Reader Reviews
Smaller (Lyric Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Well, 3.5. The only problem with this play is its pace. It is insightful in conveying the issues of caring, carers and sibling tensions; the musical 'device' (though used to accomodate the performers) works; it has some great lines; and the performances are excellent.....but it does drag a bit, I'm afraid. - 86.130.212.65) | 09 May 06 |
| Carmel Morgan's warm, messy play on a warm, messy subject may be hapazardly structured and over-littered with four letter expletives, but it does deliver many great laughs and geuine emotional satisfaction in Kathy Burke's slick, attractive production. I found the second half truly harrowing but I guess that was kind of the point! As the dependent Mother June Watson is spot-on even to the point where she drives us in the audience to distraction, let alone the effect she's having on Dawn French's carer-daughter. Alternating between sarcasm and sweetness, and culminating in a heartbreakingly real 2nd half breakdown, French has never been better. We knew she was funny and adorable but who knew she could plumb the emotional depths as she does here...this is a magnificent performance and perhaps the highest compliment I can pay her is that I forgot I was watching Dawn French: I was just watching the character. Alison Moyet also does very well as the cabaret singing sibling: true her acting technique is a bit wobbly but she has tremendous stage presence plus of course that voice. Surprisingly perhaps it is Moyet and not French who provides the show with it's best bit of laugh-out-loud fun, as she belts through a Robbie Williams medley dressed as a chicken!!!! I really believed in the relationships between the 3 characters, and Morgan's salty dialogue has the ring of truth. This is a genuine popular hit: it's not perfect and some of it is downright depressing, but it is a fullfilling piece of entertainment. - 195.82.123.181) | 04 May 06 |
| This is just beautiful... and so refreshing... Excellent performances from all three women.. ALL THREE. Dawn French was, as ever hilarious and beautifully tragic.. Moyet.. I guess the new comer, was raw and ruff and so unpretentious... and June Watson.. stunning.. totally moving.. beautifully observed... only criticism.. the 'with' on the poster.. is a slight understatement.. hey this was certainly no 'with' performance!! Perhaps the coolest thing was the beautifully simple design.. and the way it really did let the actors do most of the talking.. Clever as hell and so touching.. one of those real classics that has you laughing out loud and then crying like a benny... It hit so many chords.. It has to work.. It has to be said..I had to lift my Mum onto a toilet seat once .. but I had to get me Sister to wipe her bum.. couldn't do it.... So thanks ladies for my most uplifting and cathartic experience in the West End for ages.. Eat your heart out Lez Mix!!!! And yes I have just bought the entire Yazoo and Alison Moyet CD Collection on Amazon!!!!! A beauty.. 6 stars and they would be yours!! - 86.129.29.160) | 23 Apr 06 |
| Very amusing but with a point to make. Brilliant acting by all. - 86.134.51.158) | 11 Apr 06 |
| I saw this at the Lyric, on Saturday 1st April and was blown away by the whole production. The performers played their roles so naturally and believably. Dawn French generated genuine laughs whilst keeping the constant feeling of the sadness of the situation with her having to give up her own entire social life to look after her handicapped Mother who she ultimately loves nevertheless. Fine acting indeed. Alison Moyet - wow what a voice. Not such a big part for the majority of the play but her scenes and musical sections with original songs were magical (she'd walk the X-Factor to this day!) Respect to the musicians too - great performance. Lastly June Watson really got the part of needy invalid parent down to the last detail. The annoying recital of every detail of her day and wanting the same back from her loyal daughter Bernice (French) was sadly moving and extremely realistic. The humour was black but very funny and the story never slowed enough to make me restless. I was genuinely sad when it ended as I was enjoying it so much. Well done to all involved - 82.109.92.141) | 03 Apr 06 |
| I saw this in Nottingham.Most of it was so desperately sad,thank god for the humour in it,and there was some very funny lines in this show.You really felt for these sisters,felt their pain. - 195.93.21.100) | 02 Apr 06 |
| Went to see this on 23rd March. Would not be particularly interested in seeing the play again as I felt that it was all geared towards Dawn French - instead of the actual plot of the play. Direction was vague and there could have been more attention paid to detail. Even so, i thoroughly enjoyed the evening and fully appreciated the acting talents of Dawn, Alison and June. - 82.3.83.174) | 25 Mar 06 |
