Reader Reviews
Mack and Mabel (Southwark Playhouse, Inner London)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Late to the party, but Coveney clearly just doesn't have an sense of good theatre. Mack and Mabel was sensationally good, the best thing on Fring in 2012 and one of 2012's Musical Theatre highlights. - Matthew | 04 Jan 13 |
| Baffling review. Totally gripping, stunning performances, and someone has at last discovered the right mood for this amazing show. - Neil | 29 Aug 12 |
| I saw the show last Monday and loved it. So much so, I've booked to see it again. It's a fantastic show - good acting, wonderful singing and jaw-dropping dancing. - Graham | 16 Aug 12 |
| Would love to see the show but cant get there before it finishes - is it being extended or transfered? - Anne Bower | 16 Aug 12 |
| Coveney's review here is a dim-witted, venal hate-piece that goes entirely against the grain of the audience's experience. M&M's previous revivals now vanish compared to this dark and brilliant reimagining. And yes, I cried. - Christopher Fowler746ac | 14 Aug 12 |
| I have just seen Mack and Mabel and I thought it was magnificent. What great direction, fantastic multi-talented actors every one of them and what entertainment - the love story, the history lesson, the keystone cops, the tap dancing, it was superb. Well done all involved! - Rose | 05 Aug 12 |
| I have nothing to do with the production, but I thought it was great, I am amazed that you can get so much energy in such a small place-and I think I may be a bit in love with Laura, she fantastic. It was really odd being so close to the actors. Will it get a transfer to the West End? I hope so. - Ed | 24 Jul 12 |
| Almost lost for words as to how wonderful this production is. The revisions to the book have finally given this musical the heart and soul which it has always eluded this show. The chemistry between the two leads is believable and heartbreaking. It may still end on a downer but this version and the fluidity of the book makes that downer work as his love for her, though said too late is shared and believed by the audience and your heart goes out to him as he closes the show with his memories. The most stunning production wonderfully performed. Both leads are simply superb. Laura's entrance and opening number just fills the theatre and instantly you just adore her, and equally her transition into decline breaks your heart. It works and plays magnificently against Norman Bowman's Mack. Right from his entrance he is Mack Sennett and a powerful one at that. Staging is inventive, choreography great fun, orchestra well wait till you hear them (and see them) and all the cast clearly having the time of their lives. Just when you thought it could not get any better - Jessica Martin who worked tirelessly throughout gets her big number and comes close to both stealing and stopping the show as she tapped all our troubles away! Perfection at last and not forgetting that wonderful score which arguably could possibly be Jerry Herman's finest? - Denis | 20 Jul 12 |
| Was really disappointed when I read the review my Michael Coveney, and actually weighed my options up, i had spent £20 on tickets, so was it worth the travel etc to go... I am so glad i did. Having been in the show in the 90s and seen the revival at the watermill, at last the show makes sense. The revisions to the book were long overdue, setting incredible, and the performances incredible. Ive booked again, and told everyone to dgo !!! - Theatresouth | 19 Jul 12 |
| I was so relieved to see some of the comments made after the scathing review. I've adored the score since the 70s and have seen a number of productions, which were invariably disappointing. This was the first I've seen that actually got it right.Quite thrilling. - Carole Star | 18 Jul 12 |
| Shocked to read the rather negative views of the WOS reviewer. We booked to see this show independantly of our WOS club membership having been sent a mailing by Soouthwark playhouse. It's a fantastic piece the setting enhancing the dark mood of the era. The old adage if you can't say anything nice ... comes to mind. The ensemble was great and worked hard a memorable performance - Kim Boxall | 18 Jul 12 |
| I think Mr Coveney has taken the literal poison pen writing to another degree. I also noted at the interval, he was trying to corrupt another reviewer. However, their common sense prevailed and gave the show 5 stars. Fortunately, this sums up his total lack of respect for any performer and the industry in general. His boss should be, to be quite frank, embarrassed! - Joe | 13 Jul 12 |
