Reader Reviews
Hedda Gabler (Duke of York's Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I feel a bit churlish writing this as I like to think I have an empathy with actors. However, having delayed our visit until almost the last performance we finally got to see the play at a matinee performance on Wednesday 3 August. As happens all too often on buying a programme we found therein the ubiquitous slip of paper that usually announces that one of the leading actors is off. This time it was Eva Best and our first reaction was one of intense disappointment followed by a wish to support the understudy. The curtain went up a little late to a good set and immediately impressive acting. Hedda came on. The actress playing her was perfect in appearance for the role but had a slight air of uncertainty about her which we found disconcerting. She did her very best aided by a supportive and excellent cast but was unable to bring the character to life or to make her totally believable. We sensed an uneasiness and a lack of depth in the performance and that it turn made us feel slightly uneasy. There was no feeling of high drama and tension at the end of the second act and Hedda's suicide was not shocking. We bought our tickets from the half price box office in Leicester Square earlier that day. Would it not have been possible for them to inform customers that the leading lady was not performing rather that have them arrive at the theatre and feel slightly swindled? The aforementioned excellence of the supporting cast almost made things worse. Having read the reviews given to Eva Best it is obvious that we missed a definitive ensemble performance. What's even worse it that as the play finishes on Saturday we will never now have this opportunity. I don't expect a performance to be cancelled because the lead is off. I know that is financially impracticable and unfair on the other actors. I know that actors get ill just like the rest of us. I accept that the actress concerned was also understudying another major role and had probably not had the opportunity to rehearse or study the part in very great depth nor the benefit of performing the role for several months already. I understand all this but still feel slightly hard done by. In the circumstances we may very well have decided to buy a ticket even if we had been told in advance that the lead was off but no information was given at the box office or in the entrance to the theatre. No announcement was made so anybody not forking out for a programme would not have known who they were seeing. In a way I can understand the lack of announcement - there must be little worse for an actor waiting to go on to hear a great sigh emanate from the audience at the prospect of seeing them. I hope Eva Best recovers soon from whatever ails her. - 194.217.194.138) | 04 Aug 05 |
| Brilliant director, brilliant actors. Clever, moving and cruel, probably one of the best shows I've seen for months. Ms Best is definitely a classy thespian and an upcoming star of the UK stage. - 62.202.51.178) | 02 Aug 05 |
| Well we nearly didn't go to London last night because of the terrorist scare, but then we thought we might as well try and get a train to Waterloo and walk to the Duke of York's from there. We are SO glad we did. I have seen some fantastic plays recently, but this is the best I've seen in literally years. The acting, particularly Eve Best, was superb. She seems to have a quality of stillness about her that only the really great actors/actresses have. A fantastic evening. I hope to be able to go again before the run closes on 6 August. LD - 81.139.230.29) | 22 Jul 05 |
| Already a cracking production when it was in Islington, this superb rendition of the piece is, if anything, even better now. Richard Eyre's adaptation is engaging, naturalistic and powerful, and the design is pefect, deceptively clever in fact. Eve Best is magnificent...she has charm, sex appeal, danger, yet a sense of gawkiness as though this Hedda is just too big for her surroundings. All of the acting is superb, especially Benedict Cumberbatch's younger-than-usual Tesman, Iain Glen's predatory Judge and Gillian Raine's kindly, straight-forward Aunt Juju. All in all, a credit to the West End. - 195.82.123.181) | 30 Jun 05 |
| Faultless. For once, a production of Hedda Gabler with actors of the ages of the characters they play and so making the play so much more credible. Magnificent performances all round particularly from Eve Best giving one of the very best portayals of Hedda that I have seen. - 80.177.231.164) | 30 Apr 05 |
| Absolutely fantastic! Anyone that could fault any performer obviously didnt appreciate the quality of acting. Hedda was an amazing character - Best did a wonderful portrayal, combining variety of emotions and delivering them superbly. All actors were fabulous, and as an AS theatre student I was (as were my fellow students) inspired by them enormously. The set was very appropriate, and the 'fourth wall' used very effectively by the Judge. Both acts kept the audience focused, making you feel like you were not watching a play but spying on a private family. The suicide at the end was very effective - it still shocked the audience, even though everyone knew what was to come. Amazingly portrayed, one of the best plays I've seen! - 80.42.150.86) | 13 Apr 05 |
| Despite a slow first act, Eyre has managed to bring humour to a usually gloomy script, and Eve Best is perfectly cast and perfectly irritating as the bored housewife. Iain Glen doesn't disappoint after his strong performance in the Seagull at Edinburgh, and Jamie Sives gives an impressive performance as the relative newcomer. A thrilling second act despite the inevitable suicide left the production on a high note, with the Judge's excellent last line amongst the commotion. - 193.60.51.126) | 05 Apr 05 |
| I made the 1st preview so not meaning to judge too harshly but I'm afraid I was massively disappointed. Best seemed capable of hitting the emotional highs and lows but was unable to connect them. Dillon, in a tough role remained distractingly weaping throughout and Glen postures too much for the intimacy of the almeida. Cummerbatch though was a saving grace. I so wanted to love it dammit. But I must reassert it was 1st preview only. - 69.225.222.16) | 27 Mar 05 |
| Not exactly subtle, but rich in technical excellence both fom the actors and in the direction, lighting and decor. Eve Best shines, as everyone says, and her surrounding cast is unifromly strong. A few quibbles but a lot of revelations. - 195.144.130.1) | 23 Mar 05 |
| A gripping production with an excellent performance by Eve Best well-supported by a strong cast - a thoughtful interpretation of a still modern play. - 80.189.201.166) | 22 Mar 05 |
| Generally average. A bit derivative. Uneven acting (Jamie Sives). Not as good as NT production (during Eyre's tenure). - 192.135.68.2) | 18 Mar 05 |
