THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET

Great night out: if you want to see a play on the West End
Our rating: Breakfast at Tiffanys?
Recommend to friends: for those who consider themselves romantics at heart
Best bit: the rather dramatic finale

Anna Friel stars in the role of Holly Golightly, the role made famous by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 Oscar-winning film. This new stage adaption of Truman Capotes classic novella set two decades earlier is presented by Samuel Adamson. Sean Mathias, director of the highly successful production of Waiting for Godot directs, this being his second production at Theatre Royal Haymarket.

Starring alongside Anna Friel, nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in the Television Series Pushing Daisies is Joseph Cross (known for his roles in Running with Scissors, Flags of our Fathers, Milk) as William Fred Parsons.

The storyline centres on the romantic escapades of high society good time girl Holly Golightly in New York. Anna Friel gives an intoxicating performance as Holly. I am sure the lustful eyes of the many hopefuls who fell under her charm were echoed in the audience. While both leads give good performances the chemistry between them is somewhat lacking.

The audience was left slightly confused as Miss Golightly had evidently had a trip to the hair salon and, contrary to the show poster and the original film, is in fact blonde. Whether this was an afterthought or a cue that a very different kind of breakfast is to be served at the Haymarket, it seemed rather unnecessary. As did the nudity and perhaps Miss Golightlys pet cat that could have been omitted.

The stage, set and props all worked well and the trademarked Tiffanys Blue was echoed throughout. I would definitely like some of the elegant 1940s garments worn for my own wardrobe. The original score from the film by Henry Mancini has some fantastic items and allowed smooth transitions between melodrama and humour.

Although at times shallow there was something highly appealing about this heady romance. With a week of previews to go, I am optimistic that this production will be polished and ready to shine when it opens on September 29, 2009.