Reader Reviews
Old Money (Hampstead Theatre, Inner London)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Interesting premise but poorly conceived. The writing is weak giving the actors little to work with. A very disappointing evening. - Paul Wallis | 12 Jan 13 |
| Old Money tells the story of a 60-something widow rediscovering life after the death of her controlling husband of 45 years and is amusing but rarely more than that. Maureen Lipman is excellent as Joyce but I never found her character to be remotely believable, possibly because the writer, Sarah Wooley, is from a much younger generation - these days people of Joyce's age have far more active and fulfilling lives. Tracy Ann Oberman and Timothy Watson are more plausible as the daughter and son-in-law desperate for financial support, Helen Ryan is waspish and bitter as Joyce's mother but Natalie Clifford is saddled with a hideous mockney accent as the stripper virtually adopted by Joyce. The second half covers similar territory to Mike Bartlett's superior Love, Love, Love but strains credulity to the limit. - David Baxter | 10 Jan 13 |
| Very poor writing with a a single star performance amoungst the mediocre, not good enough. - coral | 03 Jan 13 |
| Gentle but enjoyable - worth seeing just for Maureen Lipman's realistic performance. Kudos too to Helen Ryan playing her mother with just the right level of steel and snobbery. - addicted to theatre | 02 Jan 13 |
| Also saw this on Christmas Eve. Just wonderful, funny, thought provoking and sad all in one production. Have already booked for this wonderful little theatres next production. - Joanne | 27 Dec 12 |
| Agree with previous reviewer -I also saw the Christmas Eve performance and was enchanted by the sheer professionality of Maureen Lipman's performance ably supported by strong ensemble playing - the final step out by Miss Lipman at final curtain call made the 300+ mile round trip well worthwhile - Debbie Wilcox | 25 Dec 12 |
| Wonderful acting from the whole company, with particularly excellent performances by 4 actresses. Nadia Clifford is down-to-earth yet sparkles as a clumsy stripper, Helen Ryan is fragile yet monstrous as a controlling mother and Tracy-Ann Oberman makes an extremely parasitic daughter wholly and strangely sympathetic. But it is Maureen Lipman's tour-de-force as a grey but flame-coated late-flowering woman, casting aside her family roles of mother, grandmother and daughter, that truly makes this piece. She is selfish yet justified, hilarious yet horrifying, quiet yet determined. The play is thought-provoking, as Oberman's character and Lipman's character are both likeable, yet completely at odds. I liked this very much, and I lauighed a lot, and so did most of the Christmas-eve audience I saw it with, prompting Maureen Lipman to thank the audience at the end, sending us into the chill air replete with the season's cheer. :) - steveatplays | 24 Dec 12 |
| I have to disagree with the 2 star given her as I thought this play was excellent. Sitting in the front row of the Hampstead Theatre I felt part of the whole thing and thought the story was witty, poignant and true. How many times I have said "if I know my children just want me for what I have, I would leave it to charity" and here Maureen does just that!!!!. Al always Miss Lipman gives a great performance and makes you believe in her sort of dotty character that fins a new lease of life after widowhood--a very credible performance for sure. Tracy An Oberman was good as the daughter who feels Mum owes her still but on of the best performances was by Helen Ryan who I though stole the scenes she was in. Very enjoyable play - Joe Spiteri | 14 Dec 12 |
