My favourite actress

I went to see The Chalk Garden last night at The Donmar, now they really are at the cutting edge of art - play after play that sets the standard in the West End. I have spent a lifetime admiring Margaret Tyzack who plays one of the two leads, and indeed it's beyond me why she isn't a Dame. Although I haven't met the great lady, I have never, in 50 years, seen her give a bad performance. She was magnificent, but the strength of that performance was matched in every way by her protagonist, played by Penelope Wilton - simply reminding us that the British have the finest array of female actresses in the world, I repeat, in the world. And we need have no fears for the next genertion, as the young Felicity Jones gives a polished performance as the 16 year old Laura, who, when she first walks on to the stage looking like a teenager, walking and talking as one, you don't doubt she is that age, but after only a few sentences you become aware of her acting experience, as confirmed in the programme notes. Although the show closes on August 2nd, I'm told it is still possible to get odd tickets for the matinees - rush to buy one.

I'm off to do the next draft of Paths of Glory, so will talk to you in a couple of week's time.