Find out what critics have had to say about the UK premiere of Bess Wohl’s play, starring Emily in Paris’s Lily Collins and Money Hesit’s Álvaro Morte.
The Guardian: ** “There is an ambitious attempt here to interweave how we find our bearings in family histories and global politics. But that balance, much like the bittersweet tone of Wohl’s elegiac drama, remains elusive in a production that carries its own what-might-have-been disappointment.”
iNews: ***** “This is a remarkable stage debut from Collins, conveying a fascinating blend of interlayered weakness and strength. Irene’s giddy gabbling covers – ever less expertly – deep whirlpools of uncertainty and Morte’s Manuel becomes impatient with the lies she is so obviously telling herself. Yet the self-deception is by no means all one way and the suave Spaniard is edged into a reckoning with his own past.”
Time Out: “Collins is bubbly and fluid, but she lacks the range or heft to wrangle any real pathos out of Irene’s (fairly banal) personal revelations. Morte is fine, but it feels beyond him to square the circle of Manuel being horny enough to bring Irene back, while concealing a hysterically emo secret that would surely keep him well out of ‘the mood’.”
The Standard: *** “Lynette Linton, soon to stand down as artistic director of the Bush Theatre, presumably leapt at the chance to helm a major commercial project that could turn a buzzy star into a stage actor. Her brisk, efficient production accentuates the play’s surface virtues and hurries you over the gaping cracks. There’s a physical confidence and looseness in the acting that only comes when performers trust a director.”
Theatre & Tonic: *** “With Morte never leaving the stage, and the play taking place in one scene, across one evening – it is an intimate affair from the very start. It is an interesting performance to be a part of, and many of the themes seem a little too large for the limited timeframe that they’re approached within.”
All That Dazzles: ***** “To say it took me by surprise would be an understatement, and the surprises kept coming throughout the speedy 90 minutes of the play. Absolutely phenomenal in every way, if you only see one play this year, make it Barcelona, but don’t leave it too long as once the wrecking ball hits, you’ll have missed your chance.”
Theatre Vibe: “In his stage debut in the UK, Àlvaro Morte has such an interesting and brooding stage presence. There are even moments when we feel that Irene might be taken advantage of in a deeply sinister way. I do hope that we may see more of him.”
Lost in Theatreland: *** “Most plays I see feel tense and heavy, so Barcelona was a welcome tonic, but there are tweaks to be made to make this a great play you’d happily return to see again. Barcelona doesn’t quite take your breath away, but is an enjoyable watch nonetheless.”
London Theatre 1: *** “It is funny, and if you want to sit back and enjoy a funny two-hander from a couple of charismatic actors, this play will do the job. As the two characters unravel, we learn that not all is as it seems, whose hen do is it? Who’s flat is this? Why does Manuel keep checking his watch? So if you choose to let this wash over you, it works well as a human intrigue piece. But just as with Wohl’s other, decidedly controversial play, Camp Siegfried, the darker, underlying themes are broad brush, and don’t have the grand conclusion you might be forgiven for expecting.”
The Reviews Hub: *** 1/2 “Barcelona is an intriguing show with two great leads; it just needs a bit more oomph leading into the latter half of the show to allow the tonal shift to impact as intended.”
The Spy in the Stalls: **** “The performances are exceptionally strong. Collins is impressive as the loose cannon, unpredictable and unsure of herself. Her innate paranoia and mistrust run deeper than the Rioja that she is knocking back. Clueless on the outside but clued up enough to sense that something is amiss. Morte gives a startlingly solid performance. Possessing a European no-nonsense savoir faire he appears carefree yet, when left alone for brief moments, his expressions betray a sinister danger. They are both their own wrecking balls and we wait for the self-destruction.”
The Telegraph: *** “The Emily in Paris star and Money Heist’s Álvaro Morte elevate a rather dated two-hander into something properly affecting.”
Broadway World: *** “At times, Barcelona is a funny and entertaining play. It fails to say anything particularly interesting or new, but strong performances from both actors will ensure that the fans camped outside will rush to buy a ticket.”
The Stage: ** “Lily Collins of Emily in Paris makes her West End debut in this contrived, cliché-littered play.”
West End Best Friend: ***** “Lily Collins and Álvaro Morte deliver standout performances that elevate Wohl’s writing, making Barcelona an unforgettable theatrical experience.”
London Theatre.co.uk: *** “Wohl’s play truly sings when she hits us with some big revelations and these two strangers are shown not to be so dissimilar after all — each struggling with their own demons, in need of another to show them the way out of the darkness.”
The Independent: ** “The star of ‘Emily in Paris’ makes her West End debut in a play about another American abroad – but its contrived plot means that this story of two unhappy strangers fails to make an emotional impact.”
Theatre South East: **** “Collins and Morte are strong characters throughout and hold the audience in rapt attention. Lily Collins’ stage debut is a success, she is vivacious and spirited but is equally able to show true vulnerability as her true feelings come to light. Morte is equally as captivating as he delineates Miguel’s personal demons as he slowly opens to Irene to finally reveal a shocking life changing secret.”
British Theatre Guide: “Barcelona isn’t as weighty a piece as it sets out to be, but it is both funny and a little bit creepy. The interaction of Collins and Morte makes their characters strangely believable, and Lily and Álvaro well earn the enthusiastic reception the audience give their West End debuts.”
For more information and to book tickets visit: https://barcelonatheplay.com/