Rough Crossing by Tom Stoppard at Leeds Grand Theatre - Review

This is a comedy set on board a cruise liner sailing to New York in the 1930s. Two playwrights and a musician have part written a musical and are meeting up with the main actor and actress who will be starring in it on board the ship. Comedy ensues when the playwrights and musician accidentally overhear the actor and actress on the balcony above. John Partridges character tries to save the situation. There  is also a comedy waiter played admirably by a young up coming actor called Charlie Stemp. 

Whilst the storyline wasn't strong there were some funny one liners. The set was very professional. John Partridge was the star and he was excellent, with perfect comic timing, watching him was definitely the highlight of the show. He also does a wonderful dance routine at the end of the show with Charlie Stemp.

The official lowdown 

Written by Academy, Tony and Olivier award-winning writer Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Real Thing) and directed by acclaimed director Rachel Kavanaugh(The Wind in the Willows, Half a Sixpence), Rough Crossingtells the tale of two famous but desperate playwrights stuck in an ocean liner headed for New York.Feverishly trying to rehearse their latest show before reaching land(and opening night),they are constantly distracted by their delicate composer’s attempts to end it all, having overheard his lover confess her feelings to the leading man. Add an absurdly unorthodox waiter, a mistimed lifeboat drill and a vanishing glass of brandy and soon the sharp Atlantic winds turn to world-class gales of laughter as these colourful characters become tangled up in a typically Stoppardian string of absurd events.The star cast is led by John Partridge;winner of this year’s Celebrity Masterchef, charismatic Christian Clarke in EastEnders andone of musical theatre’s most prolific leading men having played in major West End musical hits, includingChorus Line, Chicagoand La Cage Aux Folles. Joining Partridgeisone of musical theatre’s brighteststars, Olivier-award nominee Charlie Stemp. Freshfrom SnowWhiteat the London Palladium, Stemp has triumphedin both London and Broadway,starring opposite Bette Midler in Hello, Dolly! andin the West Endin Half a Sixpence. He will play Bertin the 2019 revival of Mary Poppins. Rough Crossingwill also featureWestEnd star Issy van Randwyck (Fascinating Aïda), comedy TV favourite Matthew Cottle(Game On, The Windsors),Holby City’sRob Ostlere and Simon Duttonwho portrayed Simon Templar inThe Saint.