Reader Reviews
The President of an Empty Room (Cottesloe (National Theatre), West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I'm afraid the play just wasn't worth mounting. Why didn't the RNT pull the plug when they read it? So much talent wasted - another magnificent Bunny Christie set, the return of the wonderful Jim Carter to the stage, great music.....there have been too many disappointments at the RNT of late, mostly in choice of plays; and after such a great start to Nicholas Hytner's regime, too. - 81.135.156.152) | 11 Aug 05 |
| Great production - gorgeous set, lovely music, but not a good play or direction. What interesting lines there are fall flat and some of the actors apear to have been given little direction. A fitting end for a poor season at the National. - 194.203.215.254) | 02 Aug 05 |
| Steven Knight is a talented writer and this is his first play; The Critic's seem to have forgotten that in their rush to condem this play which I think is a good first attempt for the stage by a writer more suited to the various media arts of TV and Film Surely a screen writer who gets nominated for an oscar for his first screenplay needs to be encouraged if he decides to write for Theatre. The NT have staged a beautiful production of this play and the performances are excellent (my only niggle was the lack of any attempt to sound Cuban by the two older english actors in the cast (stephen Moore and Jim Carter) Who seemed to be in another play set far closer to home. Noma the actress playing Jim Carter mistress was absolutely stunning and Paul Hilton was superb too. The Play feels like a tenesee Williams play without the poetry as the writing doesn't quite live up to the ravishing sights and sounds and feeling evoked by this production. Dont stay away make up your minds for yourself - 62.140.210.131) | 29 Jun 05 |