| Saw it at the Alex, Brum. A very odd experience. Quite a bitter play, and the excellence of the performances serve to underline this. June Watson as the bored shut-in, living her life through her daughter, is remarkable. She must have 2/3 of the dialogue in the whole play, wittering on through her boredom: a small piece of litter on the front path becomes an obsession. Dawn French is very good as Bernie, resenting her mum and hating herself for it. Alison Moyet gloriously fits into the family, and gives a performance that matches that of her colleagues. Her musical numbers are a treat (though I am a lifelong fan), and the hollowness of Cath's life in Spain is very clear. I must question the audience, though! Every single movement and every syllable uttered by Ms French generated roars of laughter that went on for whole minutes. I was quite moved by her struggles to lift her mum from her chair, or onto the loo, and wiping her mum's bum, but each of these sad and depressing actions seemed to bring the house down. The ending seemed tacked-on, too. With sisters Cath and Bernie rowing and coming just short of physical aggression on a number of times, the final scene does not ring true. Mixed feelings about the show, as the darkness and loneliness of the story seemed lost on the audience, who were determined to find Dibleyesque gags at every opportunity. - 195.93.21.41) | 24 Mar 06 |
| Smaller Written by Carmel Morgan, Directed by Kathy Burke Starring Dawn French, Alison Moyet & June Watson Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham 20 March 2006 This is Carmel Morgan’s first stage play after many years of successful TV script writing and is about the lives of three characters. I’d have to call this a black comedy although for many in today’s society the issues covered will have been so close to home. An ageing population and fragmentation of family life has meant many having to cope with aged parents and making the decision to put their own lives on hold. The story is of just this situation. Maureen Clulow, handicapped, crippled and a mother, is played with distinction by June Watson. The scenes where she talks to her daughter giving every little detail of what has happened during her day are priceless, sad and so recognisable. The smallest event is turned into something of the greatest importance and this is a daily ritual. Cath Clulow, singer and actress and distant daughter is portrayed by Alison Moyet a lady with a stunning voice and great stage presence. In trying to achieve her own dream Cath has failed relationships and a career on the slide plus a sister who can never forgive her for fleeing the nest and leaving her behind. Bernice Clulow, carer, full time teacher and going nowhere just yet, (or for the last 25 years) is given a larger than life performance by the ever-popular Dawn French. Her characters selfless devotion has taken over her life so that even having half a cider down the pub or marking schoolbooks becomes an outrageous act with feelings of guilt. It was very pleasing to have a play with music and a live band of three under musical director Steve Corley. This allowed the play to have a secondary layer with Alison Moyet performing a number of emotional songs putting her character into context and this worked very effectively and was well received. The Alexandra Theatre was full last night and the World Premiere of Smaller attracted a wide audience. The standing ovation was genuine as one by one more of the audience rose to its feet. Yes, the performances were excellent and I too would say the play is a success. I was pleased to read in the programme that director Kathy Burke had taken out a lot of the bad language but there is still quite a lot left. The play runs until Saturday 25th March 2006. - 86.136.248.147) | 21 Mar 06 |
| Just got back from seeing this show in Nottingham. Its a great play - very dark side to it with alot of humour indeed. You feel sorry for Bernice who looks after her home-bound mother ( she does everything for her...yes everything). Very sweet indeed. Towards the end it gets heavier but a great play. It makes you appreciate what you at times take for granted....life !!! - 62.254.0.54) | 16 Mar 06 |
| I laughed and cried during the performance of Smaller. The three ladies were wonderful at depicting a family that most of us can recognise. The play is full of thought provoking material. The humour was a cross between the best 'Corrie' moments and the one liners of 'The Vicar of Dibly'. I really loved this show. Well done to all involved! - 80.3.64.12) | 11 Mar 06 |
