Reader Reviews
The Emperor Jones (Olivier (National Theatre), West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I'm not sure if The Emperor Jones should be revived given that is so open to accusations of racism. I'm also not sure if it should have been produced in the Olivier. Jones' nightmare in the woods is terrifying from the front of the side stalls but the effect must be lost further back. The strength of this production is Patterson Joseph's shattering performance as he descends into total madness. Hopefully he is not a method actor otherwise you fear for his friends and family. Unfortunately after such intensity the ending comes a limp let-down. A 5-star performance, a 4-star production but both are more than O'Neill's play deserves. - David Baxter | 18 Sep 07 |
| Having enjoyed this so much at The Gate, it was with some apprehension that I entered the big Olivier auditorium. How wondeful then to find the transition from tiny to vast so successful. The staging is truely thrilling; one of the best uses ever of the Olivier stage. Robin Don's design faciliates the epic sweep and the lonley moments. The music is terrific, most of all during a superbly choeographed witch-doctor dance. Having seen almost everything on this stage in the last 25 years, I'm not sure anyone has ever commanded it like Paterson Joseph did last night. This really is a star performance, without question the greatest this year and one we will all be talking about in our dotage as we look back on a lifetime of theatre-going. Thrilling. - Gareth James | 07 Sep 07 |
| Wonderful production with a great cast and a must see at the National this season. - ILS | 25 Aug 07 |
| Well, they tried hard, but it didn't happen for me. Paterson Joseph is proving himself to be a fine actor, and his performance in St Joan sealed that, but not in this I'm afraid. He did lots of stock actorly things but it didn't add up to a character. The highlight was the underplaying of Smithers by John Marquez a mesmerising performer who gave a hugely entertaining performance in the Hypochondriac at the Almeida a couple of years ago. My fault I'm sure but I didn't really understand what O'Neill was driving at anyway. - rds | 25 Aug 07 |
