Reader Reviews
Festen (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 |
| Oustanding. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (80.42.125.181) | 02 May 04 |
| Remarkable combination of an impressive adaptation, imaginative direction and superb acting particularly from Lee Miller who shows what can be done by silence and stillness. A triumph. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.93.34.14) | 25 Apr 04 |
| Just amazing. Tom Hardy is incredible. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.252.0.6) | 15 Apr 04 |
| Wonderful theatre. Even though I knew a lot of the story, it somehow still had me on the edge of my seat. Faultless performances, wonderful staging - further confirmation after the wonderful 'Goat' of the Almeida's return to form. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (172.168.133.253) | 06 Apr 04 |
| A very impressive production. Excellent performances from everyone, especially Johnny Lee Miller, Tom Hardy and Robert Pugh. I think the audience was actually holding its breath during the revelatory scene in the first act... - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.130.127.205) | 06 Apr 04 |
| Very well presented and acted and with a real punch, hard to look at the actors at times as we all reel from shock. I had not seen the film. Some wounderful performances esp from the sister and brother of Lee Miller,in fact the actor playing the younger brother is fantastic and will go very far. The play has a large cast to think West End but it still might for a limited run. The second play this year at the Almeida to deal with a family falling apart with their secrets. What next me thinks.... - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.13.129.151) | 05 Apr 04 |
| Magnificent. Understated, oppressive, deeply moving, and the whole cast was brilliant - but especially Jonny Lee Miller (so emotionally devastated and devastating, yet so contained - much more effective than if he'd let himself boil over), Robert Pugh (deeply sinister and horribly believable), and Claire Rushbrook (damaged and ambivalent). This director (Rufus Norris) is brilliant at creating atmosphere - I remember the pre-storm tension in his Afore Night Come at the Young Vic a couple of years ago. Fantastic theatre, and brave, too - not just the subject-matter, but for example letting the audience sit in deeply uncomfortable (and I'm not talking about the seats) silence for minutes on end. This production treats its audience like adults. Wonderful. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (213.122.190.8) | 26 Mar 04 |
| Hmm I just didn't connect to this at all emotionally. When a director chooses to stage a play in this way - so sparsely tha acting needs to be really really strong and here I felt the playing was all on different levels. Quite Liked Johnny Lee and the guy who played the dad, Jane Asher also had her moments (all be it in moments where she wasn't speaking) but the other 2 siblingswere too ott and actory for the small space. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.69.37.108) | 26 Mar 04 |
| I was at a preview and cannot understand all the enthusiasm for a play which for me totally lacked the emotional power the subject demands. Of course much depends on what remains unsaid as what the characters actually reveal, but nevertheless the heart of the play seemed to be missing as well as the heart of this family. A tension was generated and then lost, leaving that big question of 'so what?' at the end. There was also a lot of comic padding which did not help to generate the serious response the subject demanded. Maybe too much depends on what an audience brings to the play (inherent feelings for the subject) instead of what the play gives back. However, nothing but praise for the cast who wrung what they could from the script, and for the simple yet stunning staging. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.43.168.94) | 26 Mar 04 |
| maybe the balcony view had something to do with it - subtleties of Bod Lang missed- but I found it a gripping play til the denouement which seemed unmotivated and unconvincing... - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.112.45.39) | 25 Mar 04 |
| I also saw the play last night and was seriously impressed. The subtleties and nuances in the body language were brilliant. A truly convincing and emotional performance by the whole cast. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.203.82.10) | 25 Mar 04 |
| I saw this play last night and I am still thinking about it. It was wonderful and I am still a little overwhelmed by it. The cast was brilliant. I am telling everyone to see this. Just brilliant. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.109.116.7) | 24 Mar 04 |
