By Arnold Bennett, adapted by Deborah McAndrew
New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
13 September–4 October 2025

Arnold Bennett was the James Patterson of his time. At the beginning of the 1900s, a cartoon which portrayed him as “the busiest of writers” showed him with four typewriters, two for his hands and two for his toes.

Yet despite his 34 novels, 13 plays, seven volumes of short stories and countless newspaper reports, he’s largely unknown outside his native Staffordshire.

The New Vic has been endeavouring to keep Bennett’s name—“one of Stoke-on-Trent’s greatest literary legends”—in the public eye by adapting some of his works for the stage.

First came Anna of The Five Towns in 2017, and that was followed by The Card, which the New Vic produced in association with Claybody Theatre in 2023.

Bennett was best known for his vivid portrayals of life in the Potteries. But in The Grand Babylon Hotel, he looks at a world of decadent high society which he came to know through staying at London’s Savoy Hotel. That was said to have become his second home.

The play starts with American heiress Nella Racksole wanting steak and beer for her birthday treat. These aren’t on the menu of the exclusive Grand Babylon Hotel—so her American railroad millionaire father Theodore buys the hotel. But kidnapping and murder lead to Racksole regretting his purchase.

Reviews of Bennett’s novel said it was “excellent in mingling farce with characterisation”. Adapter Deborah McAndrew and director Conrad Nelson have taken that to heart, producing a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud play, parts of which could be described as bonkers.

As for characterisation, five actors take on 15 roles. Those who play more than one part slip seamlessly from one to another, helped enormously by a clever script.

Although all the actors perform commendably, New Vic favourite Michael Hugo catches the eye in each of his six roles. He’s particularly impressive as the indomitable maitre d’ Jules, the hard-nosed Detective Marshall and the illness-ridden Prince Eugen of Posen. He also delightfully ropes in a member of the audience to help him out on a ship when he’s the only member of the crew.

Adrian Pang revels in the role of Racksole, the blustering, self-centred American. A scene in which he negotiates a secret passage and bangs his head on a couple of occasions in time with James Atherton’s excellent music is a joy to behold.

Making her first appearance at the New Vic, Alice Pryor throws herself into her role as Nella Racksole, the spoilt, flirtatious young woman. At times, she does well not to laugh at the madcap capers going on around her.

Thomas Cotran shows style as the incredibly nervy Reginald Dimmock, the mad, moustachioed chef Rocco and the German Prince Aribert of Posen. Shelley Atkinson shines as mysterious Baroness Zerlinski and Nanny Heidi.

The Grand Babylon Hotel forms part of the celebrations to mark Stoke-on-Trent’s 100th anniversary of becoming a city. The play is, like many of the offerings at the New Vic, slickly produced and admirably acted. The slapstick humour and visual comedy are excellent.

If Arnold Bennett had been alive to see this version of The Grand Babylon Hotel, I’m sure he would have approved.

* This review originally appeared on the British Theatre Guide website