Reader Reviews
Judgement Day (Almeida Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Dreadful. The acting, script and direction were all dire - the only thing to be said for it was the set! What on earth were the Almeida doing putting this on in the first place? Staggeringly over acted to the point of becoming a macabre pantomime. Surely black actors deserve to be given better material, which does not patronise or pigeon hole them, than this. And one other thing what was it with the clunky accents? It was an African 'ello 'ello. The incredibly slow response to applaud at the close of the first act tonight was a clear sign of what the audience thought of it. - rds | 21 May 10 |
| It reminded me at times of one of those horror films from Hammer House (come on you remember!) when the villagers gang up together to oust someone or other taking refuge in the local tavern. They had flaming torches then, but we had the pleasure of watching lamps yo-yoing from the Almeida's fly instead. And why have so many accents going on? Unfortunately the style of acting had more than a whiff of Hammer House too. Individually their were some interesting performances, but as a whole it didn't stick together. It should have closed on page four of the reading. Never mind, they can't always get it right can they? That would be too much to ask for and besides we wouldn't enjoy the good so much if we didn't have the bad to compare. - rds | 18 Oct 09 |
| Just sensational! The play is absolutely knock-out, (read about the historical background and dramatic form, doubters below). The production, acting and direction also couldn't be better. What a joy. - Joesmith | 03 Oct 09 |
| As WoS has pointed out, atmospheric is the prevailing word to describe this production. A deceptively simple but versatile design, lighting, sound and even steam recreate the station and tavern of a small-minded pre-war Germanic town. Odd is also a good description because I'm not quite sure what Horvath is trying to say, particularly at the end when I was waiting for a twist but it all seemed very predictable and rather mundane. Superbly acted, intriguing for the first hour but ultimately frustratingly unsatisfying. - David Baxter | 30 Sep 09 |
| Clever staging doesn't make up for a play that doesn't engage as everyone is so dislikeable. Also, Christopher Hampton's translation sounds at times too contemporary ('kick your head in' etc). - addicted to theatre | 28 Sep 09 |
| Very disappointed; the play seemed to me broken-backed; lots of non-dramatic scenes (ie the very first) and random characters (the cafe customer)that didn't go anywhere, a plot that simply ran out of steam halfway through, and a ludicrous lurch into the supernatural at the end. Very fine performances though! - kevin | 21 Sep 09 |
| I'm afraid I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. It all seemed rather plodding to me and as much as I admired the production, the play seems to me to lack depth and most certainly doesn't hold your attention for an unbroken 110 minutes. - Gareth James | 18 Sep 09 |
