I agree with most of the disappointed reviews here. I saw a matinee of A Little Dog Laughed on the same day and that was terrific, led by the wonderful Tamsin Greig, but 6 Degrees was such a huge let down. It all looked so gloomy from the front of the dress circle and it sounded muffled from there too. I fell asleep and I NEVER do that! Luckily I awoke to see the cock, which was the most exciting moment in an otherwise altogether dull evening...no wonder it was put in! If there had been an interval I would have left. Walking to get the tube I overheard a man say to his wife "but what was it all about". I have to agree with that. I haven't a problem if it's to the program I refer to help understand a play, that's why I am so enthusiastic about our tradition of programs with content and not the New York Playbills which tell one nothing except who is in the cast, so if I can bring myself to read the program I may well have a different point of view...but don't hold your breath! - rds
04 Apr 10
very disappointed, so any loose ends and unnecessary characters - no idea followed through - a lot of bit parts squashed together. 6 degrees of separation not in the least relevant! - dave stringer
13 Mar 10
I have fond memories of the first production of this play at the Royal Court some 18 years ago – at the time it seemed so radical - but I’m afraid this revival didn’t live up to them. It takes a long time to get off the ground, and only does so when the revelations begin, some third of the way in.
You can’t fault the staging or the acting, but somehow it just doesn’t cut it. When it’s running, - when the extent of the con becomes obvious and when the kids get involved - it’s excellent, but there are too many dull moments. A friend who works in a school told me they’d cancelled their school trip because of its nudity. I think this was a good idea, lest they go through life with these two as a benchmark, feeling disappointed or inadequate! - Gareth James
01 Mar 10
Six Degrees ... is like a souffle - clever in concept and sometimes in execution but insubstantial and prone to collapse. Loosely based on a true story, John Guare offers little explanation for Paul's motivation other than to fit in with rich people or why a conman would settle for such trivial amounts - paradoxically apart from two struggling actors whose lives he devastates. The acting amongst a surprisingly large cast is variable but Lesley Manville stands out as the society hostess who has some conception of how shallow her lifestyle really is. Kevin Spacey seems to be settling for second division American drama but the Old Vic should be raising its' sights higher than this. - David Baxter
11 Feb 10
The production didn't really work for me, the conman wasn't really smooth enough and when Ouisa and Flan talked directly to the audience it felt very self-conscious and uncomfortable. Re Mr Coveney's comments desiring another Wallace Shawn season, perish the thought, we suffered enough thank you at the Royal Court last year. - Mags G
09 Feb 10
The production is slick and well acted, and in fact I felt Obi Abili was the best Paul that I've seen, but Guare's script is showing it's age. Watching Lesley Manville's technically adroit, well judged performance made me realise though just how much warmth and star quality Stockard Channing brought to the role originally. Also, the Old Vic seems a little cavernous for the piece. Worth seeing, but not unmissable. - ajh
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