We take a look at what is being said about this revival of Joe Orton’s play, continuing to plat at the Young Vic Theatre until the 8th November.
The Stage: ** “Jordan Stephens of Rizzle Kicks struggles to find his feet in a tonally muddled take on Orton’s black comedy.”
West End Best Friend: **** “The Young Vic production of Entertaining Mr Sloane is an excellent opening to the new season and a fascinating re-examination of a troubling yet unforgettable play that is understood anew through a contemporary lens.”
A Young(ish) Persepctive: **** “Entertaining Mr Sloane is certainly an ‘audacious play’ and is presented beautifully by the Young Vic. As Fall perfectly encapsulates in her foreword, ‘underneath the charade of manners and society, we all have the same desires, vulnerabilities and venom running through our veins’, and this play follows this sentiment completely. “
London Theatre.co.uk: **** “Fall lets the text fall where it will, all the while charting a keen-eyed path through period material, pointing up affinities here and there to the present. “Prepare to raise your eyebrows,” Ed tells Sloane when reporting news of Kath’s onetime child. That’s good advice for an eye-popping production that brings this vaunted bad boy of the London stage back home.”
The Guardian: **** “This rancorous biological family (with Christopher Fairbank’s querulous old Dadda, like an unkempt gerbil) conceals a sump of misery, especially for Kath, whom Outhwaite makes at once ditsy and shrewd. Daniel Cerqueira’s Ed, a lubricious tongue poking between his teeth, is all bite and bluster: “Your youth pleads for leniency and by God I’m going to give it.””
WhatsOnStage: *** “The cast combines well, including Stephens, who gives an accomplished stage acting debut. Although he could dial up the menacing aspects of the character – he never quite convinces as a man capable of killing – he has an enjoyably understated comic delivery and successfully hints at the boyish vulnerability underneath Sloane’s leather-clad exterior. Outhwaite meanwhile embodies the louche lustiness of Kath, whose air of cornered desperation is reminiscent of Mike Leigh’s Bev, and nicely contrasts with the besuited, chain-smoking Cerqueira and Steptoe-ish Fairbank. All told, it’s an enjoyable, if concurrently rather cautious, kick off for the Fall regime.”
The Telegraph: **** “It has been 61 years since Entertaining Mr Sloane made its debut, but its timeless wit has been faithfully reproduced at the Young Vic.”
All That Dazzles: **** “The standout performance undoubtedly belongs to Tamzin Outhwaite in her turn as Kath. Capturing the character’s desperate need for affection with both sadness and humour, she portrays her flirtatious acts with hints of deeper emotional damage, and performs the role’s comedic beats with immaculate timing – all thewhile grounding the character in an obvious sense of loneliness.”
First Night Magazine: *** “With an engaging first half but losing a lot of momentum for the remainder of the show, the Young Vic’s latest revival of Entertaining Mr. Sloane preserves part of the piece’s blunt freshness, but some plain deliveries and confusing additions blur the droll sharpness that made it memorable in the first place.”
Time Out: “My best guess as to why Fall has taken such a dreary approach to a farce that once ripped a hole in the moral fabric of post-war Britain is that she has sought to nullify Orton’s more questionable humour. But… it’s a comedy! That’s just what it is! It’s painful hearing punchline after punchline not treated as such. And it all feels so un-outrageous: Britain has become exponentially more liberal since Mr Sloane premiered, but I’m not sure the answer is to tame the whole thing down and not even bother trying to provoke us at all.”
The Upcoming: **** “There’s much to like in Entertaining Mr Sloane – its exploration of the power of sexuality and violence remains as blatantly urgent now as it was in 1964, earning this production an easy recommendation.”
Theatre Weekly: **** “This revival proves that Entertaining Mr Sloane still has the power to disturb and delight. A gripping, provocative revival that crackles with dark humour and unsettling charm, Nadia Fall presents us with a reminder of Orton’s genius and the enduring relevance of his work.”
Stage to Page: “This really is a bleak, black comedy but more than worthy of a watch. Wickedly funny with a pacing that’ll keep audience members engaged.”
Broadway World: ** “For all its flaws, Entertaining Mr Sloane is, well, entertaining. The tried-and-tested jokes get plenty of chuckles, it’s visually impressive, and the story’s pacing means it keeps the audience on board throughout. For those with a love of classic plays or farce, there’s plenty to enjoy. As a season opener in 2025 though? It leaves a lot to be desired.”
Theatre & Tonic: **** “The direction and performances infuse the text with life and laughs, and propagate dark undertones like rumbling thunder. The rich themes, constant flips in alliances, and layers of dialogue, so deftly played, make for an utterly enthralling experience.”
The Reviews Hub: ** 1/2 “Daniel Cerqueira and Christopher Fairbank offer solid support as Eddie and the Steptoe-like Kemp, but this is Outhwaite’s play, utterly terrifying as she scrabbles on the floor to retrieve her dentures.”
To book tickets visit: https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/entertaining-mr-sloane