stark, depressing, inevitability to Henrik Ibsen ’s An Enemy Of The People . He rather masterfully makes us believe that one man can make a difference if he is morally right before pulling a 180 degree turn by introducing money into the decision making process of his characters. It is perhaps a more striking play given the current political climate and a timely piece for  Chichester Festival Theatre to put on.