This weekend's theatre

My weekend began with a trip to the Menier Chocolate Factory to see A Number starring Timothy and Sam West. It's always fascinating to see great theatre families working together, and in the past I have seen the Richardsons and the Redgraves, so adding the Wests was a bonus. Timothy West plays the father of three sons, all played by Sam West, so not only are they father and son, but they are playing father and son, which adds to the challenge, both for the audience and the actors. They both gave first class performances in this one-act, hour long play (which only has two weeks to run, and is well worth seeing). It's been a long time since I visited the Menier. Gone are the days of first come, first served, hard seating, and lights that didn't hit the right spots. The benches have been replaced with extremely comfortable numbered seats, and the lights hit their marks first time, as this theatre challenges the Donmar and the Almeida for their audiences. Congratulations must go to the energetic and determined David Babani and his troupe, though I am still puzzled why they don't advertise in the classifieds.