Reader Reviews
Suddenly Last Summer (Noel Coward Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | This is like a Kinder Surprise egg - genius design, delicious packaging, disappointing at heart. The design is excellent but it does create anticipation that the play can't live up to. The same is true of the soundscape which is a remarkable thing in itself but dominates the production. The play itself is fascinating, and builds up the arrival of the young woman with the kind of expertise with which a great tragedy builds up its central character before his first appearance. But there is an unforgivable flaw: for its horror and tension, Williams relies on with-holding from his audience key information that ALL the characters know already. Which is cheating - disappointing. I thought Victoria Hamilton was superb and it's a great chance to see an of-the-moment actress really commanding a big theatre. But Diana Rigg needs to be frailer, more moving and, paradoxically, more menacing. Her house and garden terrify in ways she simply can't (or is that the point...?) It's not a bad performance in a clunky sense - it's completely believable. Just rather lazy. And there were some lines where I realised too late that that there was a (good) joke in there which Rigg (and subsequently I think half the audience) hadn't spotted. So - over-rated. And at about 85 minutes, overpriced. But it looks good, it's short, and it's better than the average West End play. But then, it's another tranfer. Tip: as with most plays at the moment, go early in the week, book a cheap ticket and you'll probably get a nice upgrade on arrival... - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.130.107.144) | 20 Jul 04 |
| Diana Rigg and Victoria Hamilton are so fine that they leave Mark Bazely far behind, which somewhat skews the dramatic tension. The scenic effect is startling (perhaps too much so?), and the lights and sound are a bit melodramatic. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (12.107.15.2) | 14 Jul 04 |
| Aren't we going a little over-the-top here? A very good (but not perfect)production with good (but not outstanding) performances and a good (not astonishing) set of a very mediocre TW play. It does not bear comparison with the NT's recent Streetcar or Electra, but it is very welcome in the West End. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (172.172.121.247) | 04 Jun 04 |
| A very good production of an average play. There is no doubt the heightened Gothic melodrama is exciting, but this is essentially two narrative monologues which offer very little probing or insight. The gap left by the production is created by Hamilton and Rigg who, whilst engrossing, never explore the subtext of the material to give it satisfying depth. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.152.159.26) | 27 May 04 |
| Excellent! Contains two wonderful lead performances and feels like a brand new play. Forget the awful adaptation with Rachael Weisz at the Comedy Theatre a few years ago- this is the real McCoy. Amazing set and eerie music draw you in to to the nightmarish world of Williams. Rigg and Hamilton deserve every award going - they are both fantastic. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.131.230.59) | 23 May 04 |
| Rigg and Hamilton each dominate their halves of the play, memorably so. Sound and lighting are awesome, in the proper sense of that word. Great. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.128.173.20) | 21 May 04 |
| Amazing - anyone interested in theatre should go. Victoria Hamilton is excellent, and Diana Rigg is good, but totally outshone by the production as a whole and by Hamilton. Direction and design both exemplary. By not going, you only cheat yourself. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.194.148.2) | 21 May 04 |
| This is a very good production, with fine performances but for me it lacked something and its hard to put my finger on what exactly. All I know is that when I saw it a few years ago at the comedy theatre with Rachel Weisz I was totally emotionally connected to the piece and riveted, it really got inside me. But this production, though technically excellent, left me somewhat cold and detached. But I'd recommend it nevertheless, particularly to anyone who doesn't know the play. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.69.37.108) | 13 May 04 |
| This is an excellent play that grips you from beginning to end and benefits from being performed without an interval. The entire cast handles the long pieces of dialogue immaculately with Diana Rigg setting the standard in the opening scene. But to experience theatre at its very best wait for Victoria Hamilton’s monologue near the end of the play to feel the hairs stand up not only on your head but all over your body. Do not miss it! You will not see a better drama for a long time!! DJR - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.255.32.5) | 10 May 04 |
| Excellent; best show I've seen in England yet - beats everything else this year! SPRINT TO SEE IT! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.254.64.6) | 20 Feb 04 |
| Marvellous - Grandage is a magician! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.254.64.6) | 19 Feb 04 |
