Reader Reviews
The Philadelphia Story (Old Vic Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Irritating and dull. The odd line sparkles but every character seems so insular and glib. Very disappointing. - addicted to theatre | 20 Apr 10 |
| I was really glad that I got to see this production before it ended! I don't understand the mixed reviews. Granting the plotline is somewhat dated but I think it still is a very funny and well made production. Kevin Spacey is charming and witty. Julia Mckenzie is a gem. Nicholas LeProvost is hilarious but most of all Jennifer Ehle is mesmerizing! She journeys from a virgin goddess to humanity with such pathos and vulnerability....very enthralling! It ends tomorrow Sept 2...try to catch it! - 152.163.100.204) | 03 Sep 05 |
| What an enjoyable production! Kevin Spacey as CK Dexter Haven has really good timing for this role. Julia Mackenzie was joyous as the mother and Nicholas LePrevost was hilarious but what struct me most was Jennifer Ehle's performance. There were scenes where she was very funny and she was LUMINOUS as Tracy Lord. You totally understand why the men around her view her as a goddess and yet she manages to show her vulnerability at the emotional climax of the play. - 69.7.220.158) | 31 Aug 05 |
| I disagree with the negative reviews; I thought this was a thoroughly entertaining production, with great performances from Kevin Spacey and Jennifer Ehle. I am a big fan of the original film but loved this because it was so different, the dialogue was delivered in a new way and so was refreshing. The other cast members were also excellent, I laughed a lot and I was gripped throughout, even though I knew what was going to happen! - 129.31.113.137) | 16 Aug 05 |
| Although this feels very tame (and only intermittently funny) in this day and age, Jerry Zaks' glossy revival has alot to enjoy. Jennifer Ehle's delectable Tracy rightly dominates the show (despite being saddled with some hideous costumes), Julia McKenzie and Nicholas le Prevost's comic timing as the older relatives is joyous, and DW Moffett and Lauren Ward are excellent as the interloping journalists. Deliberately saw the show with Adrian Lukis rather than Kevin Spacey as Tracy's raffish ex-husband as I find KS a bit self-indulgent on stage. However, despite enjoying Lukis very much in Cloaca and Dinner, found him seriously lacking in charisma here making the ending a bit unbelievable (why didn't Tracy go off with the dishy journalist?!) Still, an enjoyable, undemanding evening and one that will be better when KS returns (never thought I'd be saying THAT!) - 195.82.123.181) | 03 Aug 05 |
| Saw this both with Kevin Spacey and then with Adrian Lukis as Dexter Haven. Loved the play the first time (despite a few dodgy accents), but was disappointed that Lukis didn't seem to have the same spark as Spacey, making the relationship with Tracy Lord (Jennifer Ehle) a little lacklustre. Still a good evening out, and interesting to have seen both casts. LD - 81.133.209.3) | 18 Jul 05 |
| I agree with your reviewer on the 4 June, if you want a carbon copy of the film Philadelphia Story then stay at home and watch the DVD. I love the film but I would have felt robbed if I went to see the play and it was just a copied version. This play is brilliant, as I was watching this I thought I was watching another actress called Jennifer Ehle, the actress I saw last night was great not at all as bad as some the negative reviews about her I have read on this website. All involved done a great job but of course Kevin Spacey was the master, whether it be his comic timing or just some of his facial expressions - he is the master. Please if anyone is reading this are still thinking if they should see this play please ring up a.s.a.p and get yourselves some tickets it is a great evenings entertainment. I asked 8 strangers I was sitting near what they thought and all of them enjoyed Philadelphia Story also. - 62.125.28.6) | 18 Jun 05 |
| A really disappointing adaptation of a fantastic film that begs the question why bother? Spacey was magnificent in Iceman has some nice cynical moments but camps it up far too often in Act 3. Ehle simply miscast and the whole thing a laboured museum piece. - 62.253.219.130) | 15 Jun 05 |
| I can't go along with either the outright condemnation or the glowing praise from other reviewers of this production; both are exaggerations. It drags somewhat during the first 2 acts and picks up considerably in the final one. Ehle is nowhere near as bad as some are saying, but there's definitely no spark between her and the male leads. After one act Julia McKenzie seemed to abandon what there was of her American accent, which was a bit embarrassing. The one notable performance is Spacey's; even though he's not quite right as Haven, he is still entertaining to watch and is the only one on stage who looks completely comfortable. On balance it was just about worth seeing, and I'm in favour of the occasional old-fashioned three-act drawing-room play revival but this production also reminds me why I wouldn't want to see this kind of thing very often. - 194.82.50.2) | 07 Jun 05 |
| After reading the bad reviews on this web site I was not looking forward to this at all but the production that I saw was wonderfully entertaining. - 193.23.116.11) | 06 Jun 05 |
