Reader Reviews
That Face (Duke of York's Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | It's not bad but has been overpraised. I agree with others who thought the playing of the daughter was pretty bad - it was. Her voice, in particular, was terrible. And I lost interest in these people before the end, especially when it got shrieky and melodramatic. But some scenes are entertaining enough. - Sycamore Flint | 03 Jul 08 |
| What a bore. Dreadful performances from the youngsters and hardly brilliant from the adults. Seen it all before, whining self pity isn't shocking. Also these people aren't "middle class", they are posh, over priveleged and utterly unsympathetic. - Nigel Poole | 29 Jun 08 |
| Saw this again last week and apart from the more inexperienced actors, the cast is better than ever, in blistering form. I'd love to see RELOCATED follow it into the West End. - joesmith | 25 Jun 08 |
| The most uncontrived performances I've seen at the theatre for, I don't know how long. I was ready to cringe, but it was well written and beautifully cast. - Miss B | 20 Jun 08 |
| The most uncontrived performances I've seen at the theatre for, I don't know how long. I was ready to cringe, but it was well written and beautifully cast. - Miss B | 20 Jun 08 |
| This isn't the sort of play you say you like - it's disturbing and at times harrowing - but you have to admire it as it has a lot to say in 90 minutes through well developed characters and structure. The performances are uniformly excellent, with Matt Smith becoming deeply moving as the story unfolds. My companions found it unbelievable, too whimsical (!) and it didn't engage them: I understand this to some extent as it a little distant, cold and clinical on the big stage - but it did engage me. - Gareth James | 18 Jun 08 |
| After the mix of comments below I was not sure what to expect but this play won me over. It was gripping and moving - an unforgettable evening. Make your own mind up! - Martin | 16 Jun 08 |
| Don't miss this! It ends 5 July and I think it's a brilliant play and an excellent production. - Malvern Hills | 16 Jun 08 |
| went to see this through wife's desire and no knowledge of play history or playwright. I thought it was like a poor "school drama club" production and now see why. Wooden/predictable acting, two-dimensional storyline and even I would have got the lighting better suited to the moods. From where do these 4 and five stars come ? Score now right ! - Tim and not Dim | 14 Jun 08 |
| went to see this through wife's desire and no knowledge of play history or playwright. I thought it was like a poor "school drama club" production and now see why. Wooden/predictable acting, two-dimensional storyline and even I would have got the lighting better suited to the moods. From where do these 4 and five stars come ? - Tim and not Dim | 14 Jun 08 |
| This play is really worth seeing. I thought the performances were excellent and the whole production worked for me. A memorable evening of theatre. - Julie Black | 05 Jun 08 |
| Dull, trite and so overated. Lindsay Duncan phoned in her performance and Hannah Murray was embarrasingly bad. Stay away. - Gazza | 04 Jun 08 |
| Pretty Poor stuff. The writing is nowhere near as dangerous as it likes to think. the characters are fairly obvious and totemic. Hannah Murray gives a dire performance, wooden beyond beleif. She doesn't look embarrased up there, but I certainly was on her behalf. Matt Smith is little better: squaks and shouting are no substitute for emotional truth. - Danny | 03 Jun 08 |
| Just because a play is a by a teenager does that mean it should be judged to a lesser standard than one by a more experienced writer? Possibly not but by any standard That Face is a remarkable and deeply unsettling piece. Like many first efforts it is highly derivative, in this case of Greek tragedies and particularly The Vortex. The story of Martha's drink sodden incestuous demands on her pathetic son are mainly seen through the eyes of the, relatively, unscathed younger daughter Mia. The play is saddled with a poor design which lacks versatility and the presence of an awful teenager called Izzy gave me a rueful smile which I probably won't share with my marginally less horrible version waiting back home. Polly Stenham's debut play makes for very uncomfortable viewing but is an astonishing debut and her follow-up will be keenly awaited. - David Baxter | 28 May 08 |
| Riveting! Fantastic performances from Duncan and Smith but the whole team are to be congratulated. Thanks for a great night of theatre. - Felix Jones | 28 May 08 |
| Wow! What a blast. At last a writer with something to say. Great production with witty direction and fab music but the performances make the night, with a real stonker from Ms Duncan. Matt Smith is worth the ticket price alone and the only shame is that someone of his talent won't be around much longer on the stage. Catch him while you can. - joesmith | 23 May 08 |
| Such amazing performances. - Ian Snell | 12 May 08 |
