THE HANGOVER REPORT – Lesley Nichol’s gently diverting musical autobiography HOW THE HELL DID I GET HERE? endearingly charts the “Downton Abbey” star’s unlikely career

Lesley Nichol in “How the Hell Did I Get Here” at the Club Car at the McKittrick Hotel (photo courtesy of the production).

This week, Lesley Nichol’s How the Hell Did I Get Here? opened Off-Broadway at the McKittrick Hotel (best known as the home of the long-running immersive theater experience Sleep No More). The musical autobiography is currently making its rounds, having already been seen in Chicago and scheduled to travel to San Francisco after its current limited run in New York. The main reason to snatch up tickets to the show is the opportunity to get up close and personal with the woman behind Downton Abbey‘s beloved Mrs. Patmore.

Ms. Nichol herself is an immensely likable stage presence, and she confidently and endearingly narrates her own journey with considerable charm. Augmenting her amusing personal and professional anecdotes (notable stage stints prior to taking on Mrs. Patmore include roles in East Is East at the Royal Court Theatre and the West End production of Mamma Mia!) are a set of surprisingly well-crafted songs, which Ms. Nichol penned with Mark Mueller – her music director and accompanist on piano – in the delectably patter-driven, urbane style of Noël Coward. Even if her storytelling tends to veer towards the pedestrian, Ms. Nichol’s warm and down-to-earth personality prevails, and one can’t help but cheer her on.

The production has been elegantly directed by Luke Kernaghan, who leans in on the sentimental facets of Ms. Nichol’s underdog trajectory. Although technically a piece of solo theater, the 75-minute evening has the distinctive air of a cabaret show, particularly as mounted on the intimate stage of the McKittrick Hotel’s cozy and atmospheric Club Car (the venue operates a well-stocked bar, contributing to the whole cabaret environment). There’s no doubt that the show is aimed squarely at fans of the “Upstairs, Downstairs”-inspired juggernaut, and certainly fans of the television series will get the most enjoyment from it. Nevertheless, for the uninitiated, Ms. Nichol’s gently diverting show will likely pleasantly amuse.

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HOW THE HELL DID I GET HERE?
Off-Broadway, Play
1 hour, 15 minutes (without an intermission)
The Club Car at the McKittrick Hotel
Through May 8

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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