Theatre: Curtain Calls

Mobile phones in the theatre are wonderful. Before the entire membership of Equity denounces me as having succumbed to terminal plot- loss, I admit there's more to life than prancing around pretending you're on AbFab, calling: "I'm just walking through the door, darling." Theatregoers also hate them for ruining dramatic tension. One went off during the wonderful Choice at the Royal Court last week (miss this at your peril) and the entire audience stiffened... at which point we realised it was part of the plot. The opening night of A Doll's House was almost wrecked by four separate rounds of reedy electronic warbling from the same phone, and I sat next to someone on the opening night of Jeeves who was forced to rummage through his bag in an embarassed attempt to turn his dratted thing off. (I mention no names but the words "Peter" and "Hall" spring to mind...)

But last week, I saw its perfect theatrical usage. I finally went to the National Theatre of Brent's glorious Love Upon the Throne (above), now at the Comedy Theatre. Whether you're an arch monarchist or ardent republican this is theatrical heaven, but don't take my word for it. In the interval, someone grabbed his mobile, dialled a number and said: "You've got to see this. It's just brilliant." See? It's all word of mouth.

Comedy Theatre, London SW1 (0171-369 1731)

David Benedict