We take a look at what is being said about the English language premiere of the musical, playing at the Charing Cross Theatre until the 28th July.
The Guardian: ** ” What is dealt with well is the commercial impact of their discovery. A radium factory is opened and, when its workers start dying, the Curies must grapple with the realisation that their element can do ill as well as good – and with the ethics of conducting research in light of this. But the show cuts back to schmaltz and an artificially upbeat end rather than staying with the discomfort of this dilemma. The sexism that Curie faced in her lifetime is also a touchpoint rather than anything deeper.”
WhatsOnStage: *** “Worthy and engaging as Marie Curie is, it could use a couple of haunting tunes, and while it never descends to the risible, there’s little to make it really stand out from a plethora of musicals on sombre themes. As it stands, it’s a handsome piece of theatre lacking a sense of true individuality, but one that propounds its feminist themes most persuasively.”
West End Best Friend: *** “Marie Curie has the potential to be a standout production with its strong performances, and its atmospheric set and lighting design make it a joy to watch. However, there are too many other elements that hold it back from reaching its full potential. With some refinements in these areas, it could become a truly remarkable – and important – piece of theatre.”
Theatre & Tonic: *** “It’s a small cast, but the talent is huge. Ailsa Davidson is excellent as Marie, bringing her determination, stubbornness and drive to succeed to life in her performance. Chrissie Bhima as Anne Kowalska is definitely one to watch; her voice is tremendous and it’s clear she feels every emotion along with her character. The ensemble is made up of a talented group of actors and Maya Kristal Tenenbaum portrays Emilia with real depth and feeling.”
Lou Reviews: *** 1/2 “This is the battle of a woman scientist to make a difference, and Curie is the perfect subject to bring to the stage.”
London Theatre 1: **** “Overall, this was a convincing and compelling production, providing enough detail on Marie Curie’s achievements without getting bogged down in the finer scientific details of her work.”
Lost in Theatreland: *** “Another great triumph of the show that can not go unnoticed is the casting. It is always a pleasure to witness Chrissie Bhima’s wonderful expressiveness and physical acting. Richard Meek is a refreshing antihero: imposing and ruthless, but authoritative and multidimensional in his own way. Thomas Josling’s introverted Pierre Curie is a solid support to Ailsa Davidson’s more impulsive, workaholic Marie Curie, whose performance left me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, so delighted I was to be witnessing the rise of a superstar.”
Broadway World: ** “Formulaic at best and stodgy at worst, the production pairs an uber-talented company with considerably average material. Ailsa Davidson is a star in the making, delivering a woman who’s consumed by her work, fired up by pride and a burning desire to leave her mark. Her supporting cast is equally impressive, with Chrissie Bhima soaring as Marie’s friend, Anne.”
North West End.com: *** “In its quieter moments though the sincerity of its writers shines through and it is a shame that essential emotional moments such as the foundation of Marie’s friendship with Anne Kowalska (Chrissie Bhima) and her courtship with future husband Pierre Curie (Thomas Josling) are merely hinted at in introductory scenes but then relegated to montage (the Curies’ first kiss is separated from the birth of their daughter by a mere fraction of a second of mime) or simply implied by chronological reference in the case of Anne whose second scene with Marie comes with her apparently annual cake delivery. The neglect of these fundamental relationships in favour of the inclusion of multiple songs about the chemical element, radium, both illustrate and undermine the tragedy of Curie’s life.”
Adventures in Theatreland: “Marie Curie is a story that needs to be told, and this production has certainly done it well. It is a show more moving and chilling than words can do complete justice. From beginning to end you will be in a state of amazement, whether it’s inspiration or horror. Marie Curie takes you on an emotional journey like no other, one that will certainly not be forgotten any time soon.”
All That Dazzles: ** “Sarah Meadows’ direction is largely solid in terms of blocking and the pace of the work. Her actors move swiftly through and around Rose Montgomery’s impressive and malleable set with it always being clear where they are going and what qualifies as a change in locale. Try as she might, placing cast members atop the moveable staircase or framing them in the windows above, she is unfortunately unable to unearth any real depth in the characters beyond Marie, the material itself too sternly pushing against any attempts she may have made.”
The Reviews Hub: **** “This musical has an incredible amount of potential and will surely attract audiences longing to gain better insight into the famous figure so many know, yet don’t truly understand.”
Musical Theatre Review: ** “Overall, though, this is a show which can’t make up its mind what it’s trying to do. Is it a Marie Curie biography to educate children and others – as the miserably clumsy list of her achievements at the end suggests? Is it a morality parable for our times about commericialistaion of dangerous substances – like tobacco, tartrazine or even fluoride?”
The Spy in the Stalls: *** “It is refreshing to see the story focus on a relatively short time span rather than attempting to create an epic chronicle of the woman’s life. It lends a human touch, steering the piece away from docudrama. Marie’s later years and achievements are glossed over during the finale. We might not learn a great deal that we already didn’t know but instead we are joyously swept along by Jongyoon Choi’s sumptuous score, rich in violins, cellos and clarinet. The music is the highlight, even though it often feels it belongs to another story. Choi’s compositions are indeed stirring, yet the lyrics and subject matter don’t always echo the passion.”
Theatre Weekly: *** “It’s a very enjoyable production, but it does always feel like it’s missing something, like an experiment where the results aren’t quite conclusive. Ultimately, we don’t learn anything new about Marie Curie, it’s a (very good) history lesson, but little more than that. It touches on the struggles Marie faced in science as a woman, but never offers any hope that things could one day be different.”
Fairy Powered Productions: *** “Marie Curie is a valuable history lesson, a confronting story of the human cost of medical advances which could lead to lively debate and, in my case, further research in my efforts to separate the scientific facts from the narrative fiction. Marie Curie changed the world and this musical celebrates that fact without diminishing the harsh realities, but I was strangely unmoved.”
To book tickets visit: https://charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/theatre/marie-curie