"Listen: things will be different after the play comes on – completely different… Only a few more weeks, Francie, and you’ll see. Your whole life will change. I promise you it will"
Managed to sneak into
After October at the Finborough in its final week due to several people raving about it and glad I did, for it was a Christmas cracker. Rodney Ackland's
Before The Party was an under-rated triumph at the Almeida a few years ago so I don't know why I didn't book in for this earlier on. But pleasing to see it has had such a successful run, a well-deserved airing for an under-served writer and a continuation of the Finborough's extraordinarily reliable track record of unearthing real gems from neglect (this is the first London revival of the play since its debut in 1936).
Running time: 2 hours 40 minutes (with interval)
Booking until 22nd December
Labels: Adam Buchanan, Allegra Marland, Andrew Cazanave Pin, Beverley Klein, Jasmine Blackborow, Jonathan Oliver, Josie Kidd, Patrick Osborne, Peta Cornish, Rodney Ackland, Sasha Waddell, Stephen Rashbrook