Reader Reviews
There Came a Gypsy Riding (Almeida Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Dreadful. The acting, script and direction were all dire - the only thing to be said for it was the set! What on earth were the Almeida doing putting this on in the first place? Staggeringly over acted to the point of becoming a macabre pantomime. Surely black actors deserve to be given better material, which does not patronise or pigeon hole them, than this. And one other thing what was it with the clunky accents? It was an African 'ello 'ello. The incredibly slow response to applaud at the close of the first act tonight was a clear sign of what the audience thought of it. - rds | 21 May 10 |
| We were lucky enough to be among those at the WOS outing to Gypsy Riding on 6th February, and we had a spectacular evening. Everything went right, from finding a parking space right outside the theatre, to having a long chat with the charming and funny Eileen Atkins at the WOS reception afterwards. The play itself was superb, extremely funny but also very moving in places. The subject of the death of a child, even as an adult, is not one that one would normally associate with any sort of humour, but all of the characters had some very funny lines (especially Eileen Atkins -- what an amazing performance). The serious moments were also very well handled by all the cast, especially Imelda Staunton; her "breakdown scene" was heartbreaking. Loved it, want to go again, but no tickets to be had! Just have to pray for a West End transfer. - Louise Dodds-Ely | 13 Feb 07 |
| It's the production more than the play that makes the evening. The problem with the play is that it is unevenly written. In the first half, where Bridget gets all the best lines and the rest of the time you're waiting for her to come back on. In the second half, it ventures too far into implausibility and unjustified histrionics. The setting is wonderful and the staging impeccable. Eileen Atkins make the most of her wonderful character. The rest do their best with theirs, though come more into their own in the second half, where they have meaty scenes in an overall story which has now lost its way. Well worth a visit though. - 86.129.60.93) | 31 Jan 07 |
| I thought it was crap. - 82.198.250.72) | 22 Jan 07 |
| Perhaps this is not quite proper to add a review when the play is still in preview - 12th Jan but I feel compelled to do so whilst the performance is still vivid in my mind. Frank McGuinness is one of the greatest writers of the day and this play just confirms that conviction. In the story, set in the brooding romantic west of Ireland, he takes us on an extraordinary emotional roller coast ride. At times teasing us with flashes of brilliant comedy deftly handled by the wonderful Eileen Atkins in particular - and just when we have been lulled into this cosy comfort zone - we are slapped, hard in the face, by the tragedy which lies at the heart of the play - the suicide of a son. Only a write of McGuinness' experience and stature could pull this off. Great praise must go to the superb Imelda Staunton whose performance as the mother of the lost child is heart wrenching. The rest of the cast were all equally up to it and deserve praise. Michael Attenborough has proved himself yet again as a director of great sensitivity - the Almeida is greatly enhanced by his stewardship. - 172.143.22.158) | 13 Jan 07 |
