Reader Reviews
House of Desires - Spanish Golden Age Season (Playhouse Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | The RSC's House of Desires was a remarkably good production, highlighting the ridicule and shallowness of the honour code in Spanish society through standardised gestures and postures borrowed to the worlds of Flamenco and Torreadors. The initial staging of the author (a 16th century mexican nun with very good insights on society) who then takes part in the plot as one of the characters reminds us of the social context of the play. The theme of the convent is kept up during the whole performance with heavy sounds of keys being locked. It might be the conventionnal plot of crossed lovers and ingenous servants but it is done in a very stylised and highly enjoyable manner. The set shines through and the lighting aptly materialises varied places and athmospheres. The ensemble works very well together have built a growing sense of union and a delightful athmosphere throughout the season. Simon Trinder does not feel too full of himself at all, his character does. His depiction of Castaño is hillarious and was absolutely loved by the audience. A special mention to the not often enough mentionned Kelly as well. - 172.187.148.205) | 25 Mar 05 |
| The production failed utterly to convince me that this was a play worth reviving. The plot was a traditional formula - starcrossed lovers, comic mix-ups, maids who are lippy. So, what's new ? It might have been better if the parts had been played more naturally and if Simon Trinder had not been so pleased with himself. - 195.93.21.101) | 12 Feb 05 |
| Please add the Stratford reviews from the archive. Not as good as 'Dog in a Manger', but an interesting play (by a nun!) which is very well performed by this excellent ensemble. - 81.134.70.31) | 07 Feb 05 |
| This is excellently directed by Nancy Mackler to get the maximum of laughs but the play is a zero. Dog in the Manger had everything including a good plot. This has been compared to Dog but is just a farce in odd costume. Acting 5 Play 0 = 2.5 rouned up to 3. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.118.206.221) | 09 Aug 04 |
| Trinder is sensational. It's not as well constructed a play as "Dog", but laughs come thick and fast. Golden Age indeed. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (84.66.62.21) | 06 Aug 04 |
| Don't worry your pretty little heads about the incomprehensible plot, just sit back and revel in this glorious rediscovery. For me this was the highlight of the Stratford season, more than making up for the adequate but uninspired Shakespeare shows next door. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.168.169) | 05 Aug 04 |
| Nancy Meckler's distinctive style of stroytelling comes through but I think it is more suited to her adaptations of novels than plays - it feels like the subject of the play is secondary to getting a laugh. Also I cannot believe the casting - Joseph Milson and Simon Trinder and Rebecca Johnson and Claire Cox all effectively playing the same parts they do in Dog in the Manger - whats the point in doing this play when its just like Dog in the Manger mark 2? At least Tamar's Revenge has something different to offer. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.69.37.108) | 13 Jul 04 |
| Another wonderful evening's entertainment in the Golden Age season. House of Desires is beautifully directed by Nancy Meckler and features an exceptionally strong cast. Claire Cox, Rebecca Johnson and Katherine Kelly are equally strong while William Buckhurst and Joseph Millson in particular show terrific facial expressions as the farce unfolds - Millson in particuler is sensational. Those who say Dog in the Manger and were annoyed by Simon Trinder will find much to moan about here, for once again he reprises the "Baldrick role" and few play this part better. It's true he hams it up, but that is required in the part and I, and the rest of the audience apparently, think he's a star. If I had to find fault, it would be that Peter Sproule's diction is muffled when he does "blustering rage" and Julius D'Silva still looks like a better TV actor than a stage actor to me. A fun and light evening's entertainment investigating the honour code by an ensemble that really work well as a team - and again, wonderfully directed. The RSC at it's very best. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.252.0.6) | 04 Jul 04 |
