This hard hitting play about FGM in Britain, revealing the price that some girls have to pay to become a woman written by Charlene James and directed by Gbolahan Obisesan is on at the Young Vic for a short run – but what have critics thought of it?
The Independent: **** Paul Taylor commented that: “Charlene James writes with great power and sensitivity about the trauma of female genital mutilation.”
The Guardian: **** Lyn Gardner found: “Gbolahan Obisesan’s production, played out on Joanna Scotcher’s concrete wasteland design, is admirably restrained until its final harrowing minutes and devastating concluding image.”
The Times: **** Sam Marlowe wrote: “Charlene James’s play is an unblinking, devastatingly powerful indictment of female genital mutilation.”
The Stage: **** Julia Rank wrote: “The compassion with which James draws both girls brings out two deeply affecting performances.”
The Reviews Hub: **** Stephen Bates summed the production up by saying: “a gripping plot develops and the tone changes, allowing writer and director to ratchet up the tension to the level of a suspense thriller.”
A Younger Theatre: “Adedayo and Habte are enchanting to watch. They listen to one another, respond and tell the story effectively, which leaves the audience hanging on the edge of their words.”
The Upcoming: **** “A devastating eye-opener.”
South London Press: ***** “Adelayo Adedayo as Muna and Tsion Habte as Iqra are superb in this gripping piece of theatre.”
Time Out: **** Alice Saville wrote: “what’s so exciting about this piece is its lean, taut narrative.”
The Financial Times: **** Sarah Hemming said: “It’s a heartbreaking, harrowing and rightly furious play, drawing attention to an urgent issue.”
British Theatre Guide: “By the end of the show, it is a range of mixed emotions, between shock, disgust, and infinite sadness that moves us to open our eyes on a reality that is much closer than we might have ever thought.”
There Ought to be Clowns: “I don’t think I can really do the play much more justice than to say that you absolutely must go and see it.”
Evening Standard:***** Fiona Mountford said: “Let’s hope that this superlative show makes an impact where it’s needed most.”
Cuttin’ It plays at the Young Vic Theatre until the 11th June. For more information and to book tickets visit: http://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/cuttin-it.