Reader Reviews
Design for Living (Royal Exchange, Manchester)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | The modern setting clashed horribly with the dialogue and the acting was way over the top. The comedy cleaner was simply offensive. There was nothing of interest in this production. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 15 Jul 02 |
| Interesting play but such a bad production of it. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 08 Jul 02 |
| Largely agree with Glenns (WOS) review - the 'updating' is very sloppily done - most unlike Marianne Elliots usually 1st class direction. For example why leave in references to crossing the Atlantic on the Mauritania? Why does the maid not take the cordless phone with her instead of running back all the time? Unusually for the Exchange there are a couple of really weak performances which undermine the whole play. The real issue I have is the set which, as Glenn says, looks stunning but in an region where theatres are threatened with closure the RoyEx seems to require its subsidy trimming. It is obscenely opulent(a crew of approx 12 are needed to change it), needlessly detailed (why lay an intrictate floor for act 2 then cover it with a carpet?). A real example here of less being better than more. One of this excellent theatres poorer offerings. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 06 Jul 02 |
