Reader Reviews
Attempts On Her Life (Lyttelton (National Theatre), West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | It's a shame that those who enjoyed and posted reviews to say so had to resort to oh so predictable haughtiness. Trying to make those of us who didn't enjoy it feel silly, uneducated and inadequate is just so typical of these kind of people. (But two can play at that game I guess) The kind of people I'm talking about are the sort you get in the Tate Modern cooing and gasping at a student's unmade bed, a pile of bricks and even a pair of used underpants Like modern art, this kind of modern theatre represents the disease of postmodernism at its worst. Oh, we thought it was a absolute trash, and not even worth £10. - James | 08 May 07 |
| Well this certainly seems to bring out an emotional response one way or another! Personally I’d have to rank it as one of the most memorable (for all good reasons!) plays I have seen in recent years. Just a few more days left to catch this amazing piece of theatre before it closes and I would definitely recommend the trip to the South Bank. Saw it both on opening preview and again last week with different friends. Between the viewings I read up on the "Education" section for "Attempts" on the National's homepage. This explains the setting/background that this particular cast have chosen for the play.. and I won't go into that here, because it is not included in the programme and is not made known to the audience – so some may consider it a "spoiler", a mechanism that was in place for the benefit of the actors, unnecessary knowledge that distracts from the messages of the scenes. Not that I think so. I deliberated on whether to reveal my discoveries to my friend this time around, as it was her first view – but in the end she declared that being aware of the details, really enhanced the enjoyment. I'd have to agree. It gives the improv context, makes the shared nervous glances of the cast .. the klaxon that marks the end of each story .. the looking at their watches at the end..all make sense! It does not get in the way – If you have tickets. If you are thinking of tickets. Think of reading it. Thank you Katie Mitchell and your amazing multi-talented (esp. Zubin Varla!) cast! - Jules | 06 May 07 |
| If you can't find anything redeming in this very experimental production then i don't beleive you can really call yourself a theatre lover. This play is far from perfect and the production beats your senses into submission way too much. However that said not all plays need a normal narrative or a naturalistic setting. I love the teatro de complicite and imaginative physical theatre, but i think Katie Mitchell just got a bit carried away with this one. I will admire it's bright moments rather than deride its numerous follys!!!! - Nick Marshall | 12 Apr 07 |
| Erratum: In the previous review I meant to refer to Waves as being dire and not Dream Play, which I actually enjoyed. - rds | 29 Mar 07 |
| I agree totally with the previous reviewer. Only it was easy for me to leave as I was just six seats from the aisle the others having already been vacated by their disgruntled occupants. I stuck it for 35 miserable minutes. There should be a society for the protection of audiences from the cruelty of misguided and untalented writers and directors. I would have shouted out to those still "stuck" in the auditorium - "get up and leave - it isn't compulsory to stay you know!" - but my less than bold companion told me to hush! What made it worse was that there were many young people in the audience (who laughed loudly, and inappropriatley, at the use of various expletives) and who may also have been making their first visit to the National - it could have put them off theatre for life! Hopefully it didn't. Now it would be unfair to say I haven't given Ms Mitchell a chance, as indeed the National have done. I saw The Seagull - pass, and Dream Play - dire. Yet I came back willing her to make something of this play. How does she get away with it? Can she dish the dirt on Mr Hytner? Come on Nick - give someone else a chance. I really love the National and congratulate it for taking chances - once yes, twice maybe but any more - enough!. The title of this play could sum up the audience's thoughts on the director! - rds | 29 Mar 07 |
| One of the most boring evenings I've endured (well, since Europe at the Barbican last week to be honest). Truly style over substance with a few minor decent bits but otherwise a trudge through some distracting visuals. A number of the audience left and I rapidly realised the reason for the lack of interval - this would have given more opportunity for people to leave. Those lucky people on the side aisles! - Martin B | 27 Mar 07 |
| Do I detect the same person posting two negative reviews below? A good production and worthy of the RNT, loved the wonderful Zubin Varla, that man has talent oozing from every pore! The play isn't as good as the production I felt. I would have given it four but because of the nefarious tactics below I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. - Julian | 16 Mar 07 |
| Well there's no middle ground on this one is there? Anyway, to the production, It's not perfect but I never find anything perfect (thats' the problem with seeing so much theatre, nothing ever matches the ideal!) I was transfixed throughout, however, and I'm really not sure why some cannot see what 'the point' is, it's pretty easy to follow when you realise that it's basically a series of separate sketches. I find the mechanics of image making and representation fascinating so this is perfect for someone like me. Ignore those who try and tell you you're something just short of a serial killer for liking this, scary, scary people....... - P Allen | 16 Mar 07 |
| Absolutely lame production. Ignore those who, like the reviewer below, can’t deal with anyone disagreeing with them and therefore make crass, shallow presumptions while wallowing in their own smug self-congratulation, and labouring under the misconception that they’re in some kind of elite by lauding experimental-theatre-by-numbers like this. Soporific, visually overblown, and delusional of purpose. If you care about theatre and not just sneering at that which has no pretension of supposedly pushing boundaries, avoid the Lyttelton and leave this mess to those tiresome overbearing types who ludicrously think this deserves five stars. - Jackie Deacon | 16 Mar 07 |
| Absolutely extraordinary production, ignore those who have their own set views of theatre and its boundaries, their smug self-congratulation is to be seen at the National lauding many dull retreads because they didn't have to think too hard. Kaleidoscopic, visually stunning, elusive and allusive in meaning, if you care about theatre and not just sneering at that which you don't understand get along to the Lyttelton and replace the pretentious bores who think this deserves zero. - Alan Whitfield | 16 Mar 07 |
| Extremely tedious production that's very pleased with itself but has very little to say and has no real movement despite all the frantic activity on stage. What thread there is to the piece gets obliterated by the (rather clunky) technical paraphernalia, leaving an empty shell except for some noise and props. Will be drooled over by "a certain type of theatregoer" who pumps junk like this full of significance it neither has nor deserves. - Simon Feegrade | 16 Mar 07 |
| What a dismal little play. Not even worth the £10 Travelex seat price and certainly not worth the time. Wish I could had the nerve to stand up and walk out. Shame on me. - Michael | 16 Mar 07 |
| A klaxon blares, the company line up and pitch Anne to us, each interjecting adding to the 'impromptu story'. It felt hideously contrived, over long and overdependent on video and screens (which sometimes just didn't work) to create a one trick pony for a multi-faceted, but maybe, dated play. - Matthew Cartwright | 15 Mar 07 |
| I have loathed the last few productions directed by Katie Mitchell but I thought was really very interesting. The cast do an amazing job, taking on different acting roles as well as being camera operators, lighting technicians, and playing several musical instruments each. The text is difficult to follow but the execution absolutely outstanding. - Paul Latham | 15 Mar 07 |
| An astonishing tour de force where performance, art and multimedia meet. The play's obsessions of life lived through a lens and of late twentieth century obsessions such as terrorism and fractured identities remain timely. The performers illuminate the series of loosely connected scenes with great passion and precision. It's a play which will annoy a certain type of theatregoer but I doubt that even they could fault the production of this difficult play. - Paul H | 13 Mar 07 |
