This year, Hugh Grant turns 50, Chekov is 150 and OUDS is 125. But only one of these anniversaries has spurred our supreme commander Roland Singer-Kingsmith into action. First, he drew up a five point plan. Now he’s marshalling his forces with military precision. He was last seen emailing almost anyone who’s ever set foot on the Oxford stage, asking for strategic advice on how to celebrate. A huge campaign fund has been raised, former alumni have been conscripted – even Thelma Holt’s been drafted in to provide backup. The resulting gala event at the Playhouse should feature more big names than Matt Maltby can drop in a week’s worth of Thespionage.
Also at OUDS, plans are under way for a social event, which could be coming soon to a theatre (?) near you. With such regular socials in mind, as well as talk of a large donation in the pipeline, many will view this year as the beginning of a renaissance in Oxford drama. On top of this, there’s a new phenomenon on display: student shows making serious money. First it was West Side Story; now Equus looks like it may have smashed OFS box office records.
Equus had better watch out, however, because there’s more than a whiff of scandal hanging over the OFS at the moment. See Cherwell News for more information about this, but we hear they’ve been handing out serious fines for last minute cancellations of plays. Adding insult to injury, at least one of last term’s OFS shows still hasn’t been paid. When the ageing studio finally closes, few students will mourn its departure.
For all this gossip, the serious business of making plays seems to have been sidelined: in Fourth week, there’s only a single play on. Thankfully, it’s Our Country’s Good, which looks extremely promising. For many audience members this will be the first sight of sawdust Casanova Alex Jeffery, while others familiar already with Rachel Bull will prepare once again to see her dash to the theatre, resplendent in rowing gear, with minutes to spare. The only other play with no competitors will be 8th Week’s Knives in Hens. But as Adam Baghdadi’s involved, we can be sure of one thing: either people are going to be terrifyingly thrilled by this tale of a woman murdering her adulterous husband – or just terrified.
