We round up the reviews for Simon Stone’s production, playing at the Bridge Theatre until the 8th November.
The Guardian: **** “Stone blends psychological intensity with overblown angst and amped-up humour. Where that mix of the comic, domestic and tragic grated in his recent Phaedra, here the ridiculously OTT family rows offset the razor-sharp tension of Vikander and Lincoln’s deeply felt performances. Vikander does not pull back from her character’s exposure while Lincoln is a pained alpha male forced to cede control and made vulnerable.”
Time Out: *** “Stone’s Lady from the Sea is a tonally uneven play with a weird relationship with the source material and plenty of moments of pure indulgence. But here’s the thing: when it’s serious, it’s very good. And when it’s silly it remains maddeningly entertaining.”
All That Dazzles: ** “As a play, The Lady From The Sea is a confusing and ultimately frustrating piece. Stone’s choices may have made sense to him, but to me, I was at a complete loss as to why this story was told in this particular way. Subpar writing and often aimless direction put some huge stumbling blocks in the way and, despite the best efforts from the talented cast, these were impossible to overcome.”
WhatsOnStage: **** “It is a hugely enjoyable evening, full of insight and provocation. If it isn’t quite as revealing as the best of Stone’s work, it’s only because he has set himself a very high bar.”
London Theatre.co.uk: *** “Stone’s overly long Act II could definitely benefit from a dramaturgical cut, with so many competing ideas and characters fighting for centre stage, but his work remains, as ever, ambitious and thought-provoking in how it takes old texts and turns them into something new.”
Everything Theatre: *** “As you would expect with this cast, there are strong performances all round, with Gracie Oddie–James and Isobel Akuwudike as sassy daughters Asa (Oddie-James) and Hilda (Akuwudike) stealing every scene they are in.”
Theatre & Tonic: **** “This is an excellent revival of The Lady from the Sea which significantly deepens the characters and has been brilliantly modernised for modern life. The cast are truly excellent and the plot is one to ponder how we react to trauma and how it impacts our future. If you enjoy biting comic drama filled with memorable lines and profound spirit then this is the show for you.”
The Standard: **** “This is a dense, emotionally intense and often hilarious three hours – and god knows, belly laughs aren’t common with Ibsen – marred by a certain glibness.”
The Independent: ** “Although playwright Simon Stone’s dialogue is almost aggressively 21st century, he doesn’t seem especially interested in the contemporary themes the production gestures to.”
The Stage: “Powerful central performances from Alicia Vikander and Andrew Lincoln propel this stylish reworking of Ibsen’s drama of obligation, family and personal freedom.”
London Theatre Reviews: *** 1/2 “At just over three hours, the evening can feel heavy, especially as the second half slows and new revelations pile up. Still, Stone’s vision is ambitious and thought-provoking, and the production leaves plenty to discuss afterwards. With striking visuals and strong performances, this Lady from the Sea is a memorable — if sometimes overwhelming — night at the theatre.”
West End Best Friend: **** “Although Stone’s modernisation and his delivery of character backstory are occasionally a little clunky, The Lady From The Sea is a bold adaptation successfully designed to spark new conversation around a traditional classic.”
British Theatre Guide: “Stone, who has great form in adapting classics for the stage, has maybe over-thought and over-wrought Ibsen’s play. Maybe he should have made A Lady from the Sea into a film. Stefan Gregory’s score is cinematic.”
Theatre Cat: “incoln is superb when given a chance to go spectacularly nuts, Alwyn is peculiarly likeable and the teens – Oddie-James and Isobel Akuwudike – are terrific: at first infuriating but finally the source of those devastating young wisdoms we all encounter in times of adult chaos.”
The Lady from the Sea is booking at the Bridge Theatre until the 8th November.