Florian Zeller’s puzzles of the mind (The Father, The Mother, The Son, The Height of the Storm) continue to baffle audiences in his new play, The Forest, now in residence at Hampstead’s main house.
‘Undoubtedly stylish but seriously underwhelming’: THE FOREST – Hampstead Theatre
Like being given a jigsaw with no corner pieces, the challenges of putting together what is happening in Florian Zeller’s The Forest means it is hardly worth the trip to the Hampstead Theatre.
‘A brilliant example of a post-dramatic play’: THE FOREST – Hampstead Theatre
Florian Zeller’s superbly anti-naturalistic play is a philosophical puzzle that dissects our existential solitude.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Forest at Hampstead Theatre
On LoveLondonLoveCulture, Emma Clarendon rounds up the reviews for the world premiere of Florian Zeller’s new play The Forest, directed by Jonathan Kent and starring Toby Stephens at London’s Hampstead Theatre.
‘Like looking at broken mirror pieces’: THE FOREST – Hampstead Theatre ★★★★
The play follows Pierre, a successful surgeon who’s married and the father of a grown-up daughter, as he juggles his professional and family life with having a mistress.
‘Zeller is like a more humane early Stoppard’: THE FOREST – Hampstead Theatre ★★★★
The French novelist-turned-playwright Florian Zeller hit the British theatre scene a few years ago with two comedies: The Lie and The Truth, which at the time I described as “a punch-in-the-guts, cruelly affectionate, whip-smart ninety-minute treat”.
‘An extraordinary piece about infidelity, guilt & distorted reality’: THE FOREST – Hampstead Theatre
It has been an extraordinarily fruitful partnership between writer Florian Zeller and translator-playwright Christopher Hampton over the past few years with adaptations of Zeller’s disconnected family saga The Father, The Mother and The Son.
‘Hauntingly good in its fluidity’: THE SON – West End
British theatre’s determination to adopt Florian Zeller as one of its own continues unabated as the Kiln Theatre’s production of The Son transfers into the Duke of York’s for the autumn.
‘Well-made family drama’: THE SON – West End
This portrayal of contemporary family life dealing with depression is honest and believable in The Son, yet there’s a cold judgement underpinning it.
‘Devastatingly raw piece of drama’: THE SON – West End ★★★★★
Brilliantly and emotionally engagingly translated by Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller’s The Son is a piece of writing that draws you in from the start and never relinquishes its hold until the very end.
‘Akin to a beautifully composed piece of music’: THE SON – West End
The Son is akin to a beautifully composed piece of music. A perfect balance of light and shade with an inevitable surge to a heart thumping climax.
Text of the Day: The Son
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Son at Kiln Theatre
Michael Longhurst directs the UK premiere of Florian Zeller’s play The Son. Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews…
‘A tense psychological thriller as bleak as it is strong’: THE SON – Kiln Theatre ★★★★
The final episode of Florian Zeller’s domestic trilogy, The Son, is powerfully, even melodramatically, effective.
‘A gripping & intense drama’: THE SON – Kiln Theatre ★★★★
There is a heartbreaking inevitability to Florian Zeller’s play The Son which is currently on at the Kiln Theatre. Nicolas (Laurie Kynaston), a once bubbly teenager, has become withdrawn since his parent’s divorce. He lies, skips school and his behaviour has started to frighten his mother Anne (Amanda Abbington).
NEWS: Amanda Abbington will star in Florian Zeller’s The Son at the Kiln Theatre
As the world première of Ishy Din’s Approaching Empty opens at Kiln Theatre, the company’s artistic director Indhu Rubasingham has announced the casting for the UK première of Florian Zeller’s The Son, in a translation by Christopher Hampton. Michael Longhurst directs Amanda Abbington, Laurie Kynaston, John Light, Oseloka Obi, Amaka Okafor and Martin Turner. The production opens on 26 February 2019, with previews from 20 February, and runs until 6 April.
Mark Shenton views the week of news, openings & radical overhauls of Shakespeare in the West End, Broadway & beyond
Mark Shenton offers the week’s news, reviews, quotes and tweets in theatre from both sides of the Atlantic