We round up the reviews for Tracey Scott Wilson’s play, starring Letitia Wright.
The Guardian: “The decision to keep the drama in its original timeframe means there is no mention of social media or the internet – the prevailing means of news consumption today. So recurring scenes of reporters brandishing microphones and headline news projected on to the enormous backdrop of the Olivier auditorium feels old-school. Yet it keeps its relevance within this period setting; what emerges as the story beneath The Story now is not so much a revelation on the nature of news journalism, but a dual portrait of Black female ambition.”
WhatsOnStage: “In the end, it is Toussaint who holds it all together, fierce and unbending and heartbreakingly destroyed by sacrificing her principles in a world and in an industry that makes it very difficult to succeed.”
The Standard: “I suspect Clint Dyer would have preferred a smaller stage: the hectic action and snappy exchanges in his production are somewhat strung out on the daunting Olivier stage, but he orchestrates the overlapping scenes superbly. This is a big, bold, entertaining swing at major issues, led with considerable star power.”
London Unattached: “Wilson’s powerful storytelling raises important questions about whether institutions truly protect and support talented people from minority backgrounds. At its heart, The Story is as much about power as it is about journalism: who controls the narrative, whose version of events is believed, and what happens when ambition, race and institutional power collide. Although I was left questioning the play’s conclusion, it’s a compelling story, with great performances and a visually exciting production. Gripping, fast-paced and full of energy, you’re certainly unlikely to be bored.”
All That Dazzles: “There is a lot of potential to be found in The Story, and it is far from a bad show. It just isn’t quite there yet. Though the themes told throughout the play are urgent and important, the way they are conveyed feels unfinished and even rushed at times, leading to a confused and uneven execution.”
Time Out: “Still, it’s a big, brash thriller with some solid performances – particularly Toussaint’s Pat, though big-name Wright is good as the driven but awkward Yvonne. You may not find it plausible, but you won’t be bored.”
The Reviews Hub: “There are strong performances here from Letitia Wright as the determined, if never likeable Yvonne and especially from Lorraine Toussaint as Pat, Ashely Thomas as Neil and Aliyah Odoffin as source Latisha, But the scale of the Olivier drowns this series of intimate conversations; the momentum dissipates, and The Story ultimately forgets to answer its most important question – what has this all been about?”
British Theatre Guide: “There are all sorts of interesting and thoughtful possibilities in Tracey Scott Wilson’s play The Story, but very few of them are developed or explored in ways that give us a clear story, explore political issues or take some character on a believable journey.”
The Telegraph: ” On paper, The Story is a timely parable for our post-truth age, but it is overexposed and overblown in the Olivier Theatre.”
London Theatre 1: “While there are some intriguing and insightful remarks about the injustices faced by black people in American journalism as well as in wider society, the play takes too long to make the point, already known to the savvy and discerning, that mainstream media is not to be trusted.”
The Stage: “Dynamic revival of Tracey Scott Wilson’s overwrought 2003 newsroom drama.”
The Story continues to play at The National Theatre until the 24th October.