THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL UK Tour 2020. Photo Credit: Johan Persson
With its captivating set and endearing performances, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL boasts plenty of charm, even if its script feels somewhat misplaced and outdated.
Based on Deborah Moggach’s novel and the hit 2011 film of the same name, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL tells the story of the charming yet failing Marigold Hotel in Bangalore. After his father’s death, the enthusiastic Sonny Kapoor (Nishad Moore) proposes to his widowed mother that they turn his father’s hotel into a residential hotel for retirees. Introduce a squabbling group of seven disgruntled elderly guests, and you’re in for a treat.
Alongside Moore as Sonny was JESUS CHRIS SUPERSTAR’s Paul Nicholas as unhappy husband Douglas, and PARENT TRAP (1961) star Hayley Mills as Evelyn, a gentle, kind-hearted widow with a mischievous twinkle in her eye that catches Douglas’ attention. The relationship and chemistry that Nicholas and Mills build throughout the piece is touching in its sincerity and wholesome nature. Their scenes together, whilst simple, speak volumes and are a credit to their skill.
Another relationship that stands out is that of Sonny and his mother, Mrs Kapoor, played by Rekha John-Cheriyan. Their depiction of a mother-and-son relationship is as hilarious as it is earnest, with John-Cheriyan striking the perfect balance between a doting mother and punitive parent. Moore’s performance is equally skilful in the way that it drives the piece forward and injects some much-needed energy into the writing.
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL UK Tour 2020. Photo Credit: Johan Persson
It is, however, former CORONATION STREET stars Marlene Sideaway and Rula Lenska who steals the show as Muriel and Madge, respectively. Sideaway shows excellent comedic timing throughout as the brazen Muriel and brings both heart and hilarity to the piece. She is purposeful and accomplished in her performance and commands the audience’s attention whenever she steps on the stage, which is no small achievement for a character with such few lines.
Lenska is equally charming in her performance as the forthright Madge. Where Sideaway’s command of the stage is subtle, Lenska’s is striking and distinct – both powerful in her performance and quick-witted in her delivery. She is as colourful as her characters’ costumes and is a delight to watch. As an audience, you are certainly safe in the hands of these two Weatherfield legends.
Unfortunately, the impeccably talented cast is let down by the writing. Whilst Moggach’s writing made for a fantastic book and an even more successful film, it does not always make for good theatre.
The play never really feels as though it gets going and reaches a resolution before the audience ever really gets to grips with the events that led up to it. It starts slowly before racing through the final scenes in no particular detail or order. Therefore, instead of flowing as a play, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL feels more like a series of detached, stilted scenes strung together, with some tailing off seemingly mid-conversation rather than ending on a poignant note or pause.
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL UK Tour 2020. Photo Credit: Johan Persson
While there were certainly plenty of hilarious moments from Sidewaway and Lenska as well as others, many of the other jokes fall flat, with the wording of them feeling too clunky and awkward. It is clear that Moggach has tried to update the story with this script, but her attempts to appeal to both modern and traditional audiences simultaneously have resulted in a rather confusing perspective. For example, it is never quite clear to the audience whether the guests’ ignorance and initial fear of India is intended to be satirical or relatable; and it feels as though Moggach has decided to commit to neither of these stances, leaving us in a grey area.
Likewise, the character of Norman – played by Andy De La Tour – feels as though he is written to be neither likeable nor unlikeable. However, a character that makes such consistently insensitive comments cannot be a neutral choice. It seems that Moggach cannot fully commit to her own stance on the matter, and whilst Norman’s lines may be intended as jokes, they do not appear as such, yet we still appear to be expected to like him. Perhaps the best example of this is a throwaway line from Norman about how he would prefer to be born during colonial times as it was “easier”, which is met with silence.
Many such throwaway lines throughout the play make it feel as though Moggach has yet to fully see her ideas through, rendering the dialogue irrelevant.
However, whilst the dialogue of THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL may not always be pleasing, the combination of Colin Richmond and Oliver Fenwick’s set and lighting design is a match made in heaven. Richmond has designed a truly breathtaking set that transports us to the beautiful Marigold Hotel and holds us there. The level of detail in the set is outstanding and is perhaps one of the most transformative sets of its time. Furthermore, how Fenwick’s lighting interacts with this is exquisite, creating an overwhelmingly strong sense of time and place. Visually, this play certainly knows how to capture a moment, even if the writing does not always hold us there.
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL UK Tour 2020. Photo Credit: Johan Persson
For despite Moggach’s attempts to update the script, the story itself will always be somewhat outdated in its ideas. There is something that doesn’t sit right over ten years later about the idea of upper-class white retirees casting judgement upon Indian culture and the idea that Indian people have something to learn from this. It is a rather shallow exploration of the real issues that people in India face, and instead of exploring these issues in any depth, the story paints over them with generic finger-wagging and misplaced righteousness.
Whilst the writing of THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL was disappointing, it is nevertheless a fun and entertaining watch brimming with talent. With a captivating set and endearing performances from an outstanding cast, there is plenty of charm to be found here. Some truly strong relationships are at the heart of the piece and how they are developed, whether the friendships formed or the blossoming romances. Ultimately, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL teaches us that it’s never too late to start living.
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL runs at The Lowry, Salford, until 12 November 2022.
Megan Hyland is a full-time domestic abuse charity worker; part-time entertainment reviewer; and professional over-achiever. Currently one of ten writers chosen for Northern Broadsides’ Young Writers Forge, you can read more of her review writing at UpstagedManchester, The Custard TV and her blog The Manchester Maverick.
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