Lyonesse (West End) London Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (9)
See it if Want to see a smart and thoughtful play with great writing, direction and staging. On top of this a brilliant ensemble and world class leads
Don't see it if Have stuffed from abuse especially gaslighting and coherence control.
See it if you love Kristin Scott Thomas, stories of women supporting each other, bohemian lifestyles
Don't see it if if you can't handle misogyny, disappointment, bohemian lifestyle, or you have very high expectations of acting from the lovely Lily James
See it if You want to be riveted by Kristen Scott Thomas.
Don't see it if Not a heavyweight, intense play. There are many lightweight, comedy moments. Loosely based around the theme of a Me Too story.
See it if You have to see these actors, they've done great work in their careers
Don't see it if It can't decide if it's serious, farce, comedy ... Characters and relationships aren't credible. Could have been cut by 1/3.
See it if Both of the ladies are absolutely amazing on the stage. A lot of important themes were drag under the light
Don't see it if Nothing to mention here
See it if Love the superb actors play. "Me too" is not just words for you.
Don't see it if You're a sexist (but maybe on the contrary - see it to change your mind)
See it if Like Kirsten Scott Thomas class actress
Don't see it if I wasn't sure what the storyline was
See it if Looking for something thought provoking, challenging, entertaining, asks questions without having all the answers but still with humour.
Don't see it if you want a light easy to follow unchallenging story with a tidy happy ending.
Critic Reviews (12)
“Whatever drew Kristin Scott Thomas and Lily James to Penelope Skinner’s shambling, implausible exploration of the raw deal women get utterly fails to materialise on stage. The characters are underdeveloped, the narrative heavy with exposition”
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“A character speaks of the importance of keeping up the fight but that fight seems to have died in them both by the drama’s end. If this is Skinner’s conclusion on where we are in our post #MeToo world, it is bleak indeed.”
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“If you were to stumble across Penelope Skinner’s new drama in a thinly populated corner of the Edinburgh Fringe, you would put it down as an undergrad experiment. To find it in the West End, with Kristin Scott Thomas and Lily James in the lead roles, is bizarre.”
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“The whole thing is a bit baggy and broad, moving suddenly in different directions, but it’s bound together by Ian Rickson’s sensitive, detailed direction. Its themes are riveting, and although the final destination isn’t entirely satisfying, it’s hard not to enjoy the journey especially in the company of so strong a cast.”
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“There’s so much to explore here, but neither Skinner nor director Ian Rickson ever settle on a consistent tone. ‘Lyonesse’ has some good moments of satire – mainly via the always-excellent Doon Mackichan as morally bankrupt film boss Sue – and even a strange slapstick sequence...But it doesn’t have a secure foundation for a drama involving such sensitive issues because the characters don’t ring true”
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“Skinner’s sharply observed writing is full of humour, wit and fragments of poetry. Director Ian Rickson never rushes the sprawling, stately scenes, allowing plenty of time for the endearingly flawed characters to grow on us, and for doubts to fester”
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"Lyonesse is a flimsy but fascinating creation, an elaborate structure built on a solid bedrock of feminist truths."
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“Penelope Skinner’s ‘Lyonesse’ is incredible at best. Through multilayered and complex writing which leaves you questioning the reality at times, it is a thought-provoking and powerful look at the silencing of women.”
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