Reader Reviews
Woman and Scarecrow (Royal Court - Jerwood Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Marvellous. Astonishigly acute writing and wonderful acting particularly from the magnificent Fiona Shaw extending her range yet again and giving a masterclass in acting skills. - 80.177.231.164) | 17 Jul 06 |
| I agree these were terrific performances from Fiona Shaw - who we don't see enough of!!! and Brid Brennan. It beats what's going on downstairs by miles. I have to confess to being somewhat puzzeled at the begining - but then I am a bit thick - eventually I worked it out. The play though is very well written, moving; funny; and tragic, life encapsulated in just a few hours by the brilliant writing of Marina Carr. Poetic and so Irish. One of those increasingly rare moments when one leaves the theatre bubbling with the experience and wanting to talk about it. Stella McCusker as Auntie Ah has caught, in perfect pitch, the anger and despair that goes with the coming terms with the death of a close relative. Peter Gowen as the self-centered husband was bang on too. Classic theatre and a triump for the Royal Court. - 195.93.21.97) | 14 Jul 06 |
| Four stars for the performances, especially the wonderful Fiona Shaw, although I wasn't really drawn into the play - and the audience may have played a part. A group of women laughed hysterically at every other line in the play, whether it was funny, poignant or whatever. You ruined my enjoyment of the evening, so thanks for that. - 84.9.69.205) | 12 Jul 06 |
| Wow. Just got back from Saturday matinee, can't get this out of my head. A fantastically moving play. The subject matter, a dying woman's last hours, suggests that this should be unrelentingly grim. However, there is a huge amount of humour in the piece. A woman and her alter ego (Scarecrow) debate the value of decisions she has made throughout her life, whether she was right to marry the 'wrong' man, and whether she could have achieved the happiness that she anticipated in childhood and which has eluded her. The acting of Fiona Shaw and Brid Brennan was an absolute tour de force, it's hard to imagine that anybody could have done better. Incredibly moving, I am hoping to find time to go again before it closes next week. Go if you possibly can, you won't regret it. - 83.104.38.117) | 08 Jul 06 |
