Barking In Essex Reviews

John from London,

MUST SEE COMEDY

a really funny black comedy based on the arsenic and old lace theme loads of laughs great cast for a 80yr old shelia hancock was fantastic bad language could be cut by half and be just as good go and see it watch out for the gunshots mind you

D. White from Gloucestershire

FANTASTIC PLAY

Amazing play from start to finish. Lee Evans was fantastic as always. My daughter and I laughed so much and loved every minute. Didn't matter about strong language just made it more funny. We would watch it again. We'll worth going to see.

Reis from London,

MUST SEE COMEDY

This play is brilliant!! A fair amount of strong language, but only adds to the humour. All actors are brilliant in the play, but must say, Lee Evans is outta this world...if your a Lee Evans fan you'll love him in this, he gives you what you come to expect from him...a great show with lots of feel good laughter.

Peter from Essex

ESSEX AT IT'S BEST!

Bad language comes thick and fast but it's totally in keeping with the type of people this hilarious black comedy portrays. The set & clothes are so TOWIE, an enjoyable fun play that no doubt some will find offensive, just take it in context and laugh all the way through. Great cast.

Christine from Upminster

GREAT PLAY - GLAD I IGNORED SOME OF THE REVIEWS

I think you need to know the type of people this play is about and then you will realise the script and characters are spot on. Very funny. Brought tickets as a gift and I was dreading going after seeing some of the reviews. Did some of the reviewers actually go and see the same play? I will never look at reviews again. Have already recommended friends to book their tickets.

Matt from London

PLENTY OF LAUGHS, A GREAT EVENING OUT!

If you’re easily offended by bad language and expect to hear nothing but the Queen’s English, then this play is not for you. If you can deal with a few (quite a lot) of swear words and can take the typical Essex, TOWIE type characters with a pinch of salt then definitely give it a go! We primarily went to see Lee Evans in another crazy role. He shone through and held the play together with his hilarious faces and quick one liners. Plenty of laughs to be had throughout the play, an enjoyable evening, topped off by meeting the great man himself after the show!

Jane from London,

GO SEE IT - VERY WELL ACTED AND A LAUGH

We went to see this last night, having read the reviews on this site we were not looking forward to it but went with the attitude of 'lets give it a go'. Well we were so surprised we thoroughly enjoyed it and laughed so so much. Agreed, the language, especially within the first half an hour is very explicit and they could possibly cut out a few of the C words but actually in the most part the language actually emphasises the characters and helps you quickly understand them. The actors are brilliant especially Keeley Hawes and Sheila Hancock. Keeley Hawes is acting so against type but does it absolutely brilliantly. She has the vacant, yet hard Essex look as seen on TOWIE down to a tee and Sheila Hancock is simply fabulous and impossible to believe she is 80! Lee Evans was excellent and his Carmen Miranda in the second half is very funny. The play is humorous, it is a black comedy and slightly farsical but thoroughly entertaining and extremely well acted. Give it a go.

John B from London,

NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED......

As I said to the nice lady in the seat next to me at the interval, I don’t remember the use of that many expletives in 6 years in the forces (some of that time operational). If you can get past the swearing there are great performances from all the actors, and comedic moments to behold, as evidenced by the peals of laughter from the audience. Once the shock value of the profanity dies down it is easy to get into the plot and appreciate Sheila Hancock’s exquisite comic timing, Lee Evans hilarious body language and expressions, (Lee Evans “Lite” though), Keeley Hawes who has come straight from an Essex night club, Karl Johnson who clearly did his research in my local boozer and Monseratt Lombard, who sent shivers down my spine.....all sweetness and light camouflaging a psychotic anger and reminding me of any manager you know!

S s from London,

CUT OUT THE C WORD

Both in our seventys my Husband and i decided we would like to see this play, and we did enjoy it apart from the dreaded c word we were both born and lived in Barking till our 30s and did hear swearing from my father but honestly that c word never and never heard mum swear so all in all cut some of it out and then it will be more enjoyable

S Harding from London,

A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED

The acting was excellent - and all strong characters. I think it may have been let down by a weak script. I enjoyed it but I'd so been looking forward to it, I did leave the theatre feeling a little let down, especially as we'd bought expensive seats! Those of a sensitive disposition should be well warned - the language is graphic, but relevant. I wish the cast good luck and hope the run goes well x

Andy from London,

AVOID

Do not waste your money. Script is atrocious .even the actors looked embarrassed they are completely wasted.i can say with confidence this is probably the worst thing I have seen at the theatre. The critics will pan this.

MarkinTime from London

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING OF?

The actors do their best, but this is an atrocious play and it's anyone's guess why it was put on. The first half just about gets away with it, as a kind of pale homage to Loot and Arsenic & Old Lace. But the second half is mind-bogglingly dull and goes nowhere. I left the theatre depressed that so much effort and expense had been put into something so banal.

Reviews On Line from London,

A PLAGUE ON ALL YOUR HOUSES, ESPECILLY THOSE IN ESSEX

What Can I say about this play, there are very few words that are able to describe the awful scripting, written by a person who does not appear to understand estuary English. Take a tally counter with you to count the number of times the word C*** is used and always inappropriately. If you really must use the word, and here it is wholly unnecessary, use it with grace and rarely Lee Evans was clearly the draw for the show, but we did not see enough of his natural talent. But when that talent was released, the slow run and the dance, it was warmly and roundly applauded. Sheila Hancock was struggling with a poor script and seeing her swear was a novelty initially but then it all became trite and tedious. Keeley Hawes took her part well, but really let down by a bad script. The best (visual) joke in the script was mostly missed - Luton, and really the plot and the ending were very thin. Cast good script dreadful, set great - but a six shooter does only shoot six bullets, not seven

Ronim Mot from London,

TRAGEDY FOR LEE AND SHEILA

Not often you see a play where the characters aren't even one dimensional. Tragic to see fine actors in such a dreadful play. It isn't the expletives. Just appalling writing. Didn't they read the script before they agreed to do it? Couldn't even bear to back for the second half.

Anonymous from Canada

SADLY THE COMEDY REVOLVES AROUND USING THE C WORD.

With a great cast I expected more comedic talent to shine. Unfortunately the laughs seem to be revolved around c*** and f*** being d used in near every line. It actually took away from the enjoyment of watching the show. The theatre was sold out and I think that was because if the cast and not the play. In comparison I saw the 39 steps the night before and didn't expect much but was in stitches laughing through the whole thing. That's a play with actual comedic talent!

Page:123All