| J Goodricke, I am the producer of Mack & Mabel and can honestly tell you that none of the people who have commented have any connection whatsoever with the show, as far as I know. Could it just be that people who comment on these types of sites have very strong opinions (positive or negative...see Back Row Stalls)? And because Mr Coveney seems to hate all the musicals I do at Southwark Playhouse, maybe people feel the need react more strongly if they disagree with him. - danielle | 13 Jul 12 |
| I thought this was as good as Parade and a WORLD AWAY from that shockingly bad production of Company last year. I thought the cast were sensational, and the band sounded incredible, given the confines of the space. I would very much recommend this show. However, I do have a gripe. I wish the reviewers below (many of whom must have a connection with the Southwark) would allow REAL theatre fans to review. I've noticed with every Southwark show that as soon as someone puts a negative comment a slew of very similar responses pour in. Let us REAL theatre fans judge your work. From my mark, I hope you will see that we'll be fair - J Goodricke | 13 Jul 12 |
| I don't mean to be picky but the 'Mack & Mabel' overture was used by Torvill & Dean for their Free Dance in the 1982 Figure Skating season and not in the 1984 Olympics. That was 'Bolero'. And the 1984 Winter Olympics were held in Sarajevo, not Los Angeles. - Ryan Tuckwell | 12 Jul 12 |
| Anyone who reviews Mack and Mabel in this manner has no sense of joy, craft, artistic integrity or warmth in their heart. Why do you go to review musicals if you clearly do not like them and what they represent? I have never experienced such a joyous evening of theatre in my life. I am an established and intelligent actor, and quite frankly I know what the hell I am talking about, unlike Michel Coveney, who seems to not have a clue about the genre or art form he is writing about. PLEASE GO TO SEE THIS SHOW FOR YOURSELF AND BE THOROUGHLY DELIGHTED! - Gary | 12 Jul 12 |
| I'm not sure why Coveney still reviews musicals - it always comes across as if he hates them so. Considering the space and resources available to them, I think this is an absolutly stunning production of this gem of a musical. - Kitty | 12 Jul 12 |
| Absolutely stunning. Amazing chemistry, beautifully sung and an immaculate cast. - Leo | 12 Jul 12 |
| I saw this last night and thought it was wonderful. Due to the lack of space and kit they could not do a huge overblown set with zillions of tap dancers...but what they did do is make the story of the love affair work between Mack and Mable just work. I just believed the whole thing ...surely this is what the magic of live theatre is all about?. The two leads were superb and Jessica Martin excellent. I loved every minute of it...apart from the hard seats! - Richard White | 12 Jul 12 |
| Loved it every second.Loved the messy set, the brassy orchestra, Lee Proud's comic choreography.Howard Hudson's lighting Danielle Tarento's casting of performers and creatives. Norman Bowman managed to turn Mack into a sympathetic character and found Laura Pitt-Pulford attractive Mabel heartbreaking. Jessica Martin's tapdancing terrific. What more can I say? Review on Remote Goat. - aline waites | 12 Jul 12 |
| Hated it. Doyle's far superior version a few years ago is how this piece should be done.... - Back Row Stalls | 12 Jul 12 |
| How does this man still work as a reviewer when he so consistently seems to arrive at the most ridiculous opinions of shows? I saw it last night at press night and thought it was truly breathtaking and such a treat to see on the fringe. "There's not much chemistry going on between them" Coveney writes about Laura Pitt Pulford and Norman Bowman. What show did he see???! - Rich Cunningham | 12 Jul 12 |
| Coulddn't disagree more. Sensational cast, glorious band. I loved it full report here http://frontrowdress.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/mack-and-mabel-southwark-playhouse.html - Front Row Dress | 12 Jul 12 |
| Enter into the experience as one of a team of volunteers to work with families, youth or drug rehab and you find yourself caught up in the lives of families living in this cut off area of London. Once the characters are introduced through a short series of interviews that we are witness to we are plunged into the underworld as head off into the vaults and witness site specific scenes in which we are invited to comment and make suggestions. A unique piece of well researched and written interactive theatre. - Dave J | 15 Apr 10 |
