The Grinning Man

“Back and available to view via the BOV website from Friday, Bristol Old Vic’s 2016 ghoulish musical, inspired by Victor Hugo’s L’Homme qui Rit, will be available on demand over the Christmas period. It is so distinctive and so deliciously weird it is well worth your time. Transposing Hugo’s story of Gwynplaine, whose face was mutilated in childhood leaving him with a rictus grin, to 18th century England, this is an evening that is visually lush and musically inventive. Full marks to composer Marc Teitler who is also behind the RSC’s The Magician’s Elephant has been postponed until next year. Director Tom Morris succeeds in making an evening which is macabrely magnificent.”