Top Girls

Synopsis

Investigation of what it takes to get to the top. If you could have dinner with anyone from history, whom would you choose? At Marlene's celebration dinner to mark her promotion to Managing Director of the Top Girls Employment Agency, she has five guests - a Pope, a Warrior, a nineteenth century Traveller, a Japanese Emperor's Courtesan and a Chaucerian Obedient Wife, all from centuries past - sharing a toast.

Our Review:

Simon Tavener - 25 January 2012

Top Girls is often described as one of the most important pieces of drama from the twentieth century. On the basis of Max Stafford-Clark’s revival, I am struggling to see how people could come to that opinion.

Caryl Churchill’s structure is deliberately disjointed and her demands that actors speak over one another somewhat overused. I appreciate that people do talk over one another but when there are three conversations on stage simultaneously, it is impossible for an audience to fully comprehend what is being said. What should be heard is all too often lost in a cacophony of noise.

I know that the play has many devoted followers and it is clear to me that I will never be one of them – which, as a reviewer, is something that happens. However a good production should still allow me have a satisfying night in the theatre – particularly when it is being delivered by a highly regarded director whose work has impressed in the past.

Stafford-C...

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Latest User Review

Clare - 8 February 2012:

Just sat through this in Cheltenham. Sorry, what a load of rubbish! You can't hear anything when people are shouting over each other. The accents were dreadful. I'm NEVER going to another play by this author. What a waste of money. I enjoyed the first Act, when people were not apeaking over each other, especially watching Gret's acting, and Pope Joan. Perhaps I need a narrative? You know, a story line to keep your interest....

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