Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Reviews

Aaron from Saffron Waldon

CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

It was fantastic, James Earl Jones was brilliant. Strongly recommend you go and see the production. It was brilliant to see such a good production by such an amazing cast. The interpretation on William's script was spectacular on behalf of the director. Fantastic job, myself and the rest of the A-Level Drama students at my college loved the production.

Rachel from Brighton

SPELLBINDING

Saw the show last night and thought the cast were brilliant. Really enjoyable night of really spellbinding acting. Go see it!

Lawrence Shapiro from London, U.K.

BRILLIANT PLAY MEETS AFRICAN-AMERICAN ETHOS

I had the great good pleasure to see a recent matinee of 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof' at the Novello Theatre this week. For the first time in my life I have seen a play directed by an African-American woman. Actress and choreographer Debbie Allen takes Tennesee Williams' dysfunctional southern family of emotional misfits and places them in a vivid cultural African-American dynamic. Hardly a word is altered from the original text of the play written over half a century ago and yet the power and intensity of sexual repression, family secrets and personal turmoil is further heightened and dramatized as these universal human struggles are given new resonance in the context of an African-American family. James Earl Jones' thunderous performance as Big Daddy is equalled only by the sheer unrecognizability of Phlycia Rashad as Big Momma. Superb performances from all else. This production is a milestone in theatre. African-American women in roles of creative leadship. Don't miss it.

Anonymous from London, UK

UNREMITTINGLY EXCELLENT!

Rare for me to have time to write a review, but this was SO good, I feel compelled to do so. First-class on every level. Wonderful set, brilliant performances from the actors (including the kids) and, exceptionally pleasant and helpful FOH staff. Overall, a really fantastic night out. Definitely going again. If you haven't seen it already, you really must!

L from UK

GREAT!

It is clear that both the director and the cast were exceptionally talented. Sanaa Lathan was perfect as Maggie, she created an amazing and raw atmosphere for the first act of the play. Having read the text, and studied it, but only having seen the film before I got to go to the theatre, it was interesting for me to see how William's use of lighting, music and symbolism was played out on the stage. Felt that Debbie Allen stuck to the original script well, whilst managing to bring the play in to fresh new territory. The only thing I would have to say, is that at some parts it felt as though the audience were not connecting with the deeper and darker meanings behind at the core of the drama, eg: laughing at particularly sinister lines etc. On a whole, the evening was wonderful, the Novello theatre was beautiful, the staff friendly and the production amazing.

Claire Gontier from Hertfordshire, UK

THE VERY BEST PLAY CURRENTLY IN LONDON

I saw this play on Tuesday: we had front row, nearly-touching-cast-members, seats, which made it more personal for me. I have read the play twice, seen the movie twice, and wondered how Tennessee Williams could be transformed into an African-American play - but it worked! James Earl Jones was, as ever, superb, and Ms Rashid's acting flawless. It is by far the best play I have ever seen and thank you, Debbie Allen, for the brilliant "direction".

Nicole Leslie from London

WOW! WHAT A FANTASTIC NIGHT!

I had the absolute pleasure of seeing Cat on a Hot Tin Roof last night. What an incredible production. Never before has my attention been so completely captured. There were powerful performances aplenty and Sanaa Lathan was breathtaking as Maggie. I'm a COAHTR novice, having never seen the film or read the play before, so I am delighted to have had last as my introduction. Being in the presence of such giants as James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad was simply wonderful. This definitely ranks as one of the best nights entertainment I have ever had.

E. Eweka from London

10/10

Excellent. Totally enjoyed it. It brings theatre to a new audience.

Amanda from Herts

IF YOU CAN GO AND SEE THIS PLAY, DO!

I had the most fantastic evening with you yesterday - the production is amazing, it took my breath away. Every member of the cast was so skilled and absorbing. It is a long play, and goodness only knows how the actors manage to perform it all with such energy and committment every night - but the dialogue and the stellar performances draw you in; before long you care deeply about all the characters. It was extrememly moving and I know I will continue to think about it for a long time yet. Thank you all for providing me with the best night of theatre I have seen in a while!

Margaret Popovic from London

EXTREMELY GOOD CAST, SHAME ABOUT THE AUDIENCE

I saw this play on the first matinee. Most of the cast were very good in particular Sanaa Latham, playing Maggie. She held the first part of the play despite little support from Adrian Lester who didn't look right for Brick and did not, at least in the first part, give the feeling of pent up dangerous emotion that I felt his part required. It was a privilege to see James Earl Jones in action. Sadly, the audience laughed throughout and then stood whooping and cheering like a Jerry Springer show.

Sean Chard from Reading, england

EXCELLENT SHOW

Saw the show yesterday night, was a privilege to see the great James Earl Jones on stage, his performance as Big daddy was faultless showing a man close to death but still powerful and in control of his family, other high points were Sanaa Lathan as Maggie and a personal highlight was seeing Derek Griffiths ( a childhood hero of mine) as the preacher, overall the whole cast were top rate and felt like a family with all the trials and tribulations that go along with that. see it quickly before it closes

Anonymous from London

COMEDY OR TRAGEDY?

Excellent performance from Jones but its current production detracted from the ultimate seriousness of the play. Instead, the story became farcical and the character of Brick mishandled so that instead of appearing like the heartsick and defeated man Tennessee Williams created, he become the play's punchline, something to point and laugh at when he hams up the drunken moments and fails to convey the genuine pain he is in.

Anonymous from Uk

COMEDY AT THE EXPENSE OF DRAMTIC TENSION?

I saw this play last Wednesday and was slightly disappointed. That isn't to say I didn't enjoy the production I merely feel that it failed to live up to its many rave reviews. James Earl Jones' performance was very strong and as a result he was very watchable. His performance was both moving and comic in equal measure. Adrian Lester seemed to be making no or little attempt at an American accent which made him stand out for all the wrong reasons as well as helping to negate his otherwise good performance. Whilst I enjoyed the comedic aspects of the production I feel that there should have been more underplaying tension between the characters. The play lost something in the caricature like way that characters were portrayed. I believe that the director sacrificed what should have been moments of heightened emotional or dramatic intensity for laughs. Having said that the production is entertaing and worth seeing.

Spencer from UK

DIDN'T ENGAGE AT ALL

Saw this show on March 6, but it didn't live up to expectations or the great reviews given here. Don't know how much to blame the seating, but it was excruiatingly uncomfortable. First row of Grand Circle, with enough legroom for a small child, couldn't even sit with my feet on the floor.Missed a lot of the dialogue in the first act, a lot of actors speaking down or across, but not up to the upper levels at all. Went with my husband, both familiar with the storyline, and our two adult children who didn't know the play. Something was really lost in the first act, which was a one-sided display from Maggie, with no real performance from Brick, and no sense of building tension. The next two acts were better, but the acting couldn't carry such a long script. Either up your game or cut the play would be my opinion. The stalls were enthusiatic, and gave the show a standing ovation. The Upper Floors were very lukewarm and fidgety - just too uncomfortable to engage or just not good enough?

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