Review: THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, Belgrade Theatre Coventry - Tour
Photo credit: Johan Persson
Adapted for the stage by Deborah Moggach from her novel These Foolish Things, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel tells the story of a group of British retirees as they journey to India to embark on a new life.
Their new residence is far from the luxury they were expecting, but as they become charmed by the country and the hotel’s staff and make new friends their lives begin to change forever. A jubilant comedy about taking risks and unexpected second chances.
Directed by Lucy Bailey and with a star cast including some of TV’s most well-known faces, such as Belinda Lang (Madge), Paul Nicholas (Douglas) and Tessa Peake-Jones (Evelyn), the set design by Colin Richmond and lighting by Oliver Fenwick transports us to the heat of Bangalore; the history and wear and tear of the hotel giving the piece an atmospheric charm from the start.
Marlene Sidaway plays Muriel, the Londoner who arrives in India, simply because it’s the better option she was offered by the Council. Her character has probably one of the most touching journeys, arriving with preconceptions about the food, the people and the weather, she learns to embrace her new lease of life and is truly a joy to watch as you warm more and more to her character.
Nishad More and Shila Iqbal play Sonny Kapoor and Sahani respectively, the young couple kept apart by Sonny’s loyalty to his mother (played by Rekha John-Cheriyan), and the burden of being the perfect son. However, with the help of the hotel’s newest guests and their shared experiences, a new outlook on everyone’s life is apparent.
It’s an entertaining and poignant tale that reminds us through tears and laughter, it is never too late to embrace new experiences and live our lives to the full - there are no excuses!
An amusing, deep-rooted and emotionally epic adventure.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel plays at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry until 17 June, with further information here.