Reader Reviews
The Old Country (Trafalgar Studios (previously the Whitehall), West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | The night I saw this ACT 2 was destroyed for me by Timothy West fluffing his way through the climax of the play. All tension was lost and at one time I wondered if he was going to get through it.I felt great sympathy for him and his fellow performers who sat there and could hardly help. It made an old play creak more than it should have done. - 88.104.233.146) | 25 Mar 06 |
| I thoroughly enjoyed this; true, it demonstrates how Bennett has grown in stature as a dramatist over the last 20 years, but this witty, touching, occasionally surprising analysis of national treachery and the English class system contains so much to enjoy in Stephen Unwin's elegant staging; from John Gunter's attractive set through some hilarious epigramatic dialogue to the uniformly fine acting. Wonderful to see Jean Marsh on stage again, partnering Timothy West's magnificent central turn as the exiled spy. Rebecca Charles, Tim Delap and Simon Williams are all superb and best of all is the terrific Susan Tracy staying just the right side of camp as West's disapproving, social butterfly sister. All in all, a very good night out. - 195.82.123.181) | 21 Mar 06 |
| I went to the previews of this play and have to say, what a disappointment after The History Boys. It's the worst play I've seen, either West End or Fringe, for years. The women overacted, particularly the wife, which irritated; Timothy West fluffed his lines although his acting was fine (though nothing exceptional, I'd say). Overall I just found the whole thing tedious. One of the characters in the play is deliberately verbose and obtuse, but there's so much of his blustering that I began to get fed up every time he opened his mouth. Rather like having an odious person in your living room, I'd love to have told him to leave. The plot itself is only slightly interesting with many dated references which were lost on a foreigner/ anyone under 30. Not at all his best work. - 217.150.105.195) | 20 Mar 06 |
| I came to this pre-West End performance at Bath Royal Theatre completely ignorant of the subject matter, having been lured by the combination of Alan Bennett and Timothy West. From this perspective, I found it a difficult play to get any enjoyment from. Timothy West's playing was not as bright as I've seen before and, on this listening, this was not my favourite Bennett. The second half was an improvement and left me feeling that had I infromed myself about the play before-hand then i would have had a better night out! So, my advice would be that if you are going to see this, then make sure you know a little about it first! I know that it souldn't have to be necessary for a really good play, but it may improve your evening. - 213.78.91.198) | 26 Feb 06 |
