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jdizzlestewart's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I find this play quite offensive. The writing is good there’s no doubt about that. But I question the validity of it in 2019 being staged at the National Theatre. The voices of conservative parents of a gay child given higher space than the voices of gay people is an interesting thought to ponder. How is the audience supposed to feel?
jimmyscott_31's review against another edition
4.0
went to see this last night at the National Theatre and was left in tears.
made me angry and upset and longing for more.
a few waffily moments, but well executed!
bought the script and read it (I need to stop treating plays as “audiobooks” when I see them just to up my reading pile haha
made me angry and upset and longing for more.
a few waffily moments, but well executed!
bought the script and read it (I need to stop treating plays as “audiobooks” when I see them just to up my reading pile haha
joshrskinner's review against another edition
3.0
Clever, heartbreaking, and funny. For me, it ventures into didactism too much.
esalan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Death
andthebeanstalk's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jwab's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.0
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Homophobia
Minor: Child death
catdad77a45's review
5.0
Update: Having now seen the NT Live film of the play, I can unequivocally state it is absolutely unmissable. Jeffries and particularly Duncan are brilliant and I would not be surprised if they, and the play itself, swept all theatre awards in London this year.
Recently premiered at the National Theatre, Woods' debut two-hander play seems an unlikely amalgamation of [b:Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?|14940|Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?|Edward Albee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327962277l/14940._SY75_.jpg|461400] and [b:Private Lives|281326|Private Lives|Noël Coward|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348022449l/281326._SY75_.jpg|1120762] (a determination I had come to on my own, but then saw at least two reviews had reached the exact same conclusion!) Although those reviews were decidedly mixed (the Guardian churlishly objected to a bit of fun at their own expense!), and I did have a bit of a qualm whether the relentlessly witty banter might grow wearisome over the brief running time of the play, I am sure the original cast of Lindsay Duncan and Alex Jeffries were able to cover over such slight deficiencies. Being a Yank, a few of the UK references flew right over my head, but I don't think that detracted much from my enjoyment. And the brilliance of the last few pages and the final coup de grace were genuinely touching and unexpected.
Recently premiered at the National Theatre, Woods' debut two-hander play seems an unlikely amalgamation of [b:Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?|14940|Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?|Edward Albee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327962277l/14940._SY75_.jpg|461400] and [b:Private Lives|281326|Private Lives|Noël Coward|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348022449l/281326._SY75_.jpg|1120762] (a determination I had come to on my own, but then saw at least two reviews had reached the exact same conclusion!) Although those reviews were decidedly mixed (the Guardian churlishly objected to a bit of fun at their own expense!), and I did have a bit of a qualm whether the relentlessly witty banter might grow wearisome over the brief running time of the play, I am sure the original cast of Lindsay Duncan and Alex Jeffries were able to cover over such slight deficiencies. Being a Yank, a few of the UK references flew right over my head, but I don't think that detracted much from my enjoyment. And the brilliance of the last few pages and the final coup de grace were genuinely touching and unexpected.
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