“Given all the misery around… if you spend the day smiling, there must be something wrong with you.” That is the diagnosis for the ever-singing, always happy Allegra. She sings at home, at the baker’s, at the library, in the café, and even to her neighbours at 3 in the morning.
In this new play by Peter Quilter, directed and choreographed by Stephen Mear, Maureen Lipman plays the titular role. Allegra lives by herself in a village where everyone is seemingly infuriated with her habit of breaking into song. Her fridge and cupboards might be empty (save some old cocoa and flour tins that hold her father’s ashes), but her mind is bursting with music and colourful imaginations.
Her brother Ronen (John Middleton) looks in on her regularly, brings her food, and attempts to reign in her energy so that the whole village doesn’t shun her. He appoints Anna (Elizabeth Bower) to cook, clean and be a companion for Allegra. Even when filling in Anna on Allegra’s medication, he is torn: the medicines will supress all that makes her unique, they will leach the colour from her mind. The sibling bond, in fact, makes for the poignant moments in the play, as when Ronen talks about his admiration for his sister and his fears of losing her entirely to her internal world.
Into this milieu comes Officer Rogers (Bailey Patrick) with the news that Allegra’s public singing has resulted in multiple police complaints and requests for restraining orders. What follows is a court-ordered list of strong medication to curb whatever it is that makes Allegra tick.
There is something unnatural about Allegra’s constant state of joy. With so much emphasis on her inherent happiness, there is no room for any other emotion – no sadness, of course, but not even anger, irritation, boredom, fear. Even when the drugs have numbed her, all that Allegra has is humour and optimism. There is also very little nuance in comparing her to the world outside – Allegra is happy, while the others are sad and despondent; Allegra’s world is full of colours and song, the real one is bleak; Allegra is exciting and fun, Ronen is boring.
In all, it is an easy, light-hearted watch. It does not trouble you by going too deep, but it gives you lots of humour, music, and happy colours. The set is a gorgeous interior of a home, designed by Justin Williams. All four characters are highly likeable. Though Allegra is the one who is meant to steal all the feels, Ronen has better scope by simply being a more rounded character. Anna’s fierce defence of Allegra is endearing and so is Officer Rogers’ annoyance at being unwittingly drawn into Allegra’s world.
The play sees 80-year-old Lipman on tour after two decades, as was pointed out after curtain call, to which Lipman said, “I hear 80 is the new 40”.
Allegra runs until 13th June at Richmond Theatre with tickets available at www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/whats-on/
Reviewer: Savitha Venugopal
Reviewed: 8th June 2026
North West End UK Rating: