We take a look at what is being said about the European premiere Lynn Nottage’s play, directed by Lynette Linton.
Broadway World: ***** “There is something religious in that tangle of darkness, light and salvation. Linton slyly suggests some messianic motifs. Experimental sandwiches that the chefs prepare are bathed in angelic sheen for what seems to be a comic effect. But there is something deeper here, a celebration of food as that which can give us spiritual nourishment as well as physical. Whoever or wherever we are, nothing can unite us more than a good meal. Or a good play for that matter.”
Evening Standard: **** “Nottage is a writer bold enough to juggle profundity and absurdity, and Linton understands that balance perfectly. Together with this cast, they create an exuberantly vital atmosphere. It’s an ensemble piece, but Adékoluẹjo stands out.”
The Guardian: **** “With its tasty repartee and redemptive mouthfeel, Clyde’s may not be Nottage’s most profound play, but you see why it was America’s most-produced drama last season. Linton’s production, like Montrellous’s grilled cheese, lifts into the sublime.”
The Telegraph: **** “Lynn Nottage’s blisteringly funny play about a group of ex-convicts working in a truck stop diner will leave you drooling.”
WhatsOnStage: **** “The overall impression of Clyde’s is that of a humane genius manipulating a colourful gallery of lovingly drawn, sometimes outrageous characters through a battle of good versus evil. It meanders a bit, but it’s never dull. This is a vivid, life-enhancing play, full of heart, hope and humour, that suggests that whatever life throws at people, they can and will, if they cling on tenaciously enough, travel through to the next, better stage of human existence.”
The Arts Desk: **** “Chef dramas like The Bear and Boiling Point are now the plats du jour, using the joint efforts of a motley workforce as a metaphor for the possibility of social cohesion in the face of an intractable need to make money. Nottage’s play takes a softer approach, focusing more on individual development than the economics of the situation; perhaps she felt she had covered much of this ground in Sweat, a tougher piece about an imperilled rust-belt factory. But it’s a rollicking evening and a great showcase for Linton and her cast. Be sure to eat before you go.”
iNews: *** “Imperfect though Clyde’s is, her insights into marginalised lives are always to be welcomed. Let us hope that there will be a third trip to the Rust Belt, but that it will be executed better than this.”
The Stage: **** “A delicious cast adds zest and flavour to Lynn Nottage’s serious-minded comedy.”
Culture Whisper: ***** “Clyde’s is a thoroughly enjoyable piece of work: a socially aware play that raises important issues with a light touch, is riotously funny, peopled by characters you come to deeply care for, and is skilfully constructed to keep you hooked – all well served in the Donmar’s assured, intelligent production.”
Theatre Weekly: “Wrapping up everyone’s story so easily—except for, arguably, the play’s most interesting character, puts Linton and Bradshaw’s meticulous production design at odds with Nottage’s coddling script. Perhaps with twenty more minutes under its belt, Clyde’s would have explored its characters in more depth and with more grace, but ultimately, it is a joy to witness Nottage return to the West End. Her vision of friendship in the workplace, food as medicine, and the joys of found family prevail and, despite at times spoon-feeding its audience, Clyde’s is a joyful and lively feast for all. “
Clyde’s continues to play at the Donmar Warehouse until the 2nd December.