We round up the reviews for Dave Florez’s comedy which will run at the theatre until the 1st March.
The Guardian: *** “Snappily directed by Adam Meggido, the scenario is not exactly novel but is hugely amusing, and Florez has clear talent for zinging lines as Colin’s conscience catches up with him.”
All That Dazzles: **** “Florez’s writing allows for the many melodramatic, laugh-out-loud moments without sacrificing the fundamental humanness at the forefront of Colin’s actions, however absurd and ridiculous they may be. The script flows well, with an abundance of jokes and funny pieces of dialogue that work perfectly to enhance the script, rather than just being added for the sake of it.”
Islington Tribune: “I prefer comedy with edge, but it’s hard not to enjoy Florez’s good-natured farce, the slick performances, Sarah Perks’ impressive set – combining kitchen and sitting room – and Adam Meggido’s assured direction.”
Theatre & Tonic: ***** “It is not often I find a comedy laugh out loud funny but this is exactly what this was. It is the perfect remedy for the grey skies of winter. It is incredibly hard to cater to everyone’s taste but the whole room was positively beaming at the end of the show. This is one of those rare gems of a production where every piece falls into place to create magic.”
Theatre Vibe: “Adam Meggido’s careful direction is seamless. Laura Haddock is calming as Lisa, Alex Price’s Brian manages to put his foot in it and seasoned actor Nicholas Burns convinces in obsession. Dave Florez’s dialogue is delightful in this comedy of manners as Colin goes into meltdown. A plot device results in boxing moves after a suspect is found. The Gift is a light comedy which made me laugh. So for all those out there with a tendency towards anal retention, Enjoy!”
London Theatre.co.uk: *** “Dave Florez’s sparky if untidy three-hander The Gift, which folds the expected scatological jokes into a gathering enquiry into existential self-doubt. Jokes about “getting to the bottom” of so mysterious a gift morph across four acts (one interval) into an enquiry into “the godforsaken nothing-ness of it all”: Samuel Beckett, watch out!”
Everything Theatre: *** “I think I nearly smiled about half a dozen times in total. That’s not the fault of the cast, who try very hard indeed to find the comedy in Dave Florez’ script, and for many in the press night audience it clearly worked. Perhaps it played better in the Stalls than in the Circle where I was sat enjoying a bird’s eye view of the top of the actors’ heads, or perhaps it’s just a question of taste. “
WhatsOnStage: **** “The Gift is a brilliantly executed comedy and an opportunity for us to shake off those January blues, and revel in the silliness of Colin’s plight. A must-see!”
London Theatre 1: **** “The ‘gift’ of the play’s title turns out to be something not only unwanted and improper but it sets off an investigation into who sent it, and why. But because the possibilities are so vast, the investigation quickly spirals out of control. The performances, however, do not, and remain tight and controlled to the very end.”
City Am: *** “The show is unabashedly fun and silly, though it reaches for depth at moments. Male loneliness, the scourge of overthinking and the overriding question of what we should do with the past – accept it or reckon with it – are all gestured to.”
There Ought to be Clowns: “there’s committed performances from Nicholas Burns’ Colin, consumed by revisiting petty grievances from the past as his midlife crisis threatens to swallow him up, Laura Haddock’s Lisa, whose tolerance of all these shenanigans moves ever closer to the edge, and Alex Price’s wryly amused Brian, watching in slight disbelief from the sidelines. The extended gag about an email is very well done but this is mostly a gift you’ll want to return to sender.”
The Reviews Hub: “For brief spells, the three actors make their characters amiable and the play becomes bearable, but, repeatedly, The Gift invites comparisons with the contents of the cake box, an unwelcome gift indeed.”
Lou Reviews: **** “Sometimes, theatre can just capture the silly things we humans do and how we react to the strangest situations. We all know these characters in some form. That’s where The Gift worked for me.”
West End Best Friend: *** “Under its barrage of schoolyard humour, The Gift has moments of thoughtfulness.”
Theatre Weekly: **** “The Gift joyfully dissects the ridiculousness of family bonds with wit, heart, and a touch of farce.”
The Stage: ** “Turgid and unfocused comedy about the ways we respond to life’s nasty surprises.”
Jonathan Baz Reviews: ** “This is a clogged drama lasting for what feels like a very constipated two hours. Will leave you pooped.”
Broadway World: ** “It’s a shame that even those instances that should be comically grand ultimately fall flat, but it’s also difficult to pinpoint the reason they do. It’s not the gift it’s supposed to be. It’s innocuous and inoffensive, but also unexciting and very boring.”
British Theatre Guide: “Adam Meggido’s sprightly direction of the action leaves only just enough time to access tender moments, so the pacy comedy ball is never dropped, essential given that Colin’s later offstage behaviour reaches such extremes that in a parallel universe this would be a tragedy about him having a breakdown of some magnitude.”
To book tickets visit: https://parktheatre.co.uk/event/the-gift/