Dundee Rep and National Theatre of Scotland are taking the 5 star award winning Peer Gynt to the Barbican, opening on the 30th April. Then it is coming back to Scotland for a short tour. We are planning to see it again – in Glasgow this time.
But the Barbican is a huge stage, and given that this performance started outrageously in the street outside Dundee Rep in the original run, I can’t help but wonder what they will do in London.
It is always interesting to see how a show given almost universal 5 star acclaim in Scotland will fare in the South. Success in Scotland is not always mirrored. But I do wish it well.
I’ll be very interested to see what you have to say when you see it again in Glasgow (rather you than me though). You’ll be able to give an insight into whether the poor reviews it’s receiving down south are due to a significant difference of opinion between the critics north and south of the border or if the production isn’t as good this time round.
I’d never wish a production ill (well maybe Forced Entertainment’s “Spectacular”) but I’ll admit that part of me was hoping at least some of the London critics might find their views more in line with my own. But having read some of them I’m now left feeling rather sorry for a production that seems to be getting a bit of a kicking.
For me, the show was nothing special and the 5 star reviews up here left me genuinely puzzled, but even I think the 2 star reviews from the Times and the Telegraph are pretty harsh.
The Guardian liked it and gave it 4 stars, which I think is probably where it should be. It is an ambitious production with a big cast, and it takes risks – and gets away with a lot.
Looking around the blogs, reception is fairly mixed, but in general they liked it better than the Times did. One blogger thought that Peer’s reindeer story was the best thing ever (and I agree with him), but was not impressed by the rest.
I went and found the script, and it does bring back the really foul language, but the amusing moments as well. I am looking forward to seeing it again, and will review it here.
Look forward to reading your review! There was an interesting split among the London reviewers – along class lines, mostly (arguably), rather than artistic ones.