A long play, it seemed surprising that it started as late at 8 o’clock, but as the interval finished and the trials of the second half began, it became apparent that this production uses the inevitable nightfall to its advantage.

I have seen The Boyfriend and Hello Dolly at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park in previous years: both light, witty musicals. This year the theatre is tackling two rather more sombre plays, The Crucible and Macbeth.

Miller‘s play is, if anything, more effective than the musicals I’d witnessed in its use of the space. The young Salem girls sit surrounding the circular stage almost throughout the show, with haunted blank faces, reacting occasionally to the speech before them. Their silence is sometimes even more poignant than Miller’s most dramatic words.

The cast capture the dark hysteria wonderfully. John Proctor (Patrick O’Kane) towered above the young Abigail Williams (Emily Taafe), a physical contrast that emphasised the struggle for justice between them. O’Kane’s bellowing voice carried across the park, and his gradual desperation was developed very naturally by the actor. For me though it was Philip Cumbus as Reverend John Hale who gave the most compelling performance of the night.

Director Timothy Sheader should be congratulated on this eerie realisation of The Crucible, adapted well for this al fresco venue and yet staying true to the playwright’s intentions. The play, although written in 1953 and set in the 1690s , still  felt politically and culturally relevant. Towards the end I found myself gasping and hoping for a consoling outcome, but to no avail. The cold night and the chilling drama left me shivering as I left the park.

Catch this production before it ends on 19 June, it is a stunning rendition of Miller’s classic. However if you prefer something a little more light-hearted, opt for Sondheim’s Into the Woods at Regent’s Park from 6 August.

Book tickets here

It’s been a fantastic year in London. Here we take a moment to reflect on our favourite things from 2009.

Claire:
I think mine was seeing the film Wings of Desire at the Somerset House Summer Screen. Everything came together that night: fantastic venue, good weather, and a cool movie about Berlin with Nick Cave on the soundtrack!

Hannah:
I love all the quirky, creative events that happen in London. Two of the best this year were Bompas and Parr’s Architectural Punch Bowl and the science-themed ice cream van at the Royal College of Art Show.

Jenny:
My highlight of 2009 is seeing bands that I loved back in the 90s! This year I’ve been lucky enough to see Brett Anderson from Suede, the Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode, who all played fantastic gigs in London.

Jo:
Anish Kapoor at the Royal Academy – this groundbreaking exhibition was a breath of fresh air. The scale and ambition of the exhibition made it one of my highlights of the year. Massive reflective sculptures, a huge moving wax installation squeezing its way through the academy’s doorways, and, of course, the famous wax cannon mean I won’t forget this show in a hurry.

Julie:
La Clique’s intoxicating cocktail of cabaret, circus, comedy and burlesque is the best night out in London by far. Current highlights include Marawa’s fabulous disco hula hooping, Ursula Martinez’s famous strip with red hankie, Mario Queen of the Circus’s Freddy Mercury tribute, juggling and risqué chat – and manic songstress Miao Miao’s ability to get strapping blokes from the audience into uncompromising positions. I’ve been lucky enough to see La Clique five times and have thoroughly enjoyed every show!

Lettice:
I can’t decide between my top two highlights of 2009. I was totally terrified after I agreed to go kayaking in the summer but bobbing about on the Thames on a lovely sunny morning turned out to be the most peaceful and relaxing way to enjoy London. The other highlight was seeing my all-time favourite band, The Shadows, in concert for the first time. If only I’d been kayaking with The Shadows, my year would have been perfect!

Zoe:
It’s impossible to choose between Piaf early in the year, Hello, Dolly! and As You Like It in the summer, and more recently, Morecambe for Christmassy giggles. And I really liked going to Frank’s Campari Bar on top of Peckham’s multi-storey carpark in the summer. Proof that my new neighbourhood, SE15, is where it’s at.

London’s West End stars were out in force at yesterday’s opening performance of Hello, Dolly! at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park.

The light drizzle failed to dampen any spirits, or keep any of the capital’s theatrical elite away. We saw Natalie Casey from Two Pints of Larger and a Packet of Crisps enjoying a drink in the bar. Once we’d taken our slightly soggy seats, we spotted Desmond Barrit not being the wicked Wizard of Oz; Nigel Cooke, who we last saw stressed out as Kent in Rupert Goold’s King Lear; and everyone’s favourite pantomime dame, Clive Rowe. Who we are sorry to say, was not in costume.

Rumours that Una Stubbs was also there can’t be confirmed from this quarter…

It seems this is a London theatre the stars enjoy attending!

We wondered if they enjoyed this fantastic show as much as we did. If you’re a fan of big, brash musical theatre with big song-and-dance scenes, and big-hearted love songs, you’ll love Hello, Dolly!. It’s sparky, silly, sentimental and showy; the lead, Samatha Spiro, is sensational. With colourful costumes, fantastic choreography, lots of laughs and wonderful showtunes, you’re sure to enjoy this “taste of the highlife”!