Review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The world premiere stage adaptation of Deborah Moggach’s best-selling novel These Foolish Things visits the Theatre Royal Bath this week until Saturday, December 3

Directed by Lucy Bailey, the cast is led by celebrated stars of stage and screen Hayley Mills, Paul Nicholas and Rula Lenska who have all appeared at the Theatre Royal in other productions.

Moggach’s 2004 novel, a joyous comedy about taking risks, finding love and embracing second chances, previously inspired the BAFTA and Golden Globe-nominated film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Directed by John Madden, the film was released in the UK in 2012 and topped the British Box Office within two weeks of its cinematic distribution.

Starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilson, Tom Wilkinson, Celie Imrie and Ronald Pickup - with Dev Patel as the put-upon owner of a past-its-best hotel for ‘the elderly and beautiful’ - it went on to become an international hit and one of the highest-grossing films of 2012 in Australia and New Zealand, in addition to the UK.

The feel-good tale of love and adventure takes audiences on a journey to India with an eclectic group of British retirees as they embark on a new life abroad in Bangalore.

The luxury residence of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a far cry from the opulence they were promised in the brochure, with mushrooms sprouting in rooms, and dodgy telephones and plumbing that doesn’t work.

But as their lives begin to intertwine and they embrace the vibrancy of modern-day India, they are charmed in unexpected and life-changing ways.

The stage version contains some odd and unnecessary changes, but if you loved the film you’ll probably enjoy the play.

Paul Nicholas and Hayley Mills lead the cast as the melancholy widow Evelyn and hen-pecked husband Douglas, while Eileen Battye shines as Jean, Douglas’s quarrelsome and domineering wife.

Richenda Carey gives a stand-out performance as Dorothy, whose background turns out to be not quite what you’d expect.

She provides a heart-warming link with the hotel's weary old 'butler' Jimmy, played by Harmage Singh Kalirai.

Meanwhile, Marlene Sidaway plays the grumpy and bigoted old domestic Muriel with a heart of gold who sympathises with the hotel’s lowly ‘Untouchable’ cleaner Tikal, played by Anant Varman.

But Rula Lenska delivers the play’s best line as the ballsy Madge when she declares "I don't give a f**k.”

Andy De La Tour is grumpy Norman, the ex-accountant betrayed by his wife, while Nishad More plays the hapless Sonny Kapoor, and Rekha John-Cheriyan his mother Mrs Kapoor.

Although classed as a comedy, the play makes some valid and pertinent points about the UK’s social care system and what it’s really like to grow old in a society that doesn’t cherish and value the elderly.

There’s also a sub-plot involving the clash between old post-Colonial India and the younger generation who are forming the new India.

This is played out by youngsters working in a call centre run serving the UK by Mr Gupta, excellently played by Tiran Aakel.

They are ably supported by Shila Iqbal as Sonny’s girlfriend, Sahani, and Kerena Jagpal as her friend Kamila. The ensemble cast is completed by understudies Adam Morris and Julie Wood.

The play ends with a joyous dance routine by the whole cast, to round off a production which picks up after the interval and a slow first act.

To buy tickets contact the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or book online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk