Reader Reviews
Journey's End (Playhouse Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | PERFECT IN EVERY WAY - A GREAT TRIBUTE TO THE MEN OF WW1. HEARTRENDING, IT IS AN EMOTIONAL JOURNEY THAT LEAVES YOUR DRAINED AND GRATEFUL THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SUFFER AS TOSE MEN DID. THE DIALOGUE - WHICH COULD BE CLUNKY AND DATED IN LESS EXPECT HANDS - IS ALWAYS CONVINCING. EVERY EMOTION IS PLAYED WITH A GENUINE FEEL AND NOT SINGLE MOMENT IS OVER PLAYED. IN A SUPERB CAST MALCOLM SINCLAIR AND PETER SANDYS-CLARK STAND OUT. THIS IS WHAT GREAT THEATRE IS ALL ABOUT - AND THE CURTAIN CALL WILL BREAK YOUR HEART. GO TONIGHT. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.255.64.8) | 22 Sep 04 |
| A boring, reactionary old play, adnittedly well done. The play's premise is: how does one keep one's fag's respect in the trenches. The class attitudes and assumptions on display here are embarrassing, and it says a lot for our retrogressive society that so many people don't even notice. Blackadder said a lot about this mind of rubbish in the last series. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.122.135.159) | 25 Aug 04 |
| I've now seen this show 3 times (each with a different cast) and it keeps getting better! Each time i was reminded of excellence of the suberb script, and the brilliant way it is staged. Its THE BEST SHOW IN THE WEST END for years! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.138.241.53) | 18 Aug 04 |
| do not miss this, a real example of the best of British and now moved to the Playhouse - go go! young theatre goers and actors could learn much. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.13.129.151) | 26 May 04 |
| If you see just one play this year, make it this one. Superb production - I don't think the current cast could be bettered. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.255.64.8) | 21 Apr 04 |
| Absolutely magnificent. The best play that I have seen for a long long time. A must see production. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (194.216.55.200) | 15 Apr 04 |
| Some of the best plays are those that highlight the human dimension of their subject matter, and that is indeed one of the great strengths of this production. Regardless of age, rank or background, the characters are simply people who have been brought together in a horrifying situation. The play brilliantly demonstrates that no matter what horrors they are facing, people will adapt and handle them in their own way. The set atmospherically portrays the claustrophobic gloom of a trench dug-out, and the acting in every single case is excellent. David Haig proves yet again what a stage natural he is (although he will not be performing in the Playhouse transfer) but for me, top honours go to Geoffrey Streatfield as Stanhope. His portrayal of this tense officer, a mixture of barking authority, strained weariness and emotion, is simply astonishing, and without exaggeration one of the most powerful performances I have ever seen on stage. Throughout my life I have watched war films and documentaries but nothing has ever come as close as this to making me even remotely feel what the Great War was like. And by the way, there are laughs in it too - as I imagine there must have been even in the nightmare of the trenches. I know it's a terrible old cliche, but everyone really SHOULD see this. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.74.155.103) | 07 Apr 04 |
| What an outstanding production. Definitely the best show I have seen to date. The set's wonderful and the cast are amazing. David Grindley's direction has really produced something extremely special. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.43.92.147) | 30 Mar 04 |
| One of the best productions I have seen on the west end, everything about this was superd. First Ill talk about the directing. I always knew David Grindly was a directer to look out for when I saw his tremendous production of Abagails party, here he excels himself. Grindley seems to do everything right, he has created a perfect gloomy atmosphere and there is a sharp intensity running through that the play definetly needs. Grindly also manages to draw out brilliant performances from everyone in the large cast, and what a cast! David Haig is as always trmendous, I would fail to see how anyone could not warm to his Osborne. The actor that impressed me the most was Geoferry Streathfield, he is brilliant as the alcoholic captain, he is definetly a future star of the theatre and one to watch. This is a breath of fresh air for the west end and if you havent seen it yet, go! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.135.170.84) | 26 Mar 04 |
| Absolutely stunning production. One of the most powerful endings I have ever seen. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (194.81.199.48) | 22 Mar 04 |
| I saw this for the second time on Saturday and it was just as moving. What can you say, the acting is superb by all concerned. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (129.227.139.96) | 22 Mar 04 |
| An outstanding production of an excellent play. Highlights included spectacular performances from two young actors; Geoffrey Streatfeild and Christian Coulson. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.130.151.140) | 20 Mar 04 |
| Packed houses for an intense 75-year-old drama about the first world war proves the theory that if producers trust an audience's intelligence and provide them with quality productions of good plays, they will be repaid at the box office.....as they were 75 years ago. This is quality in every respect. It is rare that you forget you're in a theatre, but I did last night. This is what drama does - I'll give you 20 Endgame's, Art's or Weir's for just one Jouney's End. If you need conclusive proof of the power of theatre, get to the Comedy Theatre now. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (172.134.233.61) | 18 Mar 04 |
| Magnificent in every respect. An amazing achievement to breathe contemporary life into a text that can look so moribund on the page. Even the 'jolly toppings' sounded wholly natural. I was moved beyond all expectation. Congratulations to David Grindley: I didn't buy into your take on Abigail's Party, but this one is a triumph. Job - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.144.130.1) | 12 Mar 04 |
| Deserves to win awards in all categories: acting, directing, script, set design, etc. An absolutely tremendous play. Go and see it. Streatfield is fantastic - a stellar performance, and the others are not far behind. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (132.190.32.20) | 11 Mar 04 |
| The best play I've seen in the West End for months. The staging, direction and acting are all excellent, and the ending is incredibly moving - I've never cried in the theatre before.... - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.128.202.113) | 27 Feb 04 |
| The time flew by - and the ending was the most moving experience I have had in a theatre. Quite brilliant. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.206.155.226) | 10 Feb 04 |
| What an all round great production. The acting is some of the best to be seen in the West End right now. Well thought through with a great touch for the last scene. Go and see how a play like this can work in the right hands and with the right care for time and space. Poor house when I went, mid week, so no reason to miss out on this. Lets hope it finds a life after the W.E. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.13.129.151) | 02 Feb 04 |
| Excellent production, no fancy touchs to try and update the play. The acting was fantastic and at the end I had tears in my eyes. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (129.227.139.96) | 29 Jan 04 |
| Brilliant, can't recommend this production more highly. First rate performances and a devastating ending that will leave you speechless. A Must See. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.35.141.121) | 26 Jan 04 |
| An unfussy solid production which allows the play to speak for itself It reveals itself to be a moving and authentic picture of a hideous episode in european history. The class assumptions and strategic disasters as well as the unthinkable waste of young life come powerfully across without being hammered home by directorial intervantion. The scene in which Osborne and Raleigh wait to leave for the raid in which they will probably die is unbearably tense. Uniformly well acted, tense and occasionally extremelely touching. A really good evening. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.93.34.14) | 22 Jan 04 |
