We round up the reviews for this revival of Peter Quilter’s play, running at the theatre until the 21st June.
Broadway World: “The work is undoubtedly at home in Walthamstow: the original architecture of the venue hugs Jasmine Swan’s set design tenderly. The opulence of the proscenium encases the white pleated stage, while a piano sits in the centre. A curtain hides a stunning jazz band away for much of the time. It looks incredible. In the same way that Garland was chewed up and spat back out by Hollywood, it’s a shame that the profundity of the story is swallowed whole by its accidental comedy.”
Everything Theatre: “End of the Rainbow is an excellent production made exceptional by the talent of Jinkx Monsoon. She utterly owns the part, drawing on dire personal experience and stretching her skills to create a thing of hope that ultimately celebrates the enormous positivity Judy left in the world.”
The Standard: “First the good news: drag queen and trans Broadway star Jinkx Monsoon has an astonishing voice, a huge presence and has got Judy Garland’s vocal and physical mannerisms down pat, in this revival of Peter Quilter’s play about the star’s infamous last London appearance, months before her death in June 1969. The bad news: her performance is over the top and indulgent, bordering on caricature. This Judy is a honking, bleary pastiche, from which triumphant renditions of Get Happy and Over the Rainbow emerge.”
Theatre & Tonic: “Monsoon’s portrayal of Judy is exquisitely detailed. Most of the time she speaks slowly and softly, but the moment Judy becomes emotional, words pour out of her in frantic torrents, as though her nerves are perpetually stretched to breaking point. The way she walks and places her hands on her hips is very distinctive, and I found myself noticing her habitual gestures of touching her cheek, adjusting her earrings, and anxiously fiddling with her fingers.”
A Young(ish) Perspective: “End of the Rainbow is a masterclass in theatrical energy, beautifully balancing the ebbs and flows of comedy and gripping drama. Packed with sensational vocals, top-tier acting, and a palpable heartbeat, the evening feels less like a standard night at the theatre and more like a genuine moment in entertainment history.”
The Guardian: “It’s tremendous casting which also honours Garland’s status as a queer icon, which is underlined in the script by Anthony’s earnest appreciation and Mickey’s homophobic contempt. Though Filipe is touching, both of the characters remain too functional, teeing up her anecdotes, and the hotel scenes grow grindingly repetitive and exasperating, although that’s the authentic terrain of addiction.”
All That Dazzles: “End Of The Rainbow is more than just a fitting tribute to her; it speaks for any person we hold dear, be that friend, family, or indeed, gay icon. The authenticity and sensitivity that have been crafted in Peter Quilter’s original writing have been extended through Rupert Hands’ direction.”
WhatsOnStage: “Nick Barstow’s band is terrific, and Tony Gayle’s sound design and Prema Mehta’s lighting make a decent job of differentiating between on- and off-stage despite the misconceived set. Quilter’s script remains a bit of a mixed bag, suspended halfway between hagiography and a genuinely searing examination of the tawdry underbelly of fame, but there’s some real, potty-mouthed wit in there. It doesn’t attempt to soft soap Garland’s well-documented addiction problems, but the slurred temper tantrums become a bit repetitive.”
The Stage: “Jinkx Monsoon triumphs as Judy Garland in an uneven production.”
London Theatre.co.uk: “This portrait of an icon undone by fame and the selfish motivations of those around her has chilling relevance for women who are let down by the entertainment business today. There is little salve at the play’s end, as the loyal Anthony narrates the events of Judy’s tragic final days. Yet, when Monsoon returns to the stage one last time to sing the title number, dressed in one of Swan’s resplendent gowns, it is a reminder that her powerful voice lives on.”
To book tickets visit: https://sohotheatre.com/events/jinkx-monsoon-as-judy-garland-in-end-of-the-rainbow/