Reader Reviews
Novecento (Trafalgar Studios (previously the Whitehall), West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I was tempted to give this a miss; the prospect of a 90-minute monologue after enduring the horrors of the tube strike the day before made even staying at work seem like a better option. I'm glad I didn't though as Novecento is almost entirely captivating. Brilliantly performed by Mark Bonnar it tells the weird and wonderful story of a baby abandoned on a ship carrying immigrants to America who grows up to be an astonishing pianist who never sets foot on dry land, spending his entire life on the same ship. Bonnar's engrossing performance is enhanced by highly evocative lighting and sound effects but, wisely, there is no attempt to replicate Novecento's other-worldly piano playing. Unfortunately after a spellbinding 90 minutes with the narrator we are then required to endure a disappointing 10 minutes of highly pretentious pseudo mysticism from Novecento himself. That's a shame but it should not detract from a remarkable performance given an imaginative production by Roisin McBrinn. - David Baxter | 06 Nov 10 |
| Loved it- it restored my faith in theatre. Mark Bonnar is a superb actor who strips everything back to delicate detailed, and incredibly moving storytelling- just lovely! - Humdruff | 02 Nov 10 |
