Barking In Essex Reviews

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.

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