Reader Reviews
The Rubinstein Kiss (Hampstead Theatre, Inner London)
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 | This is a play most notable for its two leading actors. Will Keen and Samantha Bond give fantastic performances as the Rubensteins who are used as a metaphor to tell in part the story of the Rosenburgs, who were executed for espionage in the 1951. Their story is gripping and there is an interesting little twist half way through the play; however, some viewers may feel that this stretches coincidence a little too far. The play is about half and hour too long and at times the moves between the seventies and the fifties detracts from the tension that is buiding between the members of the family leading up to and after the trial. The technique is used for good reasons and it would give away the plot to discuss this further, but sometimes I would have preferred them to hold the action in the fifties longer and perhaps even show a little dramatisataion of the trial itself. The scenes set in the seventies, except for the final twist, where a now 20+ year old FBI agent played by an excellent Gary Kemp delivers some devastating news, are not as interesting as those in the fifties. This is the writer's first production and for this it is admirable, brave and promising. The acting from the cast is outstanding. Those lusting after the return of the death penalty would do well to watch. - 62.6.139.13) | 05 Dec 05 |
| It's true the piece is not without it's awkwardnesses - unsurprising in a first play. And maybe having the author directing - who's bound to have an excusable lack of perspective on his script - has meant there's been less finishing polish applied to the text than the material deserved. But the raw ambition of the piece is truly exciting (the problem is more with the intellectual focus), and he has staged it extremely well. Samantha Bond is to die for and Will Keen quite simply breathtaking - with excellent support from Alan Cox and Emily Bruni. Well worth seeing for the sheer scope of the thing - and for some terrific acting. The best play by a young writer since "What we did to Weinstein" and a very creditable feather in Hampstead's cap. Recommended. - 195.54.229.238) | 01 Dec 05 |
| This is soap opera dressed up as Serious Drama. The trial and executions of the Rosenbergs (renamed the Rubensteins here) came at a fascinating time in American history and they have cropped up as characters in many a play and film. Here they also come with a somewhat preposterous subplot set in 1975, where two young students meet in front of their photo in a museum. As well as writing dialogue that veers from trite to erudite, Phillips has also ponderously directed his own script, against an impressive tenement backdrop. I can't help feeling that another director might have encouraged the author to cut the piece and also speed it up in places. Despite considerable reservations, I must admit that I was increasingly gripped in the 2nd half and was genuinely moved by the end of the play. This had as much to do with the acting as the play: a fine cast (notable Samantha Bond and Will Keen as the Rubensteins, and Emily Bruni and Alan Cox as their treacherous in-laws) manage to convince you they are playing real people rather than mouthpieces. This is not disaster by any means, but it is a disappointment. - 195.82.123.181) | 30 Nov 05 |
| A commendably ambitious piece, with some interesting ideas, but the characters are thinly written, the storytelling is laboured, many scenes lack tension or direction, and the dialogue badly needs editing. Some talented actors pull things together the best they can. It's surprising that a theatre that dedicates itself to new writing doesn't have staff in place to help first-time playwrights polish their work before putting it on stage. - 213.78.88.60) | 25 Nov 05 |
| This play is a diversion from the normal London theatre scene, and is like a breath of fresh air. It includes everything crime, passion, politics, divided loyalties, love, tragedy and arguably state sanctioned murder. Based losely on the Rosenberg trials in the USA during the 1850's it explores important issues of the times, effortlessly switching from the 1950's to the 1970's with the clever use of music, atmospheric lighting, and a smoke machine. This is a play that everyone should see although it may not appeal to younger children. I would, however, recommend reading a little about the subject before the perfomance. The programme is adequate for this and very competitively priced at just £2.50. It is impossible to pick any member of the cast out for a special mention as they are all equally as good so instead I would say keep an eye out for the writer james Phillips as although this is his first play I don't think it will be his last - 195.93.21.102) | 24 Nov 05 |
