saved

It was a strange year on Broadway, but then it’s been strange everywhere. Our world at times seems downright unrecognizable, with politicians acting like mob bosses, AI transforming not just the internet but potentially the entire economy, the cost of living leaving only the super rich able to keep up, and I won’t even mention the climate crisis, but the forecast calls for more doom and gloom.

Good work, however, won’t be denied, even if Broadway producers have perhaps overlearned the lesson of last year’s sleeper, Cole Escola’s “Oh, Mary!” Parody with a heavy dose of camp has become all the rage in a theatrical season in which the best musical winner, “Schmigadoon!,” is an affectionate sendup of golden age classics by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe and their inspired descendants.

If Broadway is changing faster than the old guard can keep pace, the same is true for the culture in general. The economics of producing have scrambled the old playbooks. Unusual risk has occasionally brought unexpected rewards. “Schmigadoon!” fended off the competition to take the night’s top prize along with awards for both its book and score by Cinco Paul.

Michael Arden’s spectacular production of “The Lost Boys” — the staging won awards for Dane Laffrey’s scenic design and Jen Schriever and Arden’s lighting — enriched the 1980s cult film on which the show is based with human substance and high-flying showmanship. Shoshana Bean’s win for her featured performance as a persevering single mom, is a testament to the musical’s capacious heart. Ali Louis Bourzgui’s somewhat unexpected yet eminently worthy triumph for his featured performance as the vampire with front-man magnetism, catalyzed the production’s thrilling virtuosity. But few would describe this year’s ragtag selection of new musicals as robust.

The only overriding lesson may be that there are no overriding lessons. Two-time Oscar winner Adrien Brody made his Broadway debut in “The Fear of 13,” reprising his acclaimed Olivier-nominated London performance. But he didn’t even receive a nomination for his work — a snub that I found unaccountable.

Spoofs like best musical nominee “Titanique,” a zany burlesque of James Cameron’s “Titanic” and all things Celine Dion, found new respectability on Broadway. And “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York”), the two-person British musical by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, endeared itself to audiences (if not so much to Tony voters) with its rom-com appeal. But what does it say about a season in which musical revivals upstaged new work?

“Ragtime,” the Lincoln Center Theatre production directed by Lear deBessonet that originated at New York City Center, was not only the most operatic offering of the season but was all the most emotionally stirring and dramatically ambitious. The show, which justly received the Tony for best musical revival contained perhaps the season’s most seismic tour de force. Joshua Henry’s Tony-winning lead performance as Coalhouse Walker Jr., the path-breaking pianist tragically ahead of his time, was astonishing in both its theatrical might and its generosity, which allowed everyone around him to shine, especially Caissie Levy, who picked up a Tony for her lead performance as a white matriarch whose political consciousness courageously awakens.

“Cats: The Jellicle Ball” pulled off the seemingly impossible by making Andrew Lloyd Webber’s megamusical look cool on Broadway. The production’s radical concept brings the queer audacity of Harlem Ballroom culture to these feline proceedings. For their imaginative daring, co-directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch were justly honored as were costume designer Qween Jean and choreographers Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, among the production’s notable awards.

“Chess,” which was strangely overlooked in the best musical revival category (“The Rocky Horror Show” strutted in instead), may not have managed to overcome the challenge of this over-elaborate geopolitical tale, even with a puckish new book. But the production made Nicholas Christopher a likely future Tony winner star.

What was old was new again on Broadway, but let’s hope that producers can still believe that the best is ahead of us.

SUN RAYS warming your cheeks, there’s the gentle smell of a barbecue and kids all around have smiles on their faces, but what could make it more perfect? A lido.

With temperatures soaring to 30C across the UK this bank holiday weekend, a lido seems like the perfect day out and for years on end, it was where I would beeline to in the warm weather.

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But I wouldn’t just head to any old lido; my preferred spot is Teignmouth Lido in Devon.

Recently saved by the local community from closure, Teignmouth Lido to most will seem like a regular open air pool.

And while I may be biased as the destination is home to many fond childhood memories with my family (including my dad doing handstands in the water and begging to get ice cream from the counter), the lido does have a lot to boast about.

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The pool measures 25-metres-long, between May and September there are usually a whole host of events on and is surrounded by a grassy bank ideal for sunbathing.

If you just fancy a dip, then a two hour block costs £8.40 per adult and £5.40 per child – though you can also get a full-day swim pass costing £15.10 per adult and £9.70 per child.

Just want to watch your kids? You can do that too and pay a smaller spectator fee of £4.40 for two hours, or £7 all day.

Sessions tend to be split between general swims, lane swims and fun sessions but there are also Aqua Fit and ‘Fit for Sea’ sessions.

Following the risk of closure earlier this year, the lido has been saved by an outraged local community (including myself) and will be run by Teignbridge District Council this summer before hopefully being sold to the local community.

And really, the lido couldn’t be closer to the seafront – only separated by a wall.

Teignmouth Seafront Beach is huge and features unique red sand you find across Devon.

What makes the beach particularly special is the amount you can do there, such as heading along the South West Coast Path and watching trains whizz by at Teignmouth Railway View.

Halfway down the beach you’ll also find Teignmouth Pier.

Standing since 1867, the pier is just one of two pleasure piers left in the South West of the country.

Inside you can find all you would expect of a traditional seaside pier, such as penny arcade machines and even modern video games.

You can also grab a bite to eat and ice cream on the pier.

At the other end of the beach, there is then Jurassic Adventure Golf – ideal for a bit of competitive family fun – and the play park.

If all of this wasn’t enough, the promenade along the entirety of the seafront is flat and wide, making it the ideal spot for rollerblading or testing out skateboarding before dropping into the skate park.

The final stop at the far end of the beach is the lighthouse, which is relatively small but built from grey stone and is definitely worth checking out for its unique look.

If you don’t mind walking slightly further, you’ll reach The Point – a narrow split of sand at the mouth of the Teign Estuary where the river meets the sea.

And if you are lucky enough as I have been on a few occasions, you might spot a seal or dolphin.

It is a great spot to explore and see the neighbouring village of Shaldon on the opposite side of the river, though just don’t enter the water here as the currents can be quite strong.

Shaldon is pretty to explore as well, with pastel coloured houses and a handful of cosy cafes and pubs.

If you want to explore Shaldon, you can hop on a short ferry ride across the estuary from The Point.

Back in Teignmouth town centre there is more to see, including Teignmouth Museum and a number of independent shops, cafes and pubs.

The lack of big brand, high street chains really makes it feel like a traditional, vintage seaside town.

The very best thing about Teignmouth? All of this is within a short walk of the town’s train station and whichever direction you travel to the station in, you will get fantastic views of red ancient desert sandstone cliffs, beautiful beaches, nature reserves and sprawling estuary.