Showmanism created by Dickie Beau, Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, London NW3 until 12 July 2025. 2☆☆. Review: William Russell.

Photo Credit: Amanda Searle.

Showmanism created by Dickie Beau, Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, London NW3 until 12 July 2025.

2☆☆. Review: William Russell.

“Evening like no other.”

Dickie Beau lip synchs – how well it is hard to tell from the back of the Hampstead stalls but he does appear to move in time with the recorded voices some 14 thespians, mostly American, talking about their art while removing his clothes from time to time. There is an expensive looking structure surrounding him and what the voices have to say is often extremely interesting. What, added savour to press night was that in the audience was one of the voices – none other than Sir Ian McKellen. But the show belongs to Mr Beau as is made perfectly clear by the programme which contains 15 pages with his photograph on them. What the words amounted to is for his audiences to decide. For me it all brought to mind – Mr Beau has reached that time of life when one really should keep one's clothes on in public – the song about the king being in the all together although it was not on an all too chilly a morn but a warm summer evening. But there are striking moments –one is when Dickie collides with the fourth wall and manages to break through and there is what the voices have to say. Sir Ian's contributions are faultless, notable a hilarious account about drying while playing Prospero and seeking a prompt and a fascinating account of going to Oberamergau, Steve Nallon has interesting things to say about being Margaret Thatcher as does Fiona Shaw about something or other . But whether one needs the interposition of Mr Beau is another matter. He has his fans, and his Remember Me was a hit at Hampstead two years ago. But one of those Sky Arts programmes on the actor's art would have revealed as much, and possibly more, than he has dug up being not only the creator but the deviser along with fellow deviser Jan-Willem Van Den Bosch who also directed the show. But the great thing about the theatre is that there is no need for everyone in the audience to feel the same way about what is happening on stage but one should at least learn something and here one learned nothing one could not have learned from watching a chat show on television. Mr Beau, real name Richard Boyce, however, was not alone in having a wonderful time. Whatever else it is an evening like no other.

Cast

Richard Boyce – Dickie Beau

Patsy Rodnburg, Terence McKenna, Ian McKellen, Peter Sellars, Mimi Denissi, Steve Nallon, Joe E Jeffreys, Fiona Shaw, Patsy Rodenburg, Rupert Christiansen, Ram Dass – the Voices

Creatives

Director – Jan-Willem Van Den Bosch

Set,Costumes & Video Designer – Justin Nardella

Lighting Designer – Marty Langthorne

Sound Designer – Dan Steele