By Tom Stoppard

Music by Andre Prévin

 

Freely adapted from Ferenc Molnár's Play At The Castle

Fantastically daft
Mark Brown, The Herald

For acclaimed playwrights Sandor Turai and Alex Gal, their transatlantic journey from Cherbourg to New York should be plain sailing. Their new musical comedy is all but finished – there’s just the trivial matter of the ending to sort out - and their protégé, the brilliant young composer Adam Adam, is rapturously in love with their exotic leading lady, Natasha Navratilova. Four days’ sailing, a Broadway première, another smash hit: what could possibly go wrong?

Well, they and Adam could decide to surprise Natasha by serenading her with their latest song from the show. And unexpectedly overhear her and fading matinée idol Ivor Fish whispering sweet nothings – and more – in the cabin next door. And Adam’s priceless score could end up in the Atlantic. With him threatening to follow suit . . .

As both ship and show hit heavy weather, the line between reality and musical comedy becomes increasing blurred. Can Turai pull off a masterstroke and reunite Adam and Natasha? Will Gal ever stop eating long enough to help? Why does the ship’s crew seem to consist exclusively of would-be playwrights? And who, exactly, is Reggie Robinsod? Enter Dvornichek, an extraordinary cabin steward with an iron constitution. He may just be the only person who can sort it all out . . .

Stoppard’s deliriously funny play is an affectionate tribute to the Golden Age of sophisticated comedy. With jokes that would have delighted Coward and songs that Irving Berlin might have penned, Rough Crossing is a feast of verbal wit, physical comedy and sheer theatrical virtuosity.

Fun for fun’s sake
Mark Fisher, The Guardian