Keith Michell in variety of roles

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33434, 16 January 1974, Page 4

Keith Michell in variety of roles

: “Keith Michell at Her ! Majesty’s” is one from a ■ short series of programmes I in which the award-winning i actor visited famous London theatres to recall some of the drama and music they have presented. He acts in scenes of plays and sings songs from shows that have been staged in each theatre. Her Majestry’s is in fact the fourth theatre on the present site — the first, the Queen’s, was opened in 1705 — and housed epic drama, Italian opera, Diaghilev’s Russian ballet, the 2238 performances of “Chu Chin Chow” and modern American musicals. Keith Michell’s show recreates, among others, numI bers from “West Side j Story,” “Brigadoon”, Noel Coward’s “Bitter Sweet”, “Chu Chin Chow”, “The Pirates of Penzance’, “The CoOptimists”, “Oh Kay” and “Company”. In a scene from Sheridan’s

“A Trip To Scarborough”, presented in 1793, Keith plays the outrageous Lord Foppington with Peter Gilmore as Loveless and Angela Richards as his wife, Amanda. Later in the show, recalling the 1935 production of Henry IV”, Part I, in which George Robey as Falstaff became the first music hall comedian to play a classic role, Keith switches to Shakespearean comedy. Playing Prince Hal to his Falstaff is lan McKellen, who also proves his breadth of talent in some song and dance routines. A notable number is Noel Coward’s “The Stately Homes of England”, filmed at Longleat, lan McKellen, Peter Gilmore and Jeremy Lloyd joining Keith Michell as the noble lords.

Guests featured in musical numbers include Moira Anderson and Angela Richards.

“Keith Michell at Her Majesty’s” screens on Sunday at 7.42 p.m.