Reader Reviews
Marianne Dreams (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 just didn't happen although it had, at times, all the ingredients to make it do so. There were moments however when it was truly embarrassing as when, on the night I went, a rather stout Marianne pranced around the stage in balletic sequences. Neither Moira Buffini, the adaptor, nor Will Tucket, the director/ choreographer, seem to be up for the job. I found myself wincing at some of the dialogue, and even a young audience would have found some of this too trite. Having said that it's not a total wash out. The staging was clever, and could have been more so. The final scenes showed some "heart" which it needed displaying earlier on. A difficult piece to translate to the stage for sure, but this unfortunate effort should not put off any future attempts. Whether, as it is, it is really for the intended audience the Almeida seemed to think it is remains to be seen. I'd give it 4/10 with a "See Me"! LOL! - rds | 05 Jan 08 |
| Designer theatre for middle class parents to feel good taking their kids to. It was a long 75 mins and it left me cold. The kids in the auudience looked bored. Give me the joy of the Young Vic's Christmas Carol, the heart of the NT's War Horse or the bawdiness of the Old Vic's Cinderella any day of the week. Yawn..... - Gareth James | 04 Jan 08 |
| Excellent production that can be equally enjoyed by adults and children. The play touches on serious subjects: illness, solitude, death and parental loss but in a way that challenges and stimulates us, the viewers, to use our imagination. The blending of music, dance and projection effects creates a magical world that I was sorry to leave. Highly recommended. - Gazza | 30 Dec 07 |
