I had been looking forward to this for several weeks and was disappointed in most aspects. The positives - the set is excellent and the lighting superb. However, the acting was generally wooden, diction frequently poor and lines inaudible. The wonderful Margaret Tyzak sounded as if struggling with badly fitting false teeth, Dominic West appeared bored and disengaged, Stanley Townsend seemed forced and uncomfortable. Helen Mirren's enthusiasm for her role was spasmodic. I hope I saw the production on an off-night but at £37.50 a ticket I think the audience deserved better. - Rebekkah
24 Aug 09
Stunningly designed by Bob Crowley and beautiful lit by Paule Constable combined to lead me to expect great things of this production directed by Nicholas Hytner. Alas it was not to be. Starting from the bottom then, Dominic Cooper may be Mr Hytner's darling of the moment, but sounding like Trigger from Only Fools and Horses he is not equipped to play a part that requires huge stage presence and a voice to match. Stanley Townsend, who does have the voice and who usually turns in a fine performance, seemed ill at ease as Theseus and in the penultimate scene, whilst listening to the towering John Shrapnel's Théramène's vivid description of the death of Hippolytus - brought on by Theseus' invocation to Neptune to punish his son, could have been listening to the football results instead! Helen Mirren, however, gives a finely balanced and controlled performance of a woman tortured by incestuous desires for her stepson and the anticipated impending doom that must surely follow. Margaret Tyzack ably supports. This was a flawed production then and I am surprised that the NT, having got Helen Mirren to commit to do the part, should have blown it this way? - rds
30 Jul 09
Unless my daughter achieves unexpected greatness, Helen Mirren will remain the most famous old girl of St. Bernard's High School, Westcliff. Surprisingly, her much anticipated return to the stage proves to be the weakest link in an otherwise brilliant ensemble. Her performace contained little variety of mood or expression, was far from word perfect and the only time it was truly believable was a deadly "I have a rival?" when she learned of Hippolytus' love for Aricia. Nick Hytner's production on an epic set makes sense of the complicated relationships and shifting claims to various crowns. Stanley Townsend's eventual entrance as Theseus unfortunately made me think of Demis Roussos, but he quickly dispelled that with a performance of power and authority, particularly when summoning Neptune's anger upon his son culminating is wretched grief at the result of his actions. John Shrapnel blazes with rage and indignation when describing Hippolytus' fate and Ruth Negga is affecting as the tragic, if distinctly Irish, Aricia. Clare Higgins was a magnificent Phedre at the Donmar; this is a better production despite Mirren's performance not coming close to those heights. - David Baxter
19 Jul 09
Utterly brilliant! Mirren and Tyzack couldn't be better and Dom more orange.
I loved every second,(except the visible mop head stuck below the corpse to make the bloody skid mark look even) - joesmith
06 Jul 09
I always think a Greek tragedy has been a success if you leave the theatre emotionally drained, and that was not the case here. As much as I admired the performances, design and staging, it left me rather cold. I think I like my Greek tragedy 'neat' (simply translated from the original). Here it's gone through 17th century French classical tradition before its modern English translation and what comes out the other end isn't really Greek tragedy at all. A touch like the recent Madame de Sade, too much of the play is commenting on what's happening off stage! Great production of a 250-year old play that doesn't really work for a modern audience. - Gareth James
02 Jul 09
I saw this last night in a very warm cinema in Tewkesbury. The only reasons I did not nod off completely was Margaret Tyzack's wonderful performance (she acted Helen Mirren of the stage/screen) and John Shrapnel particularly in his tour-de-force closing speech. They made the evening. This experiment of broadcasting live theatre around the world I would count as a total success and I look forward to more although I will be choosing my plays carefully. - Phil Aplin
27 Jun 09
How that turgidly bug-eyed Dominic Cooper with his pettish self admiration and dying-away diction has managed to make a career as a ladies' man on stage and screen will baffle me for eternity. He's about as dangerous as a dormouse; I wondered if Phedre wasn't simply pulling his leg - and ours. - Ingrid Himmelborg
25 Jun 09
I saw this production on 13th Jun 09 before reading any reviews. I was captivated from start to finish. The set and lighting were both stunning. The acting from all of the cast was superb. The only minor criticism I have is for Helen Mirren. At one point in the play the love for one of the other characters did not show through as much as it could have done. John Shrapnel's account of the final tragic event was very vivid. I don't often disagree with the professional critics. But this occasion I strongly disagree. No way is this a one star. A thrilling theatrical experience. Well done to the National Theatre. - Peter
19 Jun 09
I saw last night with my wife and a friend.
It was pretty awful - good things - some of the acting and the set - but otherwise - what's the point of it? No Drama when it's just hand wringing despair from everyone all the time from the start. Language nothing like as good as you expect from a great poet... Maybe 2 stars instead of 1 - but the WOS review is the one that got it right IMO.
Do I understand the person who gave it 5 stars correctly - he gave it 5 stars before even seeing it ?
- simon hastwell
19 Jun 09
I have seen this production and can conifdently recommend it.
I loved the staging, the bright sunlit stage next to sand and sky gave a real sense of location.
The performances were strong, in particular Dominic Cooper who never flinched from his horror at his step mothers lust for him, Margaret Tyzack who's nurse was both caring and replusive and in particular Helen Mirren who captivated my attention totally when she was on stage, a real tour de force. - Paul Wallis
12 Jun 09
Couldn't agree more - I've NOT seen it yet, but this reeks of someone trying to make a name for themselves - and you just did Michael Coveney. The rest of the professional reviewers rate this as 4 stars mostly, and saw something you didn't - the lone voice of reason? Time to move on.... - CliffG
12 Jun 09
One star, Michael Coveney? Your review may not be enthusiastic but surely a one star rating should be reserved for the real stinkers. Most of us will not have seen Diana Rigg or Glenda Jackson, so it does no-one service to make pointless comparisons. Your review, omitting perhaps the false-memory syndrome, should be a three-star one. - Mikey
