One of my favorite things to do whenever I'm in London is see the variety of West End productions the city has. Now, the Big Apple 's Great White Way and London's West End already share many of the same great productions ("Les Miserables," "Kinky Boots," and "Jersey Boys" -- just to name the first three that came to mind). However, there are still a few that have yet to make their way across the pond. Here are five that I feel must make the journey sooner rather than later.
"Sunny Afternoon"
In case you haven't read my bio, I am quite the fan of the English '60s rock band, the Kinks, and "Sunny Afternoon" is their story. It explains how four guys from Muswell Hill, London were able to take the music scene by storm when, unlike their counterparts the Who, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones, they didn't exactly fit into the marketing mold of matching haircuts and singing about holding girls' hands. The Kinks marched to the beat of their own quirky drum, and "Sunny Afternoon" takes you from the moment Ray and Dave Davies figured out that cutting into amp would produce the distortion that made their hit "You Really Got Me" still relevant today, to the struggles that fame brought on, including their ban from America.
"The Mousetrap"
There is a reason Londoners have made this the longest running musical in the world. Agatha Christie's beloved mystery play "The Mousetrap" has been performing for more than 60 years and audiences still fall in love every night. Join a couple who keeps an inn and their guests on a snowy, stormed in evening, where mysterious murders happen throughout town. Then, when a murder takes place at the inn, we know the culprit is among our cast, but who is it? The secret of "The Mousetrap" murderer has been a well-kept one for many years, and it would be lovely for American audiences to take it in, too.
"The Woman in Black"
You've probably seen the Daniel Radcliffe film, but did you know it started out on the West End? "The Woman in Black" is even more haunting when played out in front of you. Join a young lawyer as he journeys to the funeral of a client and becomes haunted by a woman in black on his way. When going through his client's things, he discovers the dark secret of the woman, and so will you in the audience. The play is known for being led by only two actors on the stage... well, and the shadow of the woman. It's certainly a delightful fright.
"The Play That Goes Wrong"
If you're looking for a serious night of theatre, "The Play That Goes Wrong" is a bad bet. The first production from the LAMBDA graduate drama troupe Mischief Theatre Company (which now rule the West End scene with three other smash hits), "The Play" features its actors playing actors playing roles in the production of a mystery play, which runs into about every problem imaginable. Got it? Well, you will, and you'll also laugh, because the jokes are perfectly timed, proving that British humor doesn't need to be stuffy.
"Dreamboats and Petticoats"
OK, technically this production is no longer in London and is currently touring, but it still left a huge impression on me. "Dreamboats and Petticoats" features hits from the 1950s with a cute plot to wrap things up neatly. Join Bobby, an awkward teenager with big dreams of breaking into the music scene, as he and his friends at the youth club enter into a national songwriting competition. Love, lust, and lots of bobby socks make this, dare I say, more delectable than "Grease" has ever been to me.
