We take a look at what critics have been saying about Michael Longhurst’s revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s play…
WhatsOnstage: *** “Longhurst and designer Soutra Gilmour cleverly contrast the worlds; the imagined family are dressed in outrageous, bright costumes, while the real favour around in woollens and browns. The garden where the action is set comes to warm life under Lee Curran’s lighting whenever Susan is in her fantasy. It becomes dark and rain-filled as the action progresses, while Andrzej Goulding’s video designs blur, alter and distort, suggesting various stages of her mental state.”
The Guardian: *** “It is a play worth reviving too at a time when the real world looks so bleak. What is the alternative to facing up to it? Seeking recourse in fantasy, only to find that this is not a panacea but another version of the same nightmare of real life?”
The Telegraph: **** “A rake to the head opens the door to longing and psychological collapse in a West End revival of Woman in Mind.”
The Standard: *** “The play puts Susan through the physical and mental wringer and it works thanks to Smith. She has a uniquely vivid physical presence, and her emotions are shimmeringly close to the surface.”
Time Out: *** “But but but… it’s like watching somebody on a fairground ride. Yes, Smith gives it heart and soul, but it’s mostly about seeing Susan engulfed by the lurid artifice and emotional corkscrews of Ayckbourn’s stage directions. Watching Smith switch between families and moods is impressive and even thrilling, but the longer it went on the less I understood what point Ayckbourn was trying to make beyond a technical exercise.”
All That Dazzles: **** “Some may argue that Woman In Mind is dated in some regards, and in some ways, it very much is a product of its time. However, I could also argue the opposite. Much has changed in the decades since this play first premiered; however, with attitudes towards mental health thankfully changing significantly, with far more care and understanding for those affected. That means audiences today are likely to sympathise with Susan in a different way than they did in 1985, and, while there is no shortage of laughs to be found in this dark psychological comedy, they are never at the expense of Susan’s mental health struggles and never undermine the very real issue.”
British Theatre Guide: “This revival of Woman in Mind has the feel of an out-of-town production whistled up to fill the West End theatre where it made its London debut, unexpectedly deserted at short notice by its previous incumbent, Piaf. Its primary appeal will be to Ayckbourn completists, although those interested in psychological trauma in the affluent echelons of contemporary society might also consider a visit.”
The Reviews Hub: *** “There are some really strong ideas in Longhurst’s production, which tours to Sunderland and Glasgow following its West End run, and although Susan is never quite as sympathetic as perhaps her creator intends – here a little callous, often dismissive rather than ground down – Smith’s control of Susan’s changing states through the play is well considered.”
To book tickets for the London run click here.