Reader Reviews
By the Bog of Cats (Wyndham's Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I enjoyed the atmospheric and emotional performance and have been suprised by the reviews here. The audience tonight left the play enthusiastic in the extreme. - 80.46.166.194) | 14 Jan 05 |
| "How are things in Oirish drama? Are they moody and sardonic there?" The answer has to be "yes", as "By The Bog Of Cats" is as stereotypically "Oirish" as you could hope for - and on reflection one wonders if that was the intention? Surely, no one could intend this as anything other a spoof of the type we used to see on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"... The opening scene does the play no favours whatsoever. Inevitably in any production with heavy utilisation of accent or dialect there will be a "tuning-in" period for the audience, during which it is important to encourage the audience into the story. But the play and this production of it offered no such consideration. Holly Hunter, who here does for the Irish what Dick Van Dyke did for cockneys, is discovered with dead swan and ghostly apparation - a conversation ensues which was largely lost on me, due to either poor projection by the actors, or more likely the dreadful accoustics at the back of the Wyndham's stalls. From this supernatural and, one suspects, heavily symbolic opener, we move swiftly to a traditional tale of Irish folk, of the type that Synge and O'Casey were masters. Once we were underway, and into the story proper, it became apparent very quickly that Holly Hunter's Hester was at odds with the rest of the cast in more ways than one. Being surrounded by a cast who could not only produce either real or damn good imitations of the requisite accent, but could also give performances of truth and subtlety, Hunter's shortcomings were all the more exposed. One almost felt a growing resentment towards her during the second act, as audience and fellow cast members alike, struggled to comprehend not only her bizarre actions, but also what she was saying. I sadly felt none of Hester's anguish or frustration, nor was moved to feel any sympathy for her by the time of her bloodless end. This production has much to recommend it (the music, the lighting, the performances of Trevor Cooper, Brid Brennan and Sorcha Cusack, the entire Wedding Feast scene) and I agree with another poster on this site, that I would encourage you to see it either on a night when Miss Hunter is indisposed, or when she leaves the cast permanently. - 212.137.57.25) | 12 Jan 05 |
| I do not understand why Holly Hunter has been so vilified. She does her best. The trouble is that the play is written in a ludicrous and hopelessly artificial language so that for most of the time it is impossible to engage with the action. The exception is the killing of the child which is devastating but one moment does not make a play. - 195.93.34.10) | 13 Dec 04 |
| I didnt like it at all and cant believe I forked out over 40 punds with fees to see such a boring play and Holly Hunter should stick to movies as she cant cut it on stage,not sure what accent she was attempting but it dreadful and her acting was very wooden. - 195.93.34.10) | 04 Dec 04 |
| I am a firm believer that U.S. actors should never play roles that are not American in origin. "By the Bog of Cats" starring Holly Hunter would clearly prove me right. She not only makes the role unappealing but her accent is atrocious-she could turn you off of Irish theatre completely. I can't give all the blame to her-the play itself is weak & you leaves you void of any feeling whatsoever. Save your ticket money for a version of "Playboy of the Western World" next time it comes to town. - 4.186.168.231) | 03 Dec 04 |
| I found the play powerful and Hunter's performances haunting. It is a complex play - not for the fainthearted - but well worth seeing - 213.86.30.22) | 30 Nov 04 |
| It is no coincidence that the best two scenes did not contain Holly Hunter. Besides her stuggling to come to terms with the Irish accent, she was also guilty of managing to overact without appearing to have any real emotion. It is unfair to judge a play when an important lead character is so distracting so while I could not recommend this play with the current lead, it may be worth seeing if it continues without Holly Hunter. - 62.255.64.10) | 28 Nov 04 |
