We take a look at what is being said about this revival of Philip Ridley’s play, running until the 4th October.
Broadway World: ***** “It’s a twisted play that requires its director to balance the horrific elements with genuine comedy. Max Harrison is more than up to the task, and I was able to quietly observe his reactions to his own work from two seats away. He should be very satisfied with the end result.”
WhatsOnStage: *** “Even Ridley’s script is witty and poetic; a brilliant character study. The problem is not the quality of the writing, but the content. Ultimately it feels like a young art student showing off, upsetting his audiences so he can say “see, the world is upsetting, I showed you that.””
The Reviews Hub: **** “The pursuit of what is real, what is true, what is safe, and what is scary runs vividly through this piece, resulting in a deeply unsettling and impactful watch. With a long list of content warnings, The Pitchfork Disney categorically is not for the fainthearted.”
Lost in Theatreland: **** “Gloriously incapable of the middle ground, Ridley’s grungy universe will provoke strong, extreme reactions in favour or displeasure, an unforgettable (and, frankly, exhausting) experience for good or bad. There will be those who champion and those who categorically reject. This is material for a selectively adventurous audience, and all the better for it.”
London Theatre 1: **** “One thing is certain: The Pitchfork Disney is not easily forgotten. It crawls under your skin, haunts your journey home, and lingers in unsettling fragments for days afterwards.”
All That Dazzles: **** “Harrison states that the show is one for now, that it is always a play for now, whenever now may be. I’m inclined to agree – so much of the narrative’s meaning, the characters’ motivations and guiding philosophies, is up for debate that The Pitchfork Disney truly can be, even should be, about whatever it is that you find the most uncomfortable, and which you are tying hardest to keep out of both your thoughts and your life.”
West End Wilma: ***** “The Pitchfork Disney is an incredibly powerful play. I don’t know if my interpretation of it was accurate but it was mine and that is the beauty of great writing like this – it allows the viewer to open their imagination and go on their own 90 minute journey.”
Theatre & Tonic: ***** “The bleak humour, ineffable dependencies between characters, and hauntingly tangible surrealism, echo the exceptional tragicomedy of Waiting for Godot and – like the best productions of Beckett’s masterpiece – this revival of The Pitchfork Disney makes for a chilling, magnetic evening of theatre. Don’t miss this delightfully dark, utterly unsettling piece, animated with startling ferocity, and terrifyingly relevant. “
The Stage: *** “Solid revival of Philip Ridley’s first play.”
Everything Theatre: **** “Max Harrison‘s direction is tight, matching Ridley’s gunfire dialogue and leaning into the unease between the characters, ratcheting up the tension bit by bit until it feels almost overwhelming. He handles this exceptionally well, leaving the audience unsettled throughout.”
ReviewsGate: **** “Costello’s performance as Presley grows as the play proceeds into something truly tragic and lost while Robinson as the object of desire Cosmo gets nastier by the moment with great skill. This superb revival is not a night in the theatre one will forget.”
North West End UK: ***** “Lidless Theatre does a remarkable job of letting the play speak for itself. An extraordinary piece of work about fear, trauma, sex and death that will have resonance for generations to come.”
The Spy in the Stalls: ***** “Max Harrison’s direction is fantastic. You can immediately tell the cast has been expertly drilled as the streams of words roll off the tongue in a heady, breathless flood.”
Theatre Weekly: ***** “Harrison’s direction is masterful, showing an unparalleled understanding of Ridley’s text. He leans into the play’s fragmented structure, allowing the monologues to unfold like fever dreams, while maintaining a taut sense of pacing and unease. The result is a production that is a fearless masterpiece that’s entirely uinique.”
To book tickets click here. You can also catch up with our interview with cast member Ned Costello here.