This world premiere production starring Laurence Fox and Tom Conti is a story of two men who are like father and son – but on two opposing sides during World War II.
The Guardian: *** Michael Billington found that: “I learned much from the play, but it’s difficult to create an epic for two characters.”
The Stage: ** Chris Bennion wasn’t impressed calling it: “an uninspiring and often self-indulgent piece of writing.”
Evening Standard: ** Fiona Mountford wrote that it: “should have been emotive and gripping, but unfortunately it is neither of these things.”
The Telegraph: **** Claire Allfree was more enthusiastic commenting that: “If the plotting is occasionally methodical, it’s leavened by a deepening sense of the catastrophic personal and philosophical tensions between its two lead protagonists.”
The Reviews Hub: **** (and a half) James Bartholomeusz thought that: “Tom Conti and Laurence Fox exude a rapport.”
WhatsOnStage: ** Daisy Bowie-Sell said: “It’s so unbalanced that neither of its two leads know quite what to do with it.”
The Upcoming: ****Jim Compton-Hall summed it up as: “a wonderful, absorbing story with historical significance and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.”
The Daily Mail: ***** Quentin Letts wrote: “Here is a play that is scintillatingly topical, beautifully written and magnificently acted.”
Time Out: *** Tom Wicker had mixed opinions: “This production has raggedy edges, but from Britain’s exploitation of displaced French citizens during World War II, to de Gaulle’s ideological clash with Pétain – whose professed allegiance, here, is to the preservation of France as country not national myth – it tells an engrossing story.”
London Theatre 1: **** Liz Dyer stated that: “Jonathan Lynn has produced a fascinating, entertaining and thought-provoking account of one of the 21st century’s most momentous political decisions, and the little known human story behind it.”
Londonist: ***Lettie McKie thought: “Although lacklustre in places it gives a flavour of the real life personalities of two powerful military minds.”
West End Wilma: **** “This highly polished and impressive play has all the shine of a ceremonial uniform.”
Theatre Bubble: *** Fergus Morgan said: “The Patriotic Traitor plays around with some important questions about national pride, and confronts the issue of collaboration – still so sensitive in France – head on.”
Broadway World.com: Tom Cox summed the production up by saying that the play has: “A relevant argument, but in this instance, I’m not sure we cared.”
British Theatre Guide: Philip Fisher wrote: “The Patriotic Traitor has its moments of humour but is largely a dry historical piece that attempts to take viewers into the psyches of two French leaders and only partially succeeds.”
Blouin Art Info: ****Mark Beech felt that: “This play is made for a West End transfer.”
The Patriotic Traitor plays at the Park Theatre until the 19th March. For more information and to book tickets visit: https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/the-patriotic-traitor.