Reader Reviews
The Exonerated (Charing Cross Theatre (formerly New Players Theatre), Inner London)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Go and see it, I enjoyed, I was moved, I was entertained. simple as that. I can't believe this one could potentially slip us all by.. - TobiasKS | 12 Mar 11 |
| A strong and moving production, incredibly human and touching. I cannot recommend The Exonerated enough. - Matt Rowan | 11 Mar 11 |
| I see a lot of theatre in London, both in larger venues, fringe, and the smaller central venues like the New Players Theatre; and I have to say I was not disappointed with this. Having never heard of the play before this, yet being aware of the topic and miscarriages of justices faced by many each year, I found this play to be moving, sensitive and exceptionally executed (excuse the turn of phrase) by the cast involved. The use of a sparse set allowed the strength of the stories to shine through, aided by the skilful acting of the cast involved. To be honest, I was surprised when it was only one act, as opposed to the usual theatre experience of an interval. So, why only the 4 stars, not 5. Mostly because of the slightly less convincing portrayal of Sonny. The only character I felt let the illusion of the play break a little. But that's just being finickity. All in all, well worth a visit, especially during a weeknight, as for us working types, it doesn't cut into the week too much! In other words, go see. - sjwharfe | 11 Mar 11 |
| Couldn't agree more with Cupkaykie. I saw it YEARS ago with the REAL 'Sunny' and a minor film star, neither of whom could act for toffee but had the certinous audience on its feet. All very sad for sure but not theatre and shouldn't be confused with it. - J.S. | 10 Mar 11 |
| This production has the potential to be superb. The acting is good - brilliant at times (I refer particulaly to Ian Porter and the 2 actors who play the prison guards and various other characters), the script is very well executed, and the staging creates an appropriately effective environment. However I say it could be superb because it was like coming out of a film that doesn’t quite tick all the boxes. It feels like all involved worked very hard to bring the production up to 8/10 but didn’t bother to dot the I’s and cross the t’s to bring it up to 10/10. For example, Glen Carter has a sordid awful story to tell but he portrays no sadness, no confusion, no surprise when he talks of finding his father. I feel no emotion from him at all at times. But he has to distant look down to a T. Also there was a fabulous monologue from Derek Griffiths but there is no creshendo to his anger. There is disbelieve and then strong anger. Where was the resentment, the bitterness, the thirst for revenge? Lisa Eichorn describes the moment she heard gun shots as if she is describing the queue in the supermarket. Her softly voice works well when describing her peace with life, he future plans but I wanted to feel her fear in the flashback. The only person out of all the characters who I cried for was the brother who got shot. The actor who played the brother of Ian Porter made me cry through his facial expressions, his surprise, his naivity, his hope when he is holding the hand of his brother…none of the other characters accomplished this. I don’t know how you would fix this, I am not a director. I think more levels needs to be added somehow. Shades of emotions need to be explored. It seems a complicated mixture of stories which is probably why they have simplified the emotions within each character but I think they should give the audience more credit and really go for it. Otherwise they are letting down the true victims they are portraying. - Holly Noyes | 09 Mar 11 |
| Saw this today, simply staged, occasionally funny, moving, humbling and engaging. A great piece of verbatim theatre A hour and a half well spent:p Deffo recommend you go and see if get a chance!! - Jeremy C | 09 Mar 11 |
| Tremendous! - Dan K. | 08 Mar 11 |
| Don't know what the reviewer was watching but I saw this on 5th March and lasted 1/2 an hour it was awful looked like a bunch of audition pieces that were scrapping the bottom of the barrel - thank god it closes in april - cupkaykie | 08 Mar 11 |
| Incredible production, go and see it while you can! - Peter Dunbar | 07 Mar 11 |
