Wolf Hall Parts 1 and 2 NYC Reviews and Tickets

"It’s worth every minute...The Royal Shakespeare Company’s outstanding production does justice to the revered Hilary Mantel novels while also offering its own intriguing spin on the oft-retold historical drama...'Wolf Hall' is remarkably efficient in streamlining the Mantel novels down to their most exciting essence, making the play’s pace seem much swifter than six hours. The immensely talented actors manage to make every backroom deal, courtier spat, and royal tantrum fully enjoyable."
Read more

"Although full of intrigue and cruel twists of fate, 'Wolf Hall' is a stiff, step-by-step, plodding march through English history, leaving little space for character development. One-liners and broad jokes have been added in that inappropriately contradict the ominous tone. 'Wolf Hall' is incomplete as a narrative. Perhaps they should have waited for Mantel to finish all of her books before doing this onstage."
Read more

"'Wolf Hall' is a magnificent undertaking, as expansive as it is lean. It is history brought to pulsing, highly animated life...The play's creative team deserves high praise as we're left wanting more, even after nearly six hours covering some 1200 pages. We are only introduced to three of Henry's six wives in these plays. I cannot wait for this excellent troupe to bring up the other three!"
Read more

"This reworking is much less effective onstage than it was in the novel...Regardless, there is good reason to rejoice. The company assembled here is a joy to watch, and the number of riveting performances given in Wolf Hall is off the charts. The staging by Jeremy Herrin is exceptionally good...The excellent first part of Wolf Hall hurtles by; those attending a double performance should finish your meal with a strong cup of coffee before you head back to the theatre for round two."
Read more

"Poulton has packed as many incidents from the novels as possible into his adaptations, compressing the events into an accessible narrative that moves rapidly yet keeps you involved in what could easily be a confusing mélange of characters and events...Sitting through these event-filled plays over the course of a long day can be a bit of a slog. But when it’s over, you’ll remember them for their high-quality theatrics, and their ability to make history (fictionalized as it may be) both real and relevant."
Read more

"I realized that Part 1 was a shocking experience for me. But what shocked me was how dull I found it. After 30 scenes over nearly three hours, with the 23-member cast portraying some 40 characters who mostly just talk a lot, I was longing for a beheading or two...I found Part 2 only minimally more satisfying...There is no substitute for sharing the same air with a company of capable actors. But some adaptations simply work better than others."
Read more

"These are flexible, actable, entertaining and serious plays, almost always very smart, hardly ever simply worthy. Jeremy Herrin keeps the action coming fast. The acting is lithe and purposeful...I suspect nearly all of us will be back in these seats in a few years time, eager to see – 500-year-old spoiler alert – the bloody conclusion."
Read more

"Well worth the six-hour investment...The swirl of characters and incidents is so intense that watching 'Wolf Hall' turns theatergoing into grandiose scorekeeping...That shift of power from Henry to Cromwell is when 'Wolf Hall' genuinely begins to fascinate, and it continues to fascinate well into 'Bring Up the Bodies'...in this age of 90-minute two-handers, who can complain about watching 23 talented actors being expertly traffic-directed?"
Read more