Middle (London) London Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (6)
See it if you like shows that have something to say,that explore relationships,that are real and touching and very well done.Great set, great staging.
Don't see it if you want a light frothy musical.There's humor here, but mainly it will make you think about your own relationship & how to keep them fresh.
See it if you want to see realistic spousal life. Endearing love & so much more, full of humour & heartache, hoping for healing & happiness.
Don't see it if you want to see busy, hectic.
See it if You want great writing and strong performances.
Don't see it if You like big plays with lots happening, this is very subtle
See it if Whether or not you've seen 'Begining', it's ' sort of' prequal. This is grown up contemporary human drama that is recognisably grounded
Don't see it if You are looking for a fast paced drama that has no connection to human perception and sensibilities.
See it if You want to see world class actors at the top of their game make you believe you are watching reality. Mesmerising, poignant and brilliant.
Don't see it if You want an old fashioned, lots-of-characters-on-stage, noisy, lavish costume and set. This is quietly, subtly masterful.
See it if You enjoyed Beginning.
Don't see it if You want to witness good acting.
Critic Reviews (10)
It comes down to the performances. Maggie detonates a bomb under the marriage in the first five minutes ... Rushbrook eloquently unpacks what brought the character to that point. Ryan’s Gary is sometimes oafish ... but more often a quietly poignant figure. Together they excavate a marital pit of regret.
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It is an arresting opening to a marital reckoning which is a confrontation with midlife itself. It feels like a true and tender representation of a marriage in its middle stages, a drama that is tepid at times, a little plodding and soft around the edges.
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While 'Middle' .... has the same interest in concentrated emotional interaction [as 'Beginning'], it didn’t resonate quite as deeply. Director Polly Findlay elicits finely calibrated performances.
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Sad to say, Middle ... [lapses] into dull, meandering exchanges which ... [only] prompted ripples of laughter. Eldridge hasn’t given [the characters] enough depth, and director Polly Findlay hasn’t found a way to make the marital duel convincing enough to hold our attention.
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The writing is at times wonderfully acute and funny ... But this recognisable honesty in the writing is undermined by odd notes of contrivance ... [it's] true to life, but not necessarily riveting drama.
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Though sincere, Eldridge’s portrait feels too conservative and inconsequential. It basically boils down to a white, straight couple with a conventional family life, who are grappling with problems that many viewers could only dream of.
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The ferociously low stakes rob the piece of any dramatic energy generated by the committed performances it showcases. Director Polly Findlay sets a plodding pace, lingering on long, sad silences and awkward flat beats.
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The representation of Gary the City boy feels too uneven – and often too humorous. This makes the 100-minute play too funny to be tragic, too erratic to be compelling and too uncertain to be truly raw. Despite this, however, Findlay’s production ... is for the most part lovingly detailed
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