Reader Reviews
Aunt Dan and Lemon (Royal Court - Jerwood Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Gareth James sums it all up perfectly, but I might add it was also interminable, hence, no doubt, why so many patrons decided to up sticks and leave, rather noisily in many cases, throughout the performance. A duff piece to follow some very good ones of late at the RC. I wouldn't have minded so much if it wasn't for the fact the RC had already tried the thing out before, but then I suppose that was 24 years ago! - rds | 05 Jun 09 |
| This grabbed my attention quickly, then lost it almost as quickly. In effect, it's an 'illustrated monologue' (illustrated by acted out scenes) where the monologue and the 'illustrations' don't seem to me to relate to one another and where the 'illustrations' are mere voyeuristic sketches that don't really hang together. There's something pretentious and distasteful about it all. The performances, direction and production values are all excellent but, based on this and The Fever, I am wondering why the Royal Court put on this retrospective Wallace Shawn season at all; he seems completely irrelevant and appallingly over-rated to me. Where's the relevant edgy new writing this theatre is famous for? Answer - it's at The Bush and The Tricycle (both with considerable smaller Arts Council grants). Dominic Cooke's Royal Court is proving a huge disappointment. - Gareth James | 02 Jun 09 |
