Player Kings Reviews

Hugh from Herts, England

LONG

Some stand out performances and the first half was engaging if a little slow at times. The second half lost its way and was somewhat flat. It couldn’t end soon enough for me, though my date enjoyed every minute, so what do I know!

Paul and Veronica Talbot from Stratford upon Avon

AN INTERESTING BUT LESS THAN REWARDING PRODUCTIO

This seemed to be a platform for Sir Ian to showcase his interpretation of Sir John Falstaff, which did not work for us. At times, his dialogue was hard to understand because of what seemed a persistent bout of dyspepsia. His performance did not reveal the true relationship between Hal and Sir John. This production for us was a letdown for that reason. At times, it was disjointed and, because of that, seemed repetitive, a mishmash. It had its rare ‘laugh moments’, but it also had its fair share of boring bits, particularly after Falstaff’s final, memorable, words. Everyone seemed to be going through their lines, but there was little acting to each other. If somebody was using this as an introduction to Shakespeare, they would probably come away feeling the whole thing was a tremendous success and would have given it a standing ovation. Still, as lovers of Shakespeare and having seen IV-1 and IV-2 many times, this is a pale reflection of the real thing. All told, it was an overly long performance, trying to cram to much into one play, which did not hit the mark for us.

Paul and Veronica Talbot from Stratford upon Avon

AN INTERESTING BUT LESS THAN REWARDING PRODUCTION

This was clearly a platform to showcase Sir Ian’s interpretation of Sir John Falstaff. At times, his dialogue was hard to grasp due to what seemed a persistent bout of dyspepsia. The two key performers did little to impart the complex relationship between Hal and Sir John. At times, the production seemed disjointed, repetitive, a mishmash. It had its rare humorous moments. but it also had its boring drawn-out bits, particularly after Falstaff’s final, memorable words. And then being subjected to ten minutes of padding to stretch it out. Everyone seemed to be going through their lines well enough, but there was little acting (magic) to each other. As admirers of Shakespeare and having seen IV-1 and IV-2 many times, this is a pale reflection of the real thing. All told, it was an overly long performance, and did not work for us

Phil from London, England

TRIES TOO HARD

A disappointing production. By no means my first Shakespeare (or my first Ian McKellen) and went with high hopes. Left in the interval having failed to be engaged for a moment. A desperate grasp for style over substance with not one performance to retrieve it.

Mary C from London, England

VERY DISAPPOINTING

This was not my first time to see these plays, and I have seen Sir Ian many times, but this was an extremely disappointing production. The staging is chaotic and messy. They really needed a choreographer. There is no chemistry among the actors at all. Sir Ian is always good to see, but in the first hour it sounded as if he had a mouthful of marbles. His Falstaff veered between sad and pathetic and just silly. Toheeb Jimoh is good as Hal but inconsistent. Samuel Edward-Cook is terrible as Hotspur: just an angry man who yells a lot. His scene with his wife made no sense at all. Richard Coyle was good as Henry IV, but none of the other players were engaging to any degree. Claire Perkins' Mistress Quickly was totally forgettable. The gratuitous drug use and nudity in the opening scene was, well, gratuitous. Dull and boring sets: all those curtains became very tedious. Unless you just want to see Sir Ian, don't go. It's a waste of time and money.

Aliya from London, England

DON’T WASTE A PRECIOUS EVENING

Just came back from watching the play. Too long and repetitive. It seems characters and scenes were written for the sole purpose of supporting the character of Sir John played by Ian Mclellan. Average set, average acting, irrelevant scenes and characters. And lasted 3 hours 50 minutes. It was downhill after the first scene. Don’t waste a precious evening.

Debbie Hughes from Cheshire. UK

VERY DISAPPOINTING IN EVERY ASPECT.

This mish mash of Henry IV part one and two simply does not work. There is very little narrative thread in this vehicle geared for Ian Mckelllen which makes the overall production confusing, unbalanced and at times, tedious. It lacked energy and pace and there was little feel that the cast was working together. The staging was poor and dull both in the use of grey brown curtains throughout and dim lighting . Mckellen raised some laughs but he achieved little of the pathos we should feel for Falstaff and the important relationship between Falstaff and Prince Harry was in sufficiently explored. Don’t waste your money( this is an expensive production ) our seats were at the back of the stalls and were £50 and we had a poor view.

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