Bleak Expectations (West End) London Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (71)
See it if you want to see 'Harrumble' reinstated as a thing... Or enjoy Dickens and Victorian satires with a narrator and swans! or love a belly laugh
Don't see it if Anthony Head is the only disguised evil villain (Mr Gently Benevolent) for you, you hate ridiculous comedy names or jokes about ironing...
See it if you want to have fun time. Mashed up Dickens in farce style. Witty wordy lines acted perfectly. You’ll love it.
Don't see it if you don’t like comedy or you don’t like any of Dickens. Also may not so hilarious to those who don’t know anything about Dickens.
See it if You enjoy comedy and some ridiculous food spirited fun
Don't see it if If you are looking to watch a serious show
See it if you love British farce or comedy like play that goes wrong
Don't see it if your expecting something similar to great expectations
See it if You enjoy seeing Dickens sent up in clever ways with only cursory attention to post colonialism.
Don't see it if You are easily offended, confused or bored. Read more
See it if You want something just alright, this isn’t aiming very high, and it clears its low bar
Don't see it if You want something a little more substantial
See it if You enjoy Skilful blending of wordy wit, physical prowess & charismatic performances.
Don't see it if classic books remixed into comic farce is not your preference.
See it if You like fun plays
Don't see it if You want something serious
Critic Reviews (11)
"There is lots to enjoy here; the constant silliness means there nothing serious in the show, but that is exactly the point."
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"The comedy here is familiar, thin stuff, both exhausted and exhausting."
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"Evans’ send-up of [Dickens’] classic… is so informed and quick-witted it doesn’t just fly the flag for intelligent parodies it salutes Dickens’ genius. English eccentricity at its madcap best."
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"Even comic exaggeration wears out its welcome if it isn’t anchored in some kind of truth. However, the script made some nods in that direction, like the running commentary on the subjugation of women as they protest for their right to vote...I loved the nod toward Victorian-era repression with the statement that a bride can die from the shock of physical contact with a man"
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" 'Bleak Expectations' could let itself off the leash more. Still, Evans knows how to turn running gags into plot elements and vice versa — whatever that anvil prop cost, it was worth it...I just couldn’t help wishing it had come a good half-hour sooner."
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"The first act runs out of steam quite quickly, and while there are undeniable belly-laughs in the second half, there’s a feeling that this is a fringe skit, uncomfortably drawn out to West End proportions."
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"[The play's] tropes ... get stretched to the point of translucence, and it all lacks a little cohesion. It’s like feasting on canapes – periodically delightful, but not exactly filling."
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"Often very funny but showing signs of strain in its change of mediums, 'Bleak Expectations' still managed to provide an enjoyable evening at the theatre, and often had me thinking it was completely stupid – a compliment, with this kind of show."
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