Enjoyable but too long. The huge cast and number of characters mean there are too many plots, some of which just peter out. Worth shelling out the £5 for a standing ticket. - addicted to theatre
12 May 09
I saw the show last week and found it something of a curate's egg. I'd feared that it would be overly "right on" and when it kicked off with a song called "We are the Invisibles", I was cringing that my worst fears were being confirmed. However, the piece does feature some lovely writing and performances.
The banter between the bouncer and the lap dancer was touching and funny, and the show is definitely at its best in these moments. Similarly, Patrick Godfrey gave a quite beautiful performance as the deluded old man. The cast attack the piece with energy and verve, but often the writing and the directing do not work within the specific limitations and challenges of the Globe as a venue. On several occasions, two or three different scenes happen at once, and it becomes almost impossible to follow what is going on in any of them, which just becomes frustrating. One senses also that the actors are hampered by having to wait for a line from a totally different scene before they can continue with theirs, which fatally undermines the rhythm of what they are doing.
At its worst, the piece is just simplistic. The villain of the piece is - all too predictably - a white, heterosexual male. And whilst other characters in the play behave badly, their various motives are explored and to some degree at least, explained or justified. However, Robert Gwilym's character is just a two-dimensional pantomime villain - who even elicits boos from the audience.
At its best, however, "The Frontline" is interesting, amusing and thought provoking. The confrontation between the racist Bouncer and the Muslim boy makes for some dramatic and at times, uncomfortable, moments.
Most depressing from my point of view, the four black teenagers/early twenty-somethings sitting next to me went from applauding as the racist was defeated, to moments later, shouting "Disgusting!" as the gay couple shared a kiss.
- Quentin
11 May 09
Whatever it's merits The Frontline is a very odd choice for the Globe, particularly for a sunlit matinee. The overlapping dialogue prevents much coherent narrative, some of which is very repetitive, especially as much of it is lost in this acoustic minefield. There are moments of wit and storylines worth following mainly revolving around Jo Martin and Mo Sesay who are excellent as a lapdancer and her pacifist bouncer. However Che Walker comes dangerously close to glamourising the seedy parade of drugs and violence. Some of the writing is infantile reaching a nadir with the song "The War on Drugs is a War on Blacks" whilst reinforcing rather than challenging stereotypes. Matthew Dunster is an associate director of the Young Vic and with a firmer directorial hand The Frontline could very effective further along the South Bank. - David Baxter
12 Aug 08
Loud, Brash & full of stereotypes BUT it works! This was a real treat! The setting, the rain and the twilight all add to the atmosphere of the darker corners of London. The cast really threw themselves into the performance and gave a memorable performance. Recommended. (Performance 10 August 2008, evening) - Paul
11 Aug 08
This is probably the best non-Shakespeare play the Globe has ever put on. It's a fairly plotless slice of life with overlapping tales and dialogue. It takes a while to atune your ears and concentrate (not aided by the notoriously noisy Globe crowd) but it gradually draws you in. Prostitutes, drug dealers, hot dog salesmen, evangelicals, transvestites, struggling fringe theatricals, Asian restauranteurs, rough sleepers, the deranged......somehow you learn a lot about their lives. There's good music and there are excellent performances, but the great thing about this play is it's energy. It fits the Globe like no other modern play yet has, and even the rain seemed to enhance the experience! - Gareth James
04 Aug 08
This is a show not to be missed - best play/musical I've seen for a long time! Extremely vibrant, touching and really hits you in the heart. If you want to be moved and experience the rawness of real people that makes you laugh and cry at the same time suggest you get down to the Globe. Well done Globe - a real treat! - Yee Liu Williams
22 Jul 08
I was disappointed. the acting was splendid but the acoustics were terrible, (theres's nothing more irritating to an audience than strain either your eyesight or hearing) - not helped by overlapping dialogue -what is one expected to listen to? The characters were one 'street cliche' after another. Nor was it lluminating, one is more 'entertained' by the real thing available for free on a daily basis outside any tube station. - mavis welsh
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