Reader Reviews
The Dog in the Manger - Spanish Golden Age Season (Playhouse Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I posted a review after I saw this in Stratford last September. Can we add those from the archive, please? Suffice to say it's an absolute gem - very very funny and not to be missed. - 81.134.70.31) | 07 Feb 05 |
| Started off so promising - the opening night at the Peoples Theatre, practically a full house and everyone willing to get involved- men even dressing up as women !!! Sadly though, the problem was that it was just too damned long! It could have been easily cut by a hour and still got everything in- even the ending that had been built up so much was rather a disapointment. Of course, all the actors put everything into their parts and you could see they were enjoying themselves. Sadly though it just wasn't enough to make the production worthwhile and I left feeling somewhat disatisfied. Worth a look, but nothing special. - 81.131.244.41) | 10 Nov 04 |
| Millson and Johnson prove themselves high above the RSC season standard. Both of them - unreservedly fucking brilliant, in a lovely production by Laurence Boswell. Trinder/Tristan, I'm afraid, just isn't very bright, and doesn't understand most of what he says - that's why he's hamming it up. Unfortunately, we weren't all born with brains and talent - Mr. Trinder has neither, but even he can't detract from this wonderful show. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.254.64.14) | 15 Aug 04 |
| Utterly, utterly brilliant. Millson is stunning, Trinder a real discovery. Bravo. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (84.66.62.21) | 06 Aug 04 |
| Sublime! If the RSC can work miracles like this with an obscure Spanish play why are they struggling so desperately with Shakespeare? - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.168.169) | 05 Aug 04 |
| This is pantomime nonsense of the worst sort. The actors do their best but Lawrence Boswell has twisted the play to suit his own ends - its a dark (if humourous) story about a powerful woman in a society where women are normally powerless. I left feeling very annoyed and cheated, that I hadn't been shown the play at all, but I was in the minority I felt like the rest of the audience were watching a different show they guffawed throughout, I don't think I even smiled. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.69.37.108) | 13 Jul 04 |
| This is one of the best productions I've seen from the RSC in approx 30 years. Following indifferent recent experiences, I had wondered if I'd ever see the like again. Since all the main performances have rightly been praised below (except for that odd pop at the excellent Trinder/Tristran), I'll add only that the all the supporting cast were also absolutely on stream. This was clearly a production in which everyone on stage believed, unlike that of Macbeth seen the following night. Tip- top. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.162.109.12) | 28 Jun 04 |
| What a refreshing change to spend an evening at Stratford and find yourself laughing out loud with gusto throughout. Exceptional work. Loved the translation and although it may not be high-brow enough for some, it makes for pure entertainment. A must-see. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.189.29.81) | 24 Jun 04 |
| I agree about Johnson and Millston, but Simon Trinder is absolutely terrible - ham, over the top, unfunny, stupid, talentless acting from a first-rate idiot. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.254.64.6) | 27 Apr 04 |
| This production is a pure delight. It has pathos, comedy, and a uniformally strong cast. Simon Trinder's Tristan shows his great gift for comic timing and will delight many in a performance that will live long in the memory - but the strength of this performance lies with the whole cast. Rebecca Johnson's Diana is a wonderful portrayal and Joseph Millson's Teodoro conveys great confusion, and these two parts call for a gamut of emotions although the audience is carried with them every step of the unlikely way. John Ramm's Marquis Ricardo is also worthy of mention. It is clear that Laurence Boswell has a great love for this work and his enthusiasm has fed through to the whole cast. A wonderful evening's entertainment. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.252.192.10) | 25 Apr 04 |