| Having seen this on 3rd June, I am stunned by the negative reviews. I felt that Jennifer Ehle was both a credible and touching Tracy Lord - moreso than Hepburn. The entire cast were excellent - especially given a technical glitch at the start of Act 3 which meant they had to re-start. If you want a facsimile of the film, hire the DVD: if you want to see a good, funny, well-acted version of the play, you won't be disappointed. We had a great evening. - 80.168.173.16) | 04 Jun 05 |
| Well, I was so excited about seeing this play that I flew all the way from the US to London. Imagine my horror when, from the first time Jennifer Ehle uttered a line, I knew this was going to be a very bad experience. This actress was either horribly misdirected or doesn't have the faintest idea of how to correctly interpret the character of Tracy Lord. I've seen high school renditions of this play with better leading ladies. However, I must add that the actor in the Mike Connor role (Jimmy Stewart in the film) ran Miss Ehle a close second in the worst interpretation of a character/bad acting category. And, when they were on stage together, it nearly made you want to run for the exit. Spacey as C. K. Dexter Haven was fine . . . and a great performance was given by the actress playing Mrs. Lord. The young girl playing Dinah struggled with her American accent and struggled equally with her part.. This was apparently her first stage role . . .and it showed. Virginia Weidler (Dinah from the 1939 screen version) must have been spinning in her grave to hear such poor line readings. All in all, a major disappointment . . .but, hey, the sets and poster are nice. - 24.3.154.18) | 01 Jun 05 |
| I expected so much from this revival but it produced so little,not really bad but very underpowered, there was no charisma between Spacey and Eahle and when GAeorge, the fiance is the most interesting male character you really do have problems.How Spacey imagined he could play Dexter Haven is totally beyond me - 81.79.121.169) | 25 May 05 |
| A seriously flawed play; rather reminiscent of a high-school presentation with nicer sets. Jennifer Ehle's is hopeless. If her wooden, emotionless performance was an attempt to avoid being compared to Hepburn, she certaily succeeded. Comparing her to anyone who can act would be an insult to those others. DW Moffett, in the intregal role of Mike Connor is so bad, I simply can't imagine him getting past the first line reading in an audition without someone from the dark of the empty theatre saying, "Thanks. Next." The only actors who manage to grasp an iota of the wit or style that Barry wrote into this play (it's there on the pages) are Spacey as Dexter, Julia McKenzie as Margaret Lord, Nicholas LeProvost as Uncle Willie and Lauren Ward as Ms. Imbrie. But not all the time and none of those roles, other than that of C.. K. Dexter Haven, is that important. As a whole, the play is a fantastic dud. Here's tip. Despite convential wisdow, it's not always the worse thing to emulate the likes of Hepburn, Grant and Stewart. You may not want to copy their mannerisms, but this cast could go to school on their acting. They had better do it somewhere. - 209.195.167.77) | 17 May 05 |
| Absolutely wondeful production: flawless direction, masterful acting, you simply must get a ticket if you can. Unmissable. - 195.93.21.100) | 11 May 05 |
| I saw this with such high expectations, and what a let down. Flat, lifeless performances, turgid dialogue, no atmosphere. It was more like a third marriage in Pontypridd town hall in January than a society wedding with a beauty and a millionaire.....don't waste your time or your money. Merthyr girl - 212.113.23.124) | 11 May 05 |
| An incredible joy to watch. Huge expectations totally fulfilled. Spacey and Ehle are amazing, completely redefine Dex and Tracy. Original and moving. hilarious. Fine supporting all around. Its a treat to see such a classic reinvented for the better; yes, better. I love the film, but this is live and joyous. Ehle breaks everyone's heart by shows end. she's fantastic. - 217.42.139.31) | 11 May 05 |
| I enjoyed every minute of this wonderful play. It's a terrific production, with a great cast, snappy dialogue and really beautiful sets and lighting. Jennifer Ehle is a joy as Tracey Lord. She makes the role her own and I'm glad she didn't try to emulate Katharine Hepburn. Kevin Spacey is terrific, as always, and has some hilarious lines. His comic timing is flawless. I can thoroughly recommend this great production to everyone. - 62.252.32.15) | 11 May 05 |
| Oh dear. I so wanted to enjoy this production - featuring some of my favourite actors in the stage original of a favourite film. Kevin Spacey and much of the company do a good enough job, but some of the casting and most of the direction is lamentable. I know I should see it on it's own merits - but really Jennifer Ehle just doesn't have anything of Hepburn. I couldn't work out why all these men would want to chase her. DK Moffett was even worse - admittedly Jimmy Stewart is a tough act to follow - but frankly we were in charisma-bypass territory. The rest of the cast do what they can, and they gave us a few lovely moments, but at 2hr 45m, the comedy was plodding and could have used a lot of pruning. The whole feel was of very old fashioned rep. - 80.168.186.20) | 11 May 05 |
| What an amazing production - lavish sets, amazing acting and a wonderful script. I will definately be suggesting this as a top show to al my friends and family. By the way, I felt that the up and coming star Talulah Riley was fantastic as Dinah. Well Done and absolutely fabulous! - 213.166.17.2) | 04 May 05 |
