Reader Reviews
The Earthly Paradise (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 |
| I THINK I WENT TO A DIFFERENT PLAY THAN MARK SHENTON. OK, SO IT'S NOT A GREAT PLAY, BUT IT ILLUMINATES AN INTERESTING PERIOD IN THE LIVES OF THREE IMPORTANT 19TH CENTURY FIGURES, AND I WAS GLAD I WENT TO SE IT. IT IS WELL DIRECTED, DESIGNED AND PERFORMED AND I CAN THINK OF MANY MANY MORE NIGHTS DESERVING OF ONE STAR ! - 81.134.137.35) | 07 Jan 05 |
| Very good performances of an imperfect play - not to say that it isn't enjoyable, it is - just that at times it felt like a history lesson, and needed a bit of filleting. Nigel Lindsey was excellent as Morris, sticking to his beliefs no matter what; Alan Cox was both convincing and touching as the increasingly mad Rosetti. Beautiful set and sound dorection from Robert Delamere. Well worth seeing. - 172.188.216.164) | 27 Dec 04 |
| Overlong and repetitive but still fascinating story of William Morris offering his wife Janey to his friend Dante Gabriel Rossetti as if he were Arthur giving Guinevere to Lancelot. Nigel Lindsay is an endearing Morris, Alan Cox a suitably manic Rossetti and Saffron Burrows a stunning Jennie, defying her exotic, idyllic Pre-Raphaelite image. - 212.15.93.138) | 18 Dec 04 |
