So many excellent shows to see...how can we do it all? Tricia and I went to the opening at Downstage of FINDING MURDOCH - an interesting play written by a journalist who actually found the real Keith Murdoch in the Australian outback. Based loosely on the true story of the All Black sent home in disgrace from the '72 tour of the UK for punching a security guard - and never getting home, but disappearing into Australia - its more a story about journalistic ethics and TV power moguls than anything else.

Effectively staged by re-arranging the seating to be almost like stands in a rugby park, and therefore with the action on 'the ground' it mostly works except when the recorded soundtrack of large Welsh crowds singing, drown the actual actors voices, although the effect itself was valid. The other odd thing to me was that 'the ground' was red (maybe with deference to Wales) rather than pitch green. but those are minor quibbles.

At Circa, there are rave reviews for Neil LaBute's play, FAT PIG. Despite the awful title, which seems to be enough to put some people off attending, the play and the performances are terrific. And Bats Theatre's YOUNG & HUNGRY Season, aimed at "the young" appears to be well-targeted and performed this year.