The Country Girl Reviews

Diana Shogren from Canberra, AUSTRALIA

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES

Seeing this production of The Country Girl was my main reason for travelling from Australia to London in October. I had not previously seen any of the cast on stage, but was familiar with most of them from TV and film. I was aware of comment during the regional tour about audience difficulty in understanding/hearing the American-accented dialogue and some whingeing about Ms Seagrove's wooden portrayal of Elgin's wife. Despite hearing loss, I easily heard the dialogue. Shaw and Letheren's performances were splendidly convincing. Seagrove played Elgin's wife as emotionally drained and weary beyond measure, coming alive as the play progressed: despite the play's name Odets didn't delineate her part as much as the other main roles. The supporting cast was excellent on both nights I attended, the scene changes innovative. Notwithstanding warnings beforehand, the deeply moving conclusion (Seagrove alone on stage) was infuriatingly disturbed on 2 Nov. by a patron's endlessly ringing mobile.

Sb from UK

LONDON-VERSION OF PLAY EVEN BETTER!

I have seen this play whilst on tour and now at the Apollo. On tour, the American accents made the dialogue hard to follow. In London, whether it was because of the accoustics of the Apollo theatre or because I was more familiar with the play but I felt that the dialogue was much clearer. There has been some 'tightening up' with the script and I thought the performances by Martin Shaw, Jenny Seagrove and Mark Letheren were excellent. I enjoyed Martin Shaw's performance when I first saw the play but he is now bringing even more depth and range to the character of Elgin. Also good support from other cast members.

Maureen Winskill from UK

LONG.................!!

I am a great fan of Martin Shaw which provoked me to see the play. We saw it at the Brighton Theatre Royal. Thought Mark Letheren (he went to school with our son) was brilliant including his American accent. Martin seemed to struggle with his!! Jenny Seagrove was wooden which in my view is her usual mode of acting. I was constantly aware that their accents may disappear over the course of the play which Jenny's seemed to do. The change of scenery was clever. It was difficult to hear all of the dialogue from Martin and Jenny. Maybe that had something to do with the Theatre Royal, Brighton but Mark seemed to overcome that. I don't think this is the best thing that I have seen Martin Shaw in.

Mrs Field from UK

INTERESTING AND WELL ACTED

I've seen this play on tour and in London. The acting is very good by all the cast, and I think they all manage the accent perfectly well. Mark Letheren in particular is absolutely rivetting as Bernie Dodds, I think he is a star of the future, he is quite mesmorising on stage. The set designs and lighting are superb, and worth a mention. A very enjoyble and moving evening.

Linda Richardson from Scotland

HAPPY TO SEE LIVE THEATRE

In London for 2 days and saw this on the first evening, which also happened to be Press Night. First half heavy going; second half, gripping. Great to see Martin Shaw and Jenny Seagrove "live" but disappointed in Jenny's character first half - she seemed very "wooden" and it was hard to believe in her character. That said, a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Great actors.

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