Steak and Beer is off the menu!

By Arnold Bennett

Adapted for the stage by Deborah McAndrew

Directed by Conrad Nelson

Review by David Bithell

The New Vic’s world-premiere adaptation of Arnold Bennett’s The Grand Babylon Hotel, by Deborah McAndrew and under the direction of Conrad Nelson, is a delightful romp: a comedy-thriller full of intrigue, melodrama, satire, and very knowable character types. It lands somewhere between farce and caper, with many moments of pure theatre-joy.

For those not familiar, Theodore Racksole, a super-rich American, buys the luxurious Grand Babylon Hotel to satisfy his daughter Nella’s demand of a steak and Bass beer—when the head waiter refuses her order. What begins as a whimsical transaction soon spirals into a web of vanishings, poisonings, secret identities, missing royalty, kidnappings, and daring escapes.

Deb McAndrew’s adaptation retains much of Bennett’s plot’s wild turns, while sharpening the comedy, the pace, and the theatricality. The five-actor cast plays multiple roles, bringing both variety and a kind of ensemble energy that suits this kind of story.

Conrad Nelson’s direction leans into the silliness of Bennett’s thriller, embracing the farcical possibilities rather than trying to grind them into seriousness. The staging is energetic, with some fun use of sound effects, musical parody, and audience interaction that positively sparked through the performance. The in-the-round setting helps with this intimacy and energy.

The production is buoyant, with strong visual and physical comedy.

Michael Hugo, one of New Vic favourites, turns in a terrific performance. He plays Jules / Tom Jackson, Detective Marshall, and Prince Eugen of Posen, very different roles as well as a ticket collector and porter. Hugo juggles them with his usual panache, bringing both menace and mirth. His physicality, his timing, his ability to shift tones between drama and broad comedy helps ground the play when things get absurd, and push them over the top when needed. His audience interaction is what we have come to expect from him and in particular one of the highlights of this show. He seems to relish the opportunity to break the fourth wall just enough, without ever undermining the story.

New Vic debutant Alice Pryor as Nella is vivacious and sympathetic; Adrian Pang as Racksole brings the right mix of bombast and bewilderment. The rest of the ensemble Shelley Atkinson as Miss Spencer, the Messenger and Nanny Heidi with Thomas Cotran as Reginald Dimmock, Prince Aribert of Posen and Rocco provide strong support, often carrying multiple disguises or accents, with energy and clarity.

The standout of this play is the blend of genres: humour, thriller and satire works well. It feels entertaining rather than trying too hard to be deeply profound. The character doubling gives a sense of theatrical playfulness. The set, sound effects and parodies enhance the ridiculousness without overwhelming.

On balance, The Grand Babylon Hotel at the New Vic is a very enjoyable piece of theatre. It’s flawless and delivers almost everything one could hope for in a comedy thriller: laughs, suspense, colourful characters, and a great central performance from Michael Hugo.

For fans of farce, of theatre that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still works hard, this is highly recommended. It’s a strong addition to New Vic’s season, especially given its role in celebrating Bennett and Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary.

The Grand Babylon Hotel runs until Saturday 4th October. For tickets contact the box office on 01782 717962.