We round up the reviews for Iqbal Khan’s production, playing in London until the 21st June, before heading to Birmingham Rep from 25th June to 5th July.
WhatsOnStage: **** “Marriage Material is a play that tackles big themes with a big heart and despite the second half lacking the tightness of the first, it’s a necessary and uplifting production that leaves plenty of food for thought. It’s apt that this will be transferring to the Birmingham Rep, but it’s refreshing seeing regional stories on a London stage.”
The Standard: **** “The family dynamics and revelations in the second half are less convincing, some characterisations more strained. But this is offset by Landa’s Kamaljit coming triumphantly into her own and the flowering of Malik’s Ranjit and Dodwell’s Claire. The devastating witticisms also come thicker and faster.”
The Guardian: *** “It does exude a warm energy in its more successful first act and there is lovely evocation of time and place through music, from the dhols of Arjan’s grandparents’ generation to period pop (Sugar, Honey, Honey, etc). This cannot make up for the holes in its drama, which skates too lightly across all the surfaces and never quite forms a centre.”
The FT: *** “The problems of compression, and of the differing narrative demands of prose and drama, hold it back. But this is still a timely and entertaining piece that ends on a note of hope.”
London Theatre.co.uk: **** “Despite requiring some tightening, Marriage Material is a poignant and hugely entertaining exploration of duty versus freedom.”
Time Out: *** “In charting the personal alongside the political, Kaur Bhatti honours both the humour and weight or Sanghera’s original; it is a resonant night if not a perfect one.”
All That Dazzles: **** “How do you distil five decades of family, trauma, tradition, and love into a single evening of theatre? With a long run time, a lot of heart, and a generous helping of intergenerational drama, Marriage Material gives it a more-than-worthy shot.”
The Reviews Hub: *** “Arjan’s (Jaz Singh Deol) dilemmas about whether he has leaned too much into his British identity are important but the play sells its main characters short by not spending the second act contrasting the lives they have made for themselves and ultimately what their separate and shared cultural identity means in twenty-first-century Britain.”
Theatre & Tonic: *** 1/2 “Iqbal Khan also makes sure to inject truth into his direction. It had a real ‘kitchen sink drama’ feel to it. Raw and honest work. The actors also made sure to play the realism element to make sure everything feels cohesive.”
Broadway World: *** “Pulling off a heartfelt family epic isn’t easy with numerous characters spread over the years. Marriage Material could benefit from some editing before the interval and more explanations and tying up of ends in the second half. There’s heart here – but I would like it to beat stronger and louder.”
West End Best Friend: *** “The show often touches on larger themes from Enoch Powell and the Wolverhampton riots to female foeticide and the value placed on sons over daughters. Given everything going on politically, from culture wars to immigration debates, the play definitely lands at the right time, even if it doesn’t always go as deep as it could. A final celebratory dance sequence tries to wrap everything up neatly, but it feels too tidy for a story this layered.”
The Stage: *** “Uneven adaptation of Sathnam Sanghera’s novel about the immigrant experience in Britain.”
North West End UK: **** “Told with wit and a great deal of heart, the subject of a changing society and a culture that is slowly adapting to a more modern way of life, is obviously a serious one. Bhatti doesn’t duck the impact of racism, or that even a well-educated family member can also adopt racist ideas when he dates a white woman. “
London Theatre 1: **** “Given the relatively serious nature of the story, there was a surprising amount of humour, though this clearly isn’t a show for the easily offended. These are deeply human characters – not a caricature or a stereotype to be seen. Much food for thought in this heartfelt and brutally honest play.”
To book tickets visit: https://lyric.co.uk/shows/marriage-material/