Discover how critics have been reacting to the UK premiere of Michael McKeever’s play, running at the theatre until the 10th January 20206.
London Theatre Reviews.co.uk: “This is not just a play about gay marriage; it is a universal story about the consequences of our beliefs. It is a play that will make you laugh, cry, and most importantly, think. It lingers in your mind long after you leave the theatre.”
The Standard: “The four male actors do well enough with the shiny, thin stereotypes they’ve been given: indeed Gohara impresses most by making the least well-fleshed character believable and sympathetic. Sadovy, always reliable, brings all the stern conviction she can muster to the role of Lydia.”
WhatsOnStage: “McKeever’s script is the production’s greatest strength. What starts as laugh-out-loud parlour comedy subtly shifts tone as events and personalities unfurl. In a world where fundamental rights aren’t always so fundamental, the play asks uncomfortable questions about love, commitment, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for those we claim to cherish most.”
Theatre & Tonic: “Gohara is a delight when he is on stage, a tender and caring character with a few laugh out loud moments. Badella is your cliché older gentleman with lots of money and a penchant for younger men; he starts off as a more comic character, and we see his talent shine through and the show goes on. Sadovy plays Lydia well – sour in parts, hilarious in others. I found myself with such a divided opinion on the character and her actions.”
All That Dazzles: “A cast of five delivers equally outstanding performances in what is the best ensemble work I have seen in any play this year. Joel Harper-Jackson takes on the role of Daniel in a sensationally well-rounded portrayal full of light and shade. Initially charming, moments of anger creep into the performance, with Harper-Jackson demonstrating his remarkable talents as an actor in a demanding yet always exceptional performance.”
London Theatre 1: “A modern fable about the dangers of procrastination, there’s much food for thought in this intense and compelling production.”
The Stage: “Drama tackles big questions about love, equality, illness and the law.”
Broadway World: “Beneath the veneer of this stylish production is the thoughtfulness and subtlety that the ongoing debate about the place of marriage in the LGBTQ+ community deserves. However, in its attempts to make not wanting to get married into a kind of tragic flaw, Daniel’s Husband has wound up contradicting and simplifying its own messages.”
Theatre Weekly: “Daniel’s Husband is not an easy watch. It is devastating and deeply moving, yet it remains a celebration of love in all its fragility. This is a profoundly affecting piece of contemporary theatre, rich in emotional depth and moral complexity and could sit shoulder to shoulder with any classic in the West End.”
The Reviews Hub: “Daniel’s Husband offers 90 minutes of quality, thought-provoking theatre, and McKeever reaffirms his growing reputation as a writer of significance.”
First Night Magazine: “Alan Souza’s direction generally works well. The scenes transition fluidly in a mix of theatrical and cinematic languages, and the acting remains naturalistic regardless of the emotional cargo.”
To book tickets visit: https://www.marylebonetheatre.com/productions/daniels-husband