Strangers On A Train Reviews

Saguna from London,

IT WAS OK

I didn't know what to expect as I hadn't read any reviews and didn't know much about the play. Although all the actors had terrible fake American accents the use of the stage was very clever. It carouseled around to reveal various scenes which was really clever. The seats I got were high up but I could still see the stage quite clearly as it's a small theatre but opulent nonetheless, and to my advantage I could enjoy watching people backstage in the dark frantically trying to set up the next scene as quietly as possible. The actual show was very unique. The first half was quite slow and dragged on a bit to be honest. It wasn't a show stopper but you can't really complain for £11! The second half is where it gets interesting and all the twists come into play (no pun intended! lol). I liked that you would never guess the ending and it got quite dramatic. You see how everything slowly comes apart from a seemingly well hatched out plan. There is a very strange relationship between one man

Miranda from London,

UNFORTUNATELY...

I know these review boards tend to only get the negative but I will give praise where it is due. Unfortunately Laurence Fox would have to be singled out as we could not hear him (only in our 40's) along with others in the audience, through most of the show, other than when he shouted and then his diction was extremely poor- he is terrific in Lewis but not cut out for stage and did not embody the character at all. None of the cast or director have sat in row J and listened to the show through the loud constant buzz of the projector, of which projection adds very little to the show. The direction was poor to not at least solve the issue of projection of voices but the shortness of each scene allowed little scope to develop character, connection and emotion. The set was clever but we would have preferred excellent acting and an empty stage. A very disappointing evening- thank goodness it was a preview night and tickets were cheaper but I cannot see any improvement happening. One last thing which shouldn't have to be said but when all the cast took the curtain call 3 hours later, Laurence Fox walked off before the curtain had dropped and it really looked awful. Play partially saved by acting from Miranda Raison and Christian McKay

Gel Morson from London,

GELMOR

Excellent stage design, poor voice projection and character depth from male lead. Myanna Burning brought life to the dull, lifeless scenes. Disappointed. The production required a great deal more pathos in order to justify the ending.

PostScript 1 from Nottinghamshire

STRANGERS INDEED

I booked this play specifically to see Lawrence Fox. Unfortunately I was extremely disappointed to find 3 of the principle players ( including Fox) were replaced by their understudies. The play seemed confused as to whether it was supposed to be a comedy or a tense drama. It also seemed too long for the concept it was portraying. We had excellent seats N1 and 2 in the stalls. I was disappointed with the theatre management, despite advertising late comers would not be admitted, 20 minutes into the play people were still allowed in. Overall, a disappointed visit.

Pizzaman from London,

DISAPPOINTING

Very wooden acting from what I thought were professionals. Particularly disappointed as I was unable to hear the dialogue. more so when the characters had their backs to the audience. I, like quite a number of people complained of this in the interval, which seemed never ending, but nothing was done to sort out the problem. Laurence fox seemed to be still in the character of "Hathaway" the side kick detective in the "Lewis" TV series. His mannerisms were exactly the same. A major distraction was all the noise of scene changes back stage as the play went on and on and on. A big let down for something I was looking forward to

FMC from UK

RAN OUT OF STEAM

Profoundly disappointing, having looked forward for weeks to the production opening, I could scarcely believe what was offered, not being able to hear one of the prime characters words is, if not unforgivable certainly reprehensible, didn't anyone check this in advance from anywhere other than the front row of the stalls or did the poor man have a problem with his voice? Much of the acting would have put a seaside rep production to shame thirty years ago. More wooden than the timber sleepers on which the imagined train would run - I fear Dr Beeching would not have spared this! If there was any light in the tunnel it was the innovative special effects projected, but these often seemed to lack any cohesion with what else was happening on the stage and were marred by the constant whirring of the projectors fan. Had I brought an overseas visitor with me I would have been embarrassed as it was night to be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Alex from London,

WASTE OF TIME, MONEY AND EXPECTATION

From an actor's point of view, if I was playing the lead in London's West End in front of hundreds of paying customers, I would be two things: I'd be extremely happy to be there, therefore I'd work to give a performance worthy of such an opportunity, and I'd have to be bloody good at what I did to get there in the first place. Laurence Fox was neither. I saw a preview, but there is literally no excuse for the utterly uninterested, monotonous and disengaging performance that he gave. I know the Gielgud is pretty big, but come on, if you can't reach the circle with your voice then you shouldn't be on the stage. The set, though impressive, became a hindrance as the shifting, banging and talking from backstage became laughable. They've tried to create a film on-stage and all they've achieved is a lack of creativity, really. The script is dull: some things happen. That's it. The 'twists' are contrived and uninteresting. If they manage to turn this show around, I'd love to know how.

Page:12345All