Reader Reviews
Red Velvet (Tricycle Theatre, Inner London)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | The story of Ira Aldridge is a potentially fascinating one but in a two hour play Red Velvet is only able to scratch the surface. It focuses on the time when Aldridge was brought in at short notice to replace Edmund Kean as Othello to great consternation. The scenes contrasting his more naturalistic stle of acting to the prevailing ones of the day are very funny and there are terrific performances, particularly from Adrian Lester as Aldridge. Unfortunately the play does not explain how Aldridge recovered from the racism he encountered in London to become a major star thoughout Europe which suggests that this is not the best format to tell the story of what must have been a remarkable man. - David Baxter | 22 Nov 12 |
