Reader Reviews
The Philanthropist (Donmar Warehouse, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | It isn't a great play, but what a faultless production. The design makes great use of the Donmar space. David Grindley's direction is full of subtlety and attention to detail. The entire ensemble is magnificent, with Simon Russell Beale's performance amongst his very best - every word, movement and facial expression contributing to his portrait of a fascinating character. That clever Christopher Hampton wrote a play about a man with extraordinary low empotional intelligence before we know what it was ! - 81.129.0.169) | 11 Oct 05 |
| The only real "action" in this play comes in the extraordinary coup at the beginning. Nonetheless, Hampton's crisp, insightful, well-turned dialogue in David Grindley's elegant production is quite exquisite. I enjoyed it immensely, I laughed alot and was quite moved, but it is a show where you have to be prepared to listen!! Simon Russell Beale's beautiful performance rightly dominates, and he is superbly supported by Danny Webb, Simon Day, Anna Madeley and Siobhan Hewlett. The piece is too cerebral (!!!) to be a knockout but is very fine theatre. - 195.82.123.181) | 07 Oct 05 |
| Totally agree with CA. Loved most of the performances, particulary Simon Day as a complete sleazeball, felt that the female parts were underwritten and unfortunatley not terribly well played, but also feel that the play is too clever by half - or am I too stupid by half? Wondered about the relevance of the massacre of the front bench as a simple device for illustrating the remoteness of the characters. Moliere it is not, but very enjoyable as performed by the leads. - 132.185.144.122) | 29 Sep 05 |
| A Five star performance by Simon Russell Beale of a 4 star play. Maybe its just me but is this really the best play by Hampton? I think Simon Russell Beale and the rest of the great cast make the play look better than it really is. - 195.93.21.100) | 29 Sep 05 |
| SRB continues to excell in a moving and subtle portrayl of a man at odds not only with the world but also his reaction to it. The play is genuinely funny ,but also with moments of true pathos and rumination on the nature of the private world behind the public face. Excellent supporting cast, but it is Russell-Beale that truly excells in portraying sheer humanity in all its vulnerability. - 62.252.0.10) | 24 Sep 05 |
| The 5 stars are for Simon Russell Beale who yet again gives a brilliant performance. His ability to show us the heart of a character and, at the same time, to produce a comic masterpiece is extraordinary. Other than in its portrait of Russell Beale's character, the play is weak but the evening is a must for this remarkable performance. - 80.177.231.164) | 15 Sep 05 |
