"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

Nottingham Theatre Royal

Based on the best selling book, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" takes us on a trip to India along with a bunch of retired British people, wishing to make a new start now that they have more time on their hands. They are looking forward to a new opulence but what they were expecting may not be what they got! But, as their lives intertwine, they become more invested in what their new lives become. And along the way, secrets are revealed.

Hayley Mills I have had the great pleasure of meeting, and is as gorgeous in the flesh as she looks on the big screen. Here she plays Evelyn, a mousy little thing who starts her adventure romantically alone, but ends up finding someone special. Small and mousy her character may be but Hayley fills the stage with her presence.

Another one of my favourite actors, and equally as gorgeous, although I've not had the pleasure of meeting her in the flesh, yet, is the ravishing Rula Lenska, who I've been a fan of since she became my first ever interviewee when I was at school. I interviewed her, and her husband at the time, Dennis Waterman, for a school newspaper, by post. Rula plays Madge, a fiesty, sexy and glamorous lady who makes things happen - now there is an example of art reflecting life!

Paul Nicholas, who I've also been a fan of, with his music, TV and stage performances, plays Douglas. Douglas is happily married; well according to his wife at least.

Muriel is played by Marlene Sidaway, who spins a good yarn, but only in the second act do we discover an unravelling.

Richenda Carey plays Dorothy. Dorothy used to work at the BBC and is a trusted character. Up until midway through Act Two, you feel that she is just a character to flesh out the cast, but Dorothy reveals something about her personal life which then makes her jigsaw piece fall right into place.

Andy De La Tour is Norman; very blunt and outspoken. We are told that his wife is dead and he is over in India for that new start, but something that he lets slip blows his previous back story apart.

Tiran Aakel is Mr Gupta, and once again, there's a turnaround moment in Act Two, thanks to another character.

Jean is played by Eileen Battye. This play is packed with character actors who have perfected playing strong characters, and Eileen is right there with them.

Mrs Kapoor, who runs and owns the Hotel, after her husband passed away and is mother to Sonny, is played by Rekha John-Cheriyan. Mrs Kapoor emotionally blackmails her son away from the partner of his choice with a false heart palpitation story, but she has a secret as well, whcih is revealed fully in Act Two.

Nishad More plays the lovelorn and torn son, Sonny. Sonny has fallen for Sahani, played by Shila Iqbal, and you can see that these two characters should be together. They look right together.

Kriss Dosanjh (Jimmy/Sadhu the Holy Man/Waiter), Kerena Jagpal (Kamila), Anant Varman (Mohan/Tikal) who won the audience over as the underdog turned mini hero, complete this wonderful cast.

Directed by Lucy Bailey, who has lifted the words from the book and, along with her fabulous cast, has brought the magical script to life.

The beautiful set design is by Colin Richmond, who also designed the costumes. The set was a multi level set but created a beautiful, and exotic stage for these actors to perform this beautiful comic play. The costumes for the Brits also show a transformation form the start to where they end up as they melt into the Indian culture.

I adored the music, composed by Kuljit Bhamra, and brought to a wonderful head at the end with a demonstration of Bhangra dance by the cast. And I am so pleased that the music was all played on Indian instruments, bring even more realism to this wonderful atmospheric play.

There is a lot of comedy, but the next moment you will feel sadness, and then straight back to a full on guffaw. There are back stories for every character, and these are built up in act one of the play, with act two then dissecting and disassembling the stories we have already been told. It's like "Goodness Gracious Me" with the stereotypical view of the English, crossed with the gentleness of "Last Of The Summer Wine" and the typical British humour. This play shows that there is a lot to gain, but we also mourn a loss as well.

There is a lovely message meandering through the play that you are never too old to start again, learn something new, as Evelyn discovers when she gets a new job that she had never envisaged working at. And I loved the phrase used, "adventure before dementure", as this also is so true, if we only are brave enough to take that step.

I love this play and having not seen the film or the TV adaptations, this was my first introduction to the writings of Deborah Moggach, a writer I think I may have to look out for going forward. It's gentle and life affirming,and, as I turn into a sexaganarian in a few months, it gives me hope for an adventurous future devoid of slippers, pipe and shawl. If I have as much fun as these lot when I am old(er), then bring it on, I'm not yet ready to become invisible by age.

"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" will be checking in at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 11 February, so get your reservations booked now!