The Passing Of The Third Floor Back(Finborough Theatre)

Yes I will see it. These Finborough rediscoveries normally serve to show why they disappeared in the first place so they are interesting rather than outstanding. The theme of this one is repeated in several plays from that era.

I looked up the piece only a couple of weeks ago, after reading an article on the original star Johnston Forbes-Robertson. It's quite a conincidence to then find out it's being revived for the first time in decades. I'll definintely think about seeing it.

I thought Act Two outstayed its welcome but I enjoyed it more than the Times and Telegraph reviewers. It's didactic and wouldn't play in a large theatre but in the atmospheric Finborough with a good set and lighting, and an elegant harp accompaniment, I thought it was quite charming. Alexander Knox excellent in the pivotal role.

In a general newspaper, many more people will read a review than a feature article on a very obscure topic. So, this is quite a clever way to publish a feature article! The production must be glad that there's not any additional review content in the piece - it's clear that very little of it would have encouraged anyone to buy a ticket.

I saw the review too - surprising to find it in the Telegraph which tends to celebrate the archaic. Her point seems to be that this play is unacceptable because it is "sanctimonius" (which it is) which ignores the fact that many new plays are also sanctimonious and simply promote a moral superiority based on liberal rather than Christian values. She herself demonstrates the trait by praising only the revival of a forgotten play which was "an early feminist theatrical polemic against the institution of marriage". Thus she implies there is only value in reviving plays which conform to our current mores, whereas in my view there is interest in reviving plays which do not so we can see how things have changed.

I am surprised she detects no hint of sermonising in "Three Men In A Boat" - it suggests to me she hasn't actually read it. Also there is a terrible howler where she describes Winnie the Pooh as "a little yellow bear who has a very small brain" whereas he is in fact "a bear of very little brain" which is different.

2* - Must try harder


Oh, just while I remember, next year is the 150th anniversary of the Finborough building and they are staging a season of "the best plays of the year 1868" - we had a discussion some time ago about how the early and mid-Victorian era had hardly any plays we were familiar with so this season will be interesting if only to indicate why that is. 

I have read enough to convince me it is my duty to go and see this.