“Gatsby” leaps off the page and onto the stage in a musical form. “Cats” returns. “As You Like It” and “The Homecoming” get innovative productions. And among new works, “Here We Go” by Caryl Churchill gets its debut. Here’s a pick of opening London shows for November.“Gatsby”The novel is short, its impact is longer. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” has gained a life all of its own as a classic. The central mysterious character, the man who has apparently almost everything but who still wants more, has been endlessly revived for stage and screen.This musical version is produced by Ruby In The Dust. Those who remember it from 2012 will be delighted to see its revival, if only in a small way. (It is playing on Mondays only in the small Arts Theatre.)Benoit Veillefon’s Orchestra joins a cast with Kim Medcalf, best known for her role as Sam Mitchell in “Eastenders.” Matilda Sturridge reprises her role as Daisy Buchanan.The music helps the glamorous story which simplifies rather nicely to a cross between love story and a reckless case of self-destruction as Jay Gatsby’s American dream turns to a nightmare vision of the crash to come.At Arts Theatre, Nov. 2 next. See: http://artstheatrewestend.co.uk/“Cats”This is a musical revival on a bigger sale. The Andrew Lloyd Webber show, based on T. S. Eliot's “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” was one of the family favorites that ran on the London stage for 21 years from 1981, almost 9,000 performances in all. It was back again at the London Palladium last year for a run later extended and is back again now after a national tour. While the show has a strictly limited run again, its huge successes would have many speculating that it might return for longer. It proved to be tourist magnet last time that single-handedly kept medium-sized theaters fully booked.This time, soul legend Beverley Knight is Grizabella. The rest of “Cats” is present and intact: the songs from “Memory” downwards, the direction by Trevor Nunn, choreography by Gillian Lynne and production by the Really Useful Group.At London Palladium, running for an 11-week season to Jan. 2, 2016. See: http://www.palladium.theater/“As You Like It”I’m not sure about the adage of never being 10 feet from a rat in London, but one is never far from excellent Shakespeare, thanks to the Globe and Royal Shakespeare Company in particular. Coming up, we have RSC’s “Henry V” at the Barbican and “A Winter’s Tale” at the Garrick Theatre.The National Theatre’s contribution is “As You Like It.” It will be the NT’s first performance of the play in more than 30 years.Rosalind is played by Rosalie Craig, who turned in an award-winning performance in Tori Amos’s musical “The Light Princess.” Mark Benton, Paul Chahidi and Patsy Ferran are also among the cast negotiating the amusingly complex girl-as-boy plot. The director is Polly Findlay.At Olivier, National Theatre, previews from Oct. 26, press night Tuesday Nov. 3. See: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/“The Homecoming”Director Jamie Lloyd is tackling one of Harold Pinter’s most famous plays, 50 years after its creation. The uneasy homecoming plot is full of all the menacing hints and awkward silences that were Pinter’s trademarks.Keith Allen and Gemma Chan lead the cast, along with Spandau Ballet guitarist Gary Kemp, who knows a thing or two about playing Kray-style villains.At Trafalgar Studios 1 from Nov. 14 to Feb. 13, 2016. See: http://thejamielloydcompany.com/“Here We Go”Caryl Churchill, 77, is still writing fine plays after a 50-year career that includes “Serious Money” and others.Now the National Theatre is championing her cause again at the Lyttelton. “Here We Go” follows the history play “Light Shining in Buckinghamshire,” dating from 1970s and also seen at the Lyttelton earlier in the year.Dominic Cooke directs the latest, described as a short reflection on death and set around a wake for a man who had an adventurous past and a cat that now needs rehousing.At Lyttelton, Nation Theatre. Previews from Nov. 25 and opening/ press night on Nov. 27. See: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
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