CURTAIN CALLS

Theatre

Friday 02 May 1997 23:02 BST

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Cloud Nine

Only eight more performances of this, the funniest and most stimulating night out in town, with Tim "Blackadder" McInnerney doubling as a colonial husband whose upper lip could not be stiffer and Cathy, the filthy-mouthed five-year-old in Caryl Churchill's tremendous comedy of sexual politics. Playing in repertory with Hurlyburly, David Rabe's savage portrait of Hollywood at its worst, dramatising the mutual mistrust and competitiveness underlying macho camaraderie. Rupert Graves and an excellent cast blast the brilliant drug-driven dialogue.

The Old Vic, London SE1 (0171-928 7616)

The Herbal Bed

A real-life 17th-century sex scandal involving Shakespeare's daughter in Peter Whelan's award-winning RSC thriller. Stephen Boxer is outstanding as a cleric with a powerful lust for truth. Limited season.

Duchess Theatre, London WC2 (0171-494 5075)

The Positive Hour

What is Emma doing with a man in a hood? Why is Miranda losing her patience with her New-Man husband? April de Angelis's witty, astute new play is a delightfully wry mix of men, money and S&M. Max Stafford-Clark's sharply acted production does it proud.

Everyman Liverpool (0151-709 4776) tonight; Warwick Arts Centre (01203 524524), from Wed

Bailegangaire

Rosaleen Linehan delivers a tour- de-force as the grandiloquent grandmother in James Macdonald's beautifully controlled, superbly acted production of Tom Murphy 's tale of maternal tyranny.

Royal Court at the Ambassadors, London (0171-565 5000)

Skylight

Bill Nighy is the louche restaurateur and Stella Gonet the determined teacher, the sparring ex-partners in David Hare's National Theatre drama of lost love, passion and idealism.

Oxford Playhouse (01865 798600), tonight; Cambridge Arts Theatre (01223 503333), from Mon

The Caucasian Chalk Circle

The Olivier has been triumphantly transformed into a theatre-in-the-round for this National/Theatre de Complicite co-production of Brecht's classic tale of justice. Juliet Stevenson is unsentimental and touching and the ensemble singing and playing gently builds to an evening of real power.

National Theatre, London SE1 (0171-928 2252)

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CURTAIN CALLS

Theatre

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