Reader Reviews
Tom, Dick and Harry (Duke of York's Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Top marks to the cast of this play for their sterling efforts to disguise it as anything other than mediocre. I desperately wanted to believe in Tom, Dick and Harry's characters (and the rest of them) but alas the stilted dialogue and out-of-this planet plot (less escapism than ridiculous) rendered that impossible. The calibre of the actors involved convinced me to see this play despite having read some of the most damning reviews ever, but I was depressingly disappointed. How apt that such convoluted plot lines could neatly conclude with a lazy coincidence that saved the day. I only hope the exposure will help the valiantly performing McGanns to other, much better scripts in the future. - 217.33.209.253) | 20 Sep 05 |
| If you want serious theatre then don't go to see this show. However, if you want farce, fun, puns, slapstick, some frenetic dialogue, laughter and genuine, old-fashined, entertainment then this is the one for you. I saw it at the matinee on 20 August. It was well rehearsed, the dialogue and movements were slick and they really seemed to enjoy themselves as much as the audience did. If you visit the theatre for entertainment that lifts and cheers then this is a play for you. - 80.88.213.146) | 01 Sep 05 |
| I went on 27/8 and really enjoyed the show. I thought the McGanns were excellent, particularly Joe. The whole cast were very good. The audience responded well, with enthusiastic applause at the end (so it wasn't just me). - 195.93.21.102) | 29 Aug 05 |
| We saw this at last Saturdays's preview and we thoroughly enjoyed it. - 213.122.133.221) | 26 Aug 05 |
| Found it very contrived, very tedious and totally unfunny. Comedy as Cooney once knew it no longer has a place in the West End and sadly the rows of empty seats during previews will sadly grow now the reviews are out - avoid. - 62.6.181.62) | 25 Aug 05 |
| This is the first "traditional British farce" I've seen (I don't count masterpieces like Noises Off & What The Butler Saw as they deliberately subvert the genre) and it will certainly be the last. I found this corny, offensive, desperately unfunny and wretchedly acted. Most of the people around me just sat gazing at the stage vacantly rather than laughing, Can't say I blamed them. Hated it. - 195.82.123.181) | 24 Aug 05 |
| Press night (23/8) performance was poor. One got the feeling they still needed a week's rehearsal to properly grade the action; the fever pitch acting by "Tom" from the start of the first act allowed very little room for any crescendo. His wife (Louise Jameson)appeared uncomfortable on stage and similarly shouted her way throughout the whole play. Mrs Potter was unconvincing as an adoption-agency matron, with too many "false start" movements. Although a farce, which did thankfully pick up a bit in the send act, the script contained a number of incredibly corny lines more appropriate in a family pantomime. The male illegal alien puts on a good show as a drunk but is let down by his grandaughter who appears too worldly by half and is too made up considering she spent three days travelling rough. Her costume is also rather overdone (romanian milk maid). The brothers, "Bradford and Bingley" (another panto prop) tend to over-act. Their franetic movements on stage make it appear too small. A shame detail like the weight of the bin bag was not corrected; unconvincingly "heavy". Also set too brightly lit. Overall mildly entertaining. - 80.250.130.141) | 24 Aug 05 |
