Reader Reviews
Blackbird (Noel Coward Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Superb on every level. Provocative, challenging, mesmerising and never compromising. Excellent acting and direction. - 62.253.96.46) | 11 May 06 |
| I thought that the strength of the play was that it DIDN'T have a banal, easily sum-upable message. These two were desperate creatures, fixated on a past event, nothing that had happened to them since (dull jobs, bloodless relationships) providing them with the intensity of their "affair". At last, some real daring, transgression and challenging material on an English stage! The only thing that marred it for me was the quite pathetic and perfectly unnecessary ending, with its dreadful soft-rock soundtrack, Kate Bush movement and money-wasting effects. Why Stein felt the need for this risible "coup" I'll never know. - 86.132.127.143) | 08 Apr 06 |
| Hmmm, very well acted but very unsure about the message of the second half. A very well acted play but one that ends up confusing itself in a circle so as to try and give both sides of the argument. Could have done without the nudity and the appearance of the car. - 62.254.189.98) | 03 Apr 06 |
| I think this is a highly dubious play. Is there anything positive to say for relationships between adults and minors? It seems Harrower is trying to suggest there may be. I found the girl's recollection of the events when she was 12 entirely unconvincing. However mature children may be at an early age, what possible justification can there be for having sex with a 12 year old girl? So what is this play about? What does it offer us? In my view a dubious foray into paedaphilia. - 213.123.205.8) | 23 Mar 06 |
| One of the most intense and disturbing plays I have ever seen but also one of the best. The aptly-named David Harrower takes us on a roler-coaster ride of emotions with constantly shifting perceptions and sympathy. Given the highly sensitive subject matter it is an immense achievement to create a feeling of understanding, or even more, for Roger Allam's pathetic Peter/Ray. It is never completely clear who is the true victim or who seduced who and even the closing moments, which hit home with an almost physical impact, leave more questions than answers. Whilst Allam is excellent, Jodhi May is sensational as Una, full of hurt and rage but still sending out dangerous signals. The true motivation of the character only begins to emerge at the end but Miss May manages to keep the depths of Una hidden. This is essential but uncomfortable viewing and must be remembered at the end of the year when the awards are handed out. - 62.6.139.13) | 16 Mar 06 |
| The most gripping two-hander for many years. Five stars if Jodhi allowed all her lines to be heard but her mood-jumping character soon captivates the onlooker, especially the women, to share her motivation. Roger Allam magnificent. Cunning production enhancements prevent audience restlessness. Superbly developed drama with shocking, thrilling climax. - 86.142.180.71) | 02 Mar 06 |
| A remarkable experience. Intelligent, thought provoking piece wonderfully acted and directed. Unmissable - 80.177.231.164) | 26 Feb 06 |
| this is 2 for the first half (which meanders terribly) and 4 for the second (where the play finds direction). some amazing moments, some very misjudged (both in the acting and in the staging). the performers give everything. with twenty minutes trimmed off the first half (before the monologue) and a rethink of some of the more directorly moments this would be a truly astounding evening. - 213.78.69.3) | 19 Feb 06 |
| In responce to Black Bird, I thought it was incredible. The best peice of theatre Iv seen. The acting was breathtaking, the play was heart wrenching and the set and props were used to their full potential. David Harrower captured what it was like for this man to be confronted by his worst, yet best past time and I felt the reality of it was very moving. Roger and Jodhi played these characters with such truth and I found their characterisations of Una and Ray so believeable!Yes the play was shocking but at the same time it touched so many people with its realistically rivetting themes. I have spoken to alot of people who felt the ending unnessisary and over the top, however, in my opinion, the end was signifying the two of them writhing together in their own loss, love, upset, grief and need. The music was very effective in that it made this ugly and desperat attempt to get what both their hearts wanted look beautiful and almost dreamlike. The people looking in the window at the back signified voyeurs watching their own lives and society being acted around them, just like we, the audience were. The rubbish was catastrophe and disaster all around, even though Jodhis character repeatedly said things like "I lived your sentance" and "do you remember..." as if he would have forgotten...To me the rubbish was a denmonstration of the shitty life he has had since, she accuses him of living in theat room and in my eyes, she right to a certain extent.anyway.I loved it and intend to see it for a third time next week. becky - 85.133.19.51) | 16 Feb 06 |
| I hated this. Yes the subject of child abuse is inevitably an emotive and distressing one, but I found it very difficult to connect with this sterile, even dull play. True, Peter Stein's clumsy and pretentious staging didn't help (the crudely realised lapses into stylised speech and movement, the crude -one assumes metaphorical - crawling around on the floor and chucking of rubbish about, the gawping extras, the intrusive use of music....I could go on and on) but I find Harrower's characters too sketchily drawn to care about. Roger Allam turns in another sterling performance but, for me, Jodhi May is just not a stage creature.....her voice is irritating and the high emotions didn't ring true. For much of the piece I felt it was in the wrong theatre (never has the Albery felt cavernous) but then there is Stein's mystifying but spectacular coup de theatre at the end, involving lighting effects, a car and, of course,choreographed movement. Was so glad to get out of there. In his review, Mark Shenton compares this to Festen. I couldn't agree less...that was heartbreaking and thrilling...this is turgid and bloodless. - 195.92.67.77) | 16 Feb 06 |
| Saw this last night, and can't get it out of my mind. Just fantastic, performances faultless. The uncomfortable subject matter is addressed in a very real way and, incredibly, sympathy is felt for the abuser, who genuinely believes he is not like a "real" paedophile. This is one I will be thinking about for a very long while. If you want an evening that really makes you think and stirs your emotions, go and see Blackbird. - 86.137.164.57) | 16 Feb 06 |
| Well, 3.5 actually ! Though this play has moments of real tension, they were intermittant and the pace is badly affect by the gaps between. I'm not sure it's a great play but it is a fascinating subject, it gets two great performances and the ending is terrific. Good to see something like this in the West End too - and with a full house on a Wednesday ! - 86.137.105.114) | 16 Feb 06 |
| I kept thinking what two great German actors would have made with these roles: Bruno Ganz, for instance. Or the late great Klaus Kinski. Allam is one of those operatic thesps, like McKellen or Sher, who substitute ersatz demonstration for simple truth. And - big no-no - he keeps dropping his lines. Everything ends on a dying fall. Result? An enveloping and crippling tedium. Jodhi May - who has the challenge of a mammoth 20 minute monologue half-way through - picks up Allam's rhythm and inflections, and the effect is like watching two ducks failing to fly away from a stagnant pond. This would be a far greater - and more harrowing - evening (it has a stunning coup-de-theatre in the last minute) with a braver cast. I bought Harrower's text and look forward to reading it in isolation, and re-imagining it in my head. The writing itself seemed directionless. It did make an impression (not least, the back of the seat in front of me on my right knee), it's guaranteed to get the critics chirruping their exorbitant nonsense, but it's a big empty egg. - 62.252.0.10) | 14 Feb 06 |
| Yes it is a good play with two well written star roles but Peter S has given it a film type acting feel with the underscore and the best stage design shock change you will see for some time. The acting is some how not totally true in my view and the fight at the end was like watching DV8/dance drama, may be very European but did not ring true to me. Maybe it's the hype that has gone with it but for my money just short of 5 stars... - 217.13.129.151) | 14 Feb 06 |
