  There is nothing I like better then to see a well-crafted script from a writer who has truly learnt his trade -where as soon as you see the actors march onto the stage from the wings, as an audience you just know that this is going to be something different. You settle down into your chair, as the lights dim and you can almost feel that dynamic energy in the air. You can see the expectancy and the excitement in the way the actors walk, the way they breath, they way they look at each other. They know. That this is something new, and something daring. As soon as the actors stepped onto the stage at Milton Keynes this afternoon to perform 'Full Circle' I knew from their expressions, the play itself was not going to stretch anyone.
And it didn't. That's not to say, the show didn't have it's moments. I liked the scene where the writer Denise Darvel (Collins) introduces her 3 children to their respective fathers who they've never met before. Each father is told what a wonderful child they have. The children are too shy at 1st to emerge from their bedrooms to meet their fathers, so Denise shouts upstairs, 'Come on darlings, it's okay. You can come down.
' And out onto the landing instead of the children steps Darvel's best friend who has heard them talking and opens the door to investigate. Darvel's friend is a 50-ish Dr, named Edward. The fathers look at each other in horror below. They themselves are about the same age as Edward! Finally, Sir Michael Anstruther cries out, '-Well, he's NOT mine! ' It was the look on his face that did it.
You couldn't help but laugh. It was a unique experience for me being on the front row. I'm usually 2/3 rows from the front. This time my feet were actually touching the stage. I was that close, I could hear the actors breath! John Quayle stole the show with his catalogue of quintessential English mannerisms.
The nervous laughter filtered through every set dialogue. His eyes rolled and he cringed at just about everything he came into contact with. Here was a man who would go bright red if a woman just pointed the merest hint of a smile in his direction. It's his trademark, and he's built a whole career upon it. But it was Joan Collins everyone came to see. ( urlLink Picture of Joan & Biography ) Star of over 50 films.
She's worked with just about everyone; Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Richard Burton, Gregory Peck, John Gielgud, Gene Kelly, Bette Davis....the list goes on forever. This is the kind of thing Joan Collins could do in her sleep. At one point, she stood right in front of me and I was only 5/6 foot away from her. She's certainly looked after herself over the years and she's aged well. However, there was a dullness in her eyes-probably from the lack-luster script and knowing about the oh-so predictable ending that was still to come. Joan Collins, I would have to say is probably better then this.
Overall, I would say the play contained some excellent acting, but it was let down with an uninspired script. 6/10 
