We take a look at what is being said about this stage adaptation of Philippa Gregory’s novel, delving into the world of Henry VIII’s court.
The Guardian: *** “The production’s musicality is another strength, with singing, lute playing and 16th-century dance woven around the drama, which feels almost Shakespearean. The relationship between sisters builds psychological intensity in the final hour, as they fight over their different concepts of power and agency. It is gripping, if late in the day.”
Portsmouth News.co.uk: “Well – there’s no-one in there that lets the side down – not a one; this is a strong, strong cast. That’s not to say any of the Boleyns (even Mary – though she comes closest) is likeable. Anne – as played by the splendid Freya Mavor – is an out-and-out brat; spoilt, demanding, selfish. Sister Mary – the wonderful Lucy Phelps – is the only one of them you’d want to spend social-time with; she’s the most human and caring of the lot and the only one who seems prepared to bond with someone for the sake of love. The sexually-ambivalent George Boleyn is played by the very effective James Corrigan; effective because he makes George likeable, so when the truth of the other aspect of his relationship with his sister Anne becomes clear you feel truly sickened.”
West End Best Friend: **** “The adaption is too long however. With a three-hour run time, there are definitely scenes that could be trimmed, and moments that could be finessed. However, it is an unquestionably beautiful production which is well executed and will be enjoyed by fans of the genre.”
The Telegraph: *** “Six the Musical this is not, but rather a bustling, serious production of the much-adapted novel about Anne’s lesser-known sister Mary.”
iNews: **** “Rarely has the transactional role of marriage or childbirth in these times been laid out more starkly than in Mike Poulton’s elegant adaptation.”
Sussex Express.co.uk: “Director Lucy Bailey shows the surest touch amid the mounting tension – though maybe just possibly the whole thing could have lost ten minutes or so somewhere down the line. But that’s a minor quibble on a night which promised so much and gave so much. I can’t remember the last time there was so much chatter around the first play of the season. Expectation was high. It has been amply rewarded. You sense a stunning summer ahead.”
Fringe Review.co.uk: “With Bailey, who can transform the Globe with the right designer (her magnificent Much Ado in 2022) or stark retelling in And Then There Were None with its sadistic consummation a few months ago, feelings are often pitched against spectacle, itself the oppressor. And Joanna Parker’s stunning set, aided by Dick Straker’s video design and the bewitching play of Chris Davey’s lighting, is breath-taking.”
There Ought to be Clowns: “The result is something that might seem safe but at the same time, feels archetypally Chichester. Elegant and stately rather than enthralling and startling, Lucy Bailey’s production looks highly striking in the space carved out by Joanna Parker’s hexagonal pit, on which a pleasingly hefty cast carry out their business of retelling selected chapters of Henry VIII’s sex life. Chris Davey’s lighting plays beautifully with the depth of the design too, picking out gorgeous tableaux upstage.”
Fairy Powered Productions: **** “The three lead actors are all exceptional in their roles. We feel both the close sibling bonds, and the competitiveness and jealousy which threatens to drive them apart. This production is unflinching, with Anne’s two miscarriages depicted on the stage, and the audience feels the desperation and vulnerability of these characters, so dependent on the whims of the King. Alex Kingston also stands out as their mother, Lady Elizbeth Boleyn. She depicts another woman doing her best to control the world around her. The juxtaposition between her version of motherhood and Mary’s is chilling but we can see both as victims in this ruthless Tudor Court.”
Susan Elkin.co.uk: **** “Given the compelling originality of Philippa Gregory’s 2001 novel, Mike Poulton’s track record as a playwright and Lucy Bailey’s directorial talent, I had high expectation of this show. And I wasn’t disappointed. It’s sumptuous.”
The Other Boleyn Girl continues to play at the Chichester Festival Theatre until the 11th May.