I wasn’t supposed to be reviewing 84 Charing Cross Road, but due to illness I found myself heading to the theatre on a rushed and rather pressured Friday evening. I arrived late, stressed after a difficult week at work, and completely unprepared for what I was about to see. I hadn’t read the book, seen a previous production, or even looked up the synopsis. In truth, I knew very little about it.
I stumbled into the beautifully air-conditioned Playhouse Theatre in Walsall with my mind still racing. What did I need that evening? As it turned out, exactly this play.
There is something rather special about theatre that reminds us a good story doesn’t always need grand sets, spectacular effects or a cast of dozens. Sometimes, all you need are interesting characters, a well-written script and the opportunity to spend time with people we might never otherwise meet.
84 Charing Cross Road, performed by The Grange Players, is one such story. It brings to life a remarkable relationship built through letters, a love of books and a connection that stretches across the Atlantic. It is a production that encourages us to pause for a while and become absorbed in a beautifully human story.
And that was exactly what I needed: to slow down, sit back, relax and immerse myself in the story.
Before I go any further, and for anyone who arrived as uninformed as I did, here’s a brief introduction to the show.
Based on the real-life correspondence between American writer Helene Hanff and the staff of Marks & Co., an antiquarian bookshop at 84 Charing Cross Road in London, the play follows a friendship that develops through letters over two decades, from 1949 to 1969.
Living in New York, Helene Hanff is a passionate reader with a particular appreciation for well-written books and a desire to find affordable editions of classic literature. She begins writing to the London bookshop, where her requests are handled by Frank Doel and his colleagues. What starts as a straightforward exchange between customer and bookseller gradually becomes something far more personal.
As the years pass, the letters reveal humour, kindness, frustration and the everyday experiences of people living on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Through their correspondence, we learn about their lives, their hopes and the changing world around them. It is a story about friendship, the comfort of books and the extraordinary relationships that can grow from the simplest of beginnings.
I mentioned earlier that the staging didn’t need to be grand, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t very well done.
The set was split between two locations, with one raised quarter representing Helene Hanff’s apartment and the remaining three quarters given over to the bookshop in London. The shop was complete with a bell on the door and a shop window, helping to establish the setting and giving the London side of the story a lovely sense of place. I particularly liked the desks and the attention to detail throughout.
The costumes, to my eyes, were suitably period, and the lighting helped maintain focus on whichever character was writing or speaking. There were no, (hooray!), lengthy scene changes, with everything handled within the working sets. Instead, we saw subtle changes throughout the years, from pictures on the wall to decorations within the shop. These details reminded us that time was passing without interrupting the flow of the story.
Sound was so unobtrusive that I honestly don’t remember much of it, which, in many ways, is a compliment. What I do remember, however, was the sound of typewriters striking the page. It helped establish the atmosphere and period beautifully. I was initially concerned they might become overused, but I needn’t have worried. Their sound were carefully judged and became an effective storytelling tool rather than a distraction.
It was a simple but highly effective approach to staging, allowing the writing and performances to remain firmly at the centre of the production.
The Cast
Sarah Mason – Helene Hanff
As Helene Hanff, Sarah Mason gave an excellent performance, bringing wit, warmth and personality to a character whose journey unfolds largely through letters.
Helene is a woman who knows exactly what she wants, particularly when it comes to books, and Sarah captured that determination while also revealing the more thoughtful and vulnerable aspects of her character.
What I particularly enjoyed was the way Sarah made Helene feel like a real person rather than someone simply reading correspondence aloud. There was a lovely sense of humour throughout her performance, balanced by a genuine emotional depth as the story progressed. She carried the character confidently across two decades, helping us understand why these letters became so important to her.
Sarah, this was a thoroughly enjoyable performance. You gave Helene a wonderful presence, and your accent work added greatly to the authenticity of the character.
Anthony Harris – Frank Doel
Anthony Harris was equally impressive as Frank Doel, delivering a calm, measured and thoroughly engaging performance.
As the bookseller on the receiving end of Helene’s requests, Frank could easily have become a quieter, more reserved figure. Instead, Anthony brought enough personality and charm to ensure the audience remained invested in his side of the correspondence.
I particularly enjoyed the way he portrayed Frank’s professionalism alongside the growing familiarity that develops through the letters. Watching that relationship evolve through such simple exchanges became one of the production’s greatest strengths.
His performance provided an excellent balance to Sarah’s Helene. Where Helene is direct and spirited, Frank offers a steadier presence, and the contrast between them helps make the correspondence so engaging. Together, they created a convincing connection despite the physical distance between their characters.
Anthony, a really enjoyable performance. Your understated approach suited Frank perfectly and made his journey easy to invest in. Boy did he love that pipe.
Charlotte Pilbeam – Mrs Cecily Farr
As Mrs Cecily Farr, Charlotte Pilbeam helps bring the world of Marks & Co. to life.
One of the pleasures of this production is that the bookshop feels genuinely lived in, with staff interacting naturally and creating the impression of a busy working environment rather than simply serving as scenery.
Charlotte contributes greatly to that atmosphere. Her performance reinforces the idea that this is not solely the story of Helene and Frank, but also of the community around them. I also loved the period styling and hairstyles, which added another authentic touch to the production, along with the yorksire pudding!
Hannah Weaver – Miss Megan Wells
Judah Maley – Bill Humphries
Noel Redfern – Old Mr Martin
Mathew Griffiths – Alvin / Thomas
Sam Allan – Maxine Stuart / Mrs Joan Todd
While Helene and Frank sit firmly at the heart of the story, the supporting cast play an important role in bringing their world to life.
I do hate grouping actors together like this, particularly when Sam Allan and Mathew Griffiths each took on multiple roles. Playing more than one character in the same production requires clear distinctions in voice, mannerisms and personality, ensuring the audience can immediately recognise who they are watching.
Hannah Weaver, Judah Maley, Noel Redfern, Sam Allan and Mathew Griffiths all contribute to the warm and believable atmosphere of the production. Together, they populate the world around the central correspondence and help make it feel complete. Every one of them understood their role within the wider story and supported it admirably. Excellent work, one and all.
Looking at the production as a whole, none of this would have been achieved without the guidance of Sara Bissett.
Her direction clearly understood where the true strength of 84 Charing Cross Road lies: in its characters, relationships and beautifully observed details. Rather than overcomplicating the production, she allowed the writing and performances to take centre stage, ensuring the emotional heart of the story remained front and centre throughout. Really nice work Sara. Perhaps that is why the production worked so well for me on this particular Friday evening.
I arrived with my mind full of work, deadlines and stress, but gradually found myself drawn into a world where books, letters and simple human connection mattered more than whatever had been troubling me earlier in the day.
Looking back on the evening, 84 Charing Cross Road is a gentle, engaging and deeply human story about friendship, books and the unexpected connections that shape our lives. The Grange Players have delivered a thoughtful and heartfelt production that allows those themes to shine.
There is something wonderfully reassuring about a play that reminds us to slow down, listen and appreciate the people around us. On a Friday evening when my mind was racing elsewhere, this production offered precisely that reminder.
For me, it was more than an evening at the theatre. It was an opportunity to pause, take a breath and become immersed in a story filled with warmth, humour and humanity.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.
Thank you, Grange Players.
Reviewed by – David T. (and Marks & Co.)
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