Reader Reviews
A Moon for the Misbegotten (Old Vic Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Irritating and dull. The odd line sparkles but every character seems so insular and glib. Very disappointing. - addicted to theatre | 20 Apr 10 |
| THE MOST REWARDING PURE STIRRING SUPERB THEATRE EXPERIENCE FOR YEARS. LONG LIVE STACEY. - 86.136.188.156) | 08 Dec 06 |
| This is as good as it gets. - 70.129.13.127) | 05 Dec 06 |
| The best production since Spacey started running the Old Vic combined with his best performance. Eve Best, too, is sensational. - 172.143.182.25) | 02 Dec 06 |
| The performances are very good, but the whole thing is about half an hour too long. As someone else wrote, it's a bit of an endurance test. - 86.142.37.115) | 29 Nov 06 |
| Despite boasting three sensational performances from Colm Meany, Kevin Spacey and, especially, Eve Best, there is still a slight doubt about Spacey's choice of plays for the Old Vic. Moon deals with the uncovering of true feelings: why Tyrone fell off the wagon so spectacularly; why Josie is prepared to be known as the town slut rather than deal with the pain of being a "big, ugly cow" (which Best clearly is not); and the father's real motives for trying to bring these two misfits togeteher. But is does take an interminable time getting to the point. The second half lasts a numbing 100 minutes and the climax comes as something of a relief. There are reasons why this is one of O'Neill's less-often revived pieces and whilst there is a lot to admire here it is less easy to enjoy this very wordy play. - 62.6.139.13) | 23 Nov 06 |
| This is what theatre is all about. I cannot understand how people found this boring! I was absolutely enthralled. Eve Best was magnificent and so were Kevin Spacey and Colm Meaney. This to me is what live theatre is all about. Brilliant direction, script and acting. The passion just filled the stage, as well as the pain and caring. How people can compare this to Rock and Roll, where we walked out at half time, I just don't know. It flowed, just one set and you knew where the characters were coming from and why. Just magnificent - 62.72.33.56) | 15 Nov 06 |
| I don't understand how people can find this dull. I mean this play is so full of human life! Excellent. Outstanding performances from Kevin Spacey, Eve Best and Colm Meaney - 213.86.133.216) | 10 Nov 06 |
| I agree with SLR. It was incredibly dull and now i have to write an essay on it. oh Boohoo:( GLD - 194.154.22.51) | 06 Nov 06 |
| i didn't like it and i was bored. - 194.154.22.51) | 06 Nov 06 |
| This is a magnificent production by Howard Davies of Eugene O'Neill's over long, over ripe but ultimately undeniably affecting drama. Eve Best is tremendous as the feisty farmgirl awash with conflicting emotion, while Colm Meaney combines truth and welcome comedy as her conniving father. Kevin Spacey gives a compelling, technically proficient performance as the wretchedly drunken Tyrone. If I was less moved by him than I felt I should be, it's maybe because I was so aware of the mechanics of the acting. Not so the wonderful Ms Best whose despairing closing moments of the show are genuinely heartbreaking. The set and lighting are beautiful and atmospheric, and this really is a show to put the Old Vic back on the map, after a lamentable recent track record. Word of warning for the weak bladdered: don't have a pint in the interval as Act 2 is nearly twice as long as Act 1!!! - 195.82.123.181) | 06 Nov 06 |
| I was literally entranced by this entire cast. The performances were breathtaking and Spacey and Best sizzled with chemistry. The time flew by and I was shaken by the intensity of the emotions pouring off of the stage. Excellent production all around. Bravo! - 198.22.236.230) | 31 Oct 06 |
| This was far and away the most powerful thing I have ever seen. Spacey and Best infuse their characters with so much passion, it is mesmerizing. Spacey in particular is devastating as Jim Tyrone and his performance is heartbreakingly moving. Don't miss this one. - 24.195.183.116) | 21 Oct 06 |
| The cast applauds the audience at the end - we deserve the plaudie, for it's a bit of an endurance test. But what a wonderful evening, really igniting in the 2nd half. Spacey is a master of timing and delivery; his face, astonishingly mobile, portrays the gamut of emotions. He is both revealing and enigmatic. With great ensemble work and sterling work from the magical Eve Best and Colm Meaney - go, go, go! - 62.252.0.10) | 20 Oct 06 |
| saw matinee performance 11 October. Really bravura performance from Kevin Spacey. Magnificent theatre. I have always admired his film performances so it was interesting to see that he is an excellent stage actor too. The rest of the cast were good but Spacey stand head and shoulders over them. - 82.35.9.63) | 11 Oct 06 |
| Gob-smackingly wonderfully acted piece. Eve Best is a revelation as the tough girl who is hiding a secret and Colm Meaney puts in a great performance as the farmer who has nothing. Kevin Spacey is only on stage for around half the running time but he totally changes the direction of the play with just one sentance in the second act where it turns from alki-farmers to something a lot more dark. See it. - 193.122.47.170) | 05 Oct 06 |
| The emotional sparks that flew between Kevin Spacey and Eve Best in Act 2 were beyond praise. Great acting. I found Act 1 a little pedestrian - even dull at times- but that's the fault of the writing, not the production. After the interval it all simply caught fire. The proscenium arch ceased to exist. - 85.12.80.1) | 04 Oct 06 |
| haven't seen the play yet but full marks to Michael Coveney for his relish review - 206.28.76.1) | 03 Oct 06 |
| This wonderful production is a real treat! Very moving and heartbreaking at times (however, has some funny moments, too). Brilliant, extraordinary actors. Very recommendable and worthwhile seeing! - 62.180.160.155) | 02 Oct 06 |
| What more can I add? It's not his greatest play, but it could be its greatest production. The three central performances are faultless. The staging and design are impeccable. It even manages not to seem lost in this vast theatre. I've been in the 'don't be so hard on Spacey' camp'; I hope those who have been so viscous will enjoy their wordy meals..... - 81.152.182.6) | 29 Sep 06 |
| Excellent. Outstanding performances from Spacey, Eve Best and Colm Meaney. - 212.56.101.130) | 28 Sep 06 |
| I saw the very first preview of this production. Kevin Spacey And Eve Best gave good performances that you could tell would blossom into great ones by opening night(Even then you had to be very impressed with the acting skills of these artists. Colm Meaney was fantastick a very warm and original performance and the direction and design were near perfect. The lighting was the best that I have seen in many years. If I can attened this production again I will. (Note :Act 1 was 45 minutes long and Act 2 was 1 hour and 45 minutes long on the first preview - so be sure to walk around at the interval ) - 207.126.221.65) | 27 Sep 06 |
| We saw the last preview on Monday and, after getting over the excitement of sharing the audience with none less than former US president Bill Clinton, we settled down for the evening. It is hard to find enough superlatives to describe the play. It was tremendously moving, VERY funny in places, unbearably sad in others. Eve Best, who was never off stage, is a complete powerhouse and, following her tour-de-force in Hedda Gabler, showed us once more why she is at the top of her profession. Kevin Spacey was on fine form, handling the humour and pathos equally well, and heartbreaking when Tyrone breaks down in Josie's arms. Colm Meaney as Hogan, who turns out to be not as curmudgeonly or selfish as he first seems, was also excellent. See this if you possibly can. I've got to go at least once more. Surely this wonderful production of a wonderful play will finally silence the critics who have been so harsh to Spacey since he took over at the Old Vic. - 86.139.22.9) | 26 Sep 06 |
