Reader Reviews
Dumb Show (Royal Court - Jerwood Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Great set, some great writing - but overall slightly underwhelming. Douglas Hodge is well worth seeing as the love child of Jim Davidson and Paul Ross. Anna Maxwell Martin never really convinces. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.152.117.243) | 06 Oct 04 |
| I did enjoy it but thought the revelations were really a bit tame - I can't imagine anyone caring *that* much about what we discover of Douglas Hodge's character. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.67.77) | 26 Sep 04 |
| Anyone who went to see this sober and healthy and came out thinking it was "dull" must be very "dull" themselves. This is what the royal court is for - great writing, stunning performances - particularly from Hodge. The comment about Penhall not being able to get his characters off the stage is just silly - the reasons they froze was because the next scene was in the same place but later on, you stupid person. Some people just revel in being cynical, which is childish. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (129.11.76.143) | 20 Sep 04 |
| Although at times implausible (can someone really be that gullible?), this play explores important themes and is always captivating - largely because of faultless performances, a wonderful set and great staging. Not Pentall's best play, but a breath of fresh air in a West End devioid of decent modern drama. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.211.98.6) | 16 Sep 04 |
| really really disappointing ... a one trick pony - says the same thing over and over and over. Dull. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.69.37.108) | 15 Sep 04 |
| Incredible performance from Douglas Hodge - a real relevation - this man has been so 'under-stretched' before. Despite the excellent cast I feel the play did not sustain its mementum and fizzled out slightly towards the end. Nevertheless a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking evening. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.155.77.114) | 14 Sep 04 |
| Maybe we should not be judging Penhall quite this much... The characterisation is spot on, it may just be a subject that we cannot relate to. I thought the performances by all three were stunning. I found the whole audience were trapped within these believable characters, to the extent that they all leaned forward at the same time! This show really is a must-see! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.134.123.242) | 12 Sep 04 |
| Cannot understand the enthusiasm elsewhere for this piece which at best would fill an hour on tv. Having picked up his subject, Penhall is unsure where to take it, and the soft ending must please the tabloid reviewers while leaving the rest of us feeling somewhat let down. I wish Penhall had attacked his subject with more teeth. Nothing but praise though for Hodge who is just amazing, and Maxwell-Martin cast against type as the total bitch. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.43.173.242) | 10 Sep 04 |
| So thin and runs out of ideas. Also did not raise any insights into the world of tabloid celeb-bashing that the average sixth form media studies student could not have come up with. Rupert Graves - one of my favourite actors - is criminally wasted - better roles for Anna Maxwell-Martin and especially Douglas Hodge but again way below their batting average. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.67.78) | 09 Sep 04 |
| Bit of a disappointment after Blue/Orange. Mr Penhall still can't get characters on and off the stage so he just freezes the action this time and moves on that way. I didn't really care for the main character, a comedian past his best, so the pathos was lost on me and the funnies were just not funny enough. How come Penhall gets this on at The Royal Court - it isn't really good enough? - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.67.78) | 09 Sep 04 |
| I never saw Blue Orange so there is nothing for me to compare it too. On it's own I thought it was a great concept that hasn't been fully realised in play form. I thought the characters were a bit one dimensional and the attempts to give Barry depth resulted in overlong monologues where myself and others could be spotted looking at our watches. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.40.29.220) | 09 Sep 04 |
| Joe Penhall is on blinding form and so is Terry Johnson's production! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.253.64.18) | 09 Sep 04 |
