Reader Reviews
Bette & Joan (Arts Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | At the recommendation of an LBC broadcaster I went to see the performance on friday 24th June - and what an absolutely delightful night was enjoyed! -Fabulous acting, extremely amusing and some touching moments too. Such a shame the run is coming to an end as I would have loved to have recommended it to other friends. - JP | 25 Jun 11 |
| Not a play at all - just a couple of exceptionally dull, aimless monologues with nil drama. Thank goodness Greta Scacchi is so good, but even she can't redeem this lazy, directionless rehash. Oh dear. - Mark Beaumont | 25 Jun 11 |
| i went to see this play on Saturday 18th June with my sister-in-law, i thought it was extremely funny and very well acted by Anita and Greta. Greta's portrayal of Bette was excellent.Well done it is a pity it wasn't showing for longer - Diana Hasan | 19 Jun 11 |
| i went to see this play on Saturday 18th June with my sister-in-law, i thought it was extremely funny and very well acted by Anita and Greta. Greta's portrayal of Bette was excellent.Well done it is a pity it wasn't showing for longer - Diana Hasan | 19 Jun 11 |
| Very enjoyable show in which both actresses really show their skill. They are able to tell the story's of Davis and Crawford careers and backgrounds whilst keeping the audience engaged. There are some great one liners and the show is much better than the WOS review. Slight warning to those with kids or of a gentle disposition there is a fair bit of swearing. - R2D2 | 30 May 11 |
| SO MUCH HAS BEEN SAID SO I AM NOT GOING TO REPEAT THE SAME POINTS BUT ONE THING I REALLY DISAGREE IS THIS COMMENT BY Mr Coveney 'the so-so lighting by David Howie'. I DON’T KNOW MR HOWIE MYSELF BUT I THOUGHT THE LIGHTING DESIGN HAS REALLY CAPTURE THE SPRIT OF THAT HOLLYWOOD PEROID. ESPECAILLY WHEN BETTE MAKE HER SPEECHIE ABOUT 'THE LETTER' SCENE,THE LIGHTING IS A PIECE OF ART. AS A BETTE AND JOAN FAN I REALLY LIKE HOW THE PLAY WAS PUT TOGTHER AND I AM SURE IF THE 2 DAMES ARE STILL HERE THEY WILL APPROVE ! - Roy Tan | 27 May 11 |
| We enjoyed the play very much, it was fun, and well worth going to see. Had about half the audience on their feet at the end, I'd call that well received. - Jen | 18 May 11 |
| Not Bette Bourne and Joan Collins, alas? Now that would be a tiresome evening in the theatre. These two actresses capture somewhat uncannily the essence of these two fading American stars to haunting effect. - kilburncat | 18 May 11 |
| Another 3.5 really for this pair of linked monologues (rather than a play) set in the dressing rooms of Bette Davies and Joan Crawford in 1962 as they are both seeking to breathe new life into their careers by starring together in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? There is a little interaction between the two characters; most of the play alternates between the two in their adjoining rooms on a Hollywood B movie back lot. We learn a surprising amount about their lives, relationships and motivation (I can only assume it’s all true as I had no prior knowledge) but the lack of interaction is the play’s fundamental flaw. That said, Anton Burge’s dialogue often crackles and is very bitchy, occasionally vitriolic and often funny. The first half is meatier and it does lag a little early in the second, but it does recover. Greta Scacchi and Anita Dobson are both excellent; they clearly relish the sharp dialogue and squeeze every ounce of humour from their lines. The price they have to pay for such good dialogue is that they often have to appear in unflattering poses and clothes (which their subjects never would have done) and it is to their great credit as actors that they don’t flinch from this. It’s good to see the great Bill Alexander back in the director’s saddle in London. Ruari Murchison’s design conveys the ignominy of demotion to B movie dressing rooms. Mr Anita Dobson, better known as Queen’s Brain May, gets a prominent credit as ‘musical supervisor’ for choosing a couple of records to play at opening and closing moments! Go for the dialogue and performances and you’ll have a lot of fun – even more if you partake in the Sweet Baby Jane themed cocktail which the Arts Theatre bar so enterprisingly offers! - Gareth James | 17 May 11 |
| An enjoyable evening which the audience clearly enjoyed. The two leads rise memorably to the occasion - monsters both - but Davis the more human of the two. The stars do interact in the second act - a joke about Grace Kelly brought the house down - and Dobson's brilliant portrayal of Crawford's struggle to maintain her veneer of sweetness a hoot. Highly enjoyable - Peter | 15 May 11 |
| I agree with Maria Jane. How can you compare those two drears to two real stars?!! Not a great evening but a VERY enjoyable one from two suberb actresses. i may well go again when it has played in more. - Freddie | 14 May 11 |
| Sad to read a review that fails to see the entertainment value and quality of performances given in a new work - perhaps the critis would rather go see another karaoke musical or a movie re0-hashed on stage - but I for one thoroughly enjoyed the Ann Pinnington production of two wonderful actresses in fine form at a wonderfully intimate theatre - great night out, exceptional value for money. Thanks ladies and CONGRATS! - Morgan | 12 May 11 |
| Once again your critic has proved why his services were no longer required as a theatre critic for the Daily Mail - his reviews are simply biased and out of touch. These two superb actress's gave stunning believable performances. The cheers which greeted their bows should also have been a standing ovation - yes they were that good and try catching the rave review from Roger Foss on LBC who clearly saw the same play which I did. - Owen | 12 May 11 |
| Got exactly what was expected - a two-hander by two talented actresses about two Hollywood legends. No profound storyline - but fun to watch! - James C | 12 May 11 |
| wonderful theatre - both were brilliant. it does what it says on the tin! ignore this pathetic critic, yet another one he's failed to appreciate. WOS, please get a new critic! *yawn* - PG | 12 May 11 |
| This is just one great night out. Fabulous acting, a real story of the life of legends. The critics have got this wrong, theatre audiences love this play. If in doubt, make up your own mind. You will not be disappointed. - Guest | 11 May 11 |
| This review is wrong. The two actresses do interact. They have two rather touching scenes together. - Scott Capurro | 11 May 11 |
| Wow. Harsh. Don't know what show you saw, but I was in last night too and thought it was simply wonderful. I do wonder about the worthiness of a review by someone who laments the absence of Bette Bourne and Joan Collins over that of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Really?! - Marla Jane | 11 May 11 |
