Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for Tom Morris’ production which is now playing at the Duke of York’s Theatre .
The Stage: ★★★★ “What the production does well is make it possible to appreciate Simon’s horrific predicament as well as Joe’s, while also marvelling at human resilience.”
London Theatre1: ★★★ “With very cute actors and lots of physical angst, Touching the Void may have teen/young adult appeal, but I doubt this production will be remembered as a high point of theatre even if it sells tickets. Resplendent with action but devoid of drama; every theatrical jumping-off point in this show is an emotional dead-end if not a lonely, cavernous void of the type the script hints at but never explores.”
Evening Standard: ★★★★ “Almost as surprising is the fact that director Tom Morris and writer David Greig have turned this epic but lonely ordeal into a compelling piece of theatre. Their breathlessly exciting production, first staged at Bristol Old Vic, conjures wide-open landscapes and vertiginous drops.”
i News: ★★★ “The fact that Joe crawls for days until he reaches base camp is a great testament to human endurance and survival, but it doesn’t make very good theatre. There really is a limit to how many grunts, groans and gasps you can listen to without suffering sympathy fatigue.”
Broadway World: ★★★★ “A triumph of the human spirit, and of theatre’s capacity to go anywhere, show anything – and to draw us into the heart of a great story.”
London Box Office: ★★ “Tom Morris’ straightforward direction is not helped by the uninspired acting of the four actors, Joe Williams (Joe), Angus Yellowlees (Simon), Fiona Hampton (Sarah) and Patrick McNamee (Richard).”
The Guardian: “The ultimate lesson of this production is that you can do anything in the theatre as long as you rely on the audience’s willing imagination.”
The Daily Mail: ★★★★ “If you’re looking for psychological complexity, you’re in the wrong theatre. Even Angus Yellowlees, as Joe’s climbing companion Simon, admits he doesn’t really know Joe. And this from the man who spent a lot of time cowering with him in tiny tents and icy foxholes, before cutting the rope that held Simpson dangling over a crevasse.”
London Theatre.co.uk: ★★★★ “A penetrating portrayal of the impulse of human survival, against the odds: a thrilling, salutary reminder of our shared humanity and ability to overcome hardships, however extreme.”
Touching the Void will play at the Duke of York’s Theatre until 29 February 2020.
