Kim Cattrall may have dropped out due to doctors orders days before the show opened at the Royal Court Theatre – but the show had to go on, so what did the critics make of it?
The Financial Times: **** Sarah Hemming said: “this is a wise, true and necessary play.”
London Theatre 1:**** Terry Eastham felt that: “Linda is a thoroughly great production. Excellent writing, brilliantly staged and superbly performed.”
The Stage: **** Natasha Tripney summed the production up by saying: “it has a storm in its mouth, anger in its heart and a role of magnitude at its centre, and Dumezweni owns it.”
The Telegraph: ***** Dominic Cavendish commented that the production is: “directed with considerable flair by Michael Longhurst and winningly acted across the board. ”
The Guardian: *** Michael Billington said: “while Skinner makes any number of telling points about the plight of the mature woman, her play lapses into melodrama.”
The Evening Standard: **** Henry Hitchings commented that: “It’s a draft away from being completely convincing, but for Dumezweni it looks like a triumph.”
Whatsonstage: *** Michael Coveney said: “Dumezweni makes most of her scenes work through pluck and naked technique. Respect, indeed.”
The Daily Mail: **** Patrick Marmion summed the production up saying: “Michael Longhurst’s production is to be warmly welcomed for daring to put a funny, feisty, flawed middle-aged woman on stage in the shape of the subtle yet forceful Dumezweni.”
The Reviews Hub: **** Andrew Moseley praised the new leading lady’s performance: “Dumezweni is already delivering a commanding performance suggesting that audiences later in the run will be in for a real treat.”
Linda is on at the Royal Court Theatre until the 9th January. For more information and to book tickets visit: http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/linda .