All About Almodovar

It was a week ago yesterday that I sauntered along The Cut to the theatrical adaptation of Pedro Almodovar's 'All About My Mother' at the Old Vic. I have been meaning to write about it here, but I have been shamefully remiss of late. So late that the mainstream papers are already on the case: anathema to a blogger. And, as is often the case, I disagree with the dead white males. Well, okay, I often disagree with the live ones as well but that's academic. And I rarely do so with the West End Whingers whose review, yet again, is more relevant (personal photo ops aside) than the Times, Guardian and Evening Standard.

In short, I thought the play was brilliant. It's not every day that you spend a few hours inside the heads of pregnant nuns, transsexual prostitutes, and theatrical divas immersed in sex, drugs and three untimely deaths (Sunday afternoon sessions at the Vauxhall Tavern aside, of course). Lesley Manville and Dame Diana Rigg offer superb examples of cooling British acting talent which provides a counterpoint to the play's Spanish heat. My only niggle is the girl who plays the nun (played by Penelope Cruz in the movie) is generally excellent but her Spanish accent when she says "Mama" or "Papa" is laughable. It actually sounds Italian (she stresses the first syllable instead of the second one). Ok, it's a detail.

The critics moan that it's a play of a movie which makes it somehow less worthy as a play. I disagree. It's not the movie, but we knew that, it's a play. Does it work as a play? Absolutely.

'All About My Mother' is at London's Old Vic Theatre until Nov 24th. There is £25 'Early Bird' ticket offer through the month of September. Book here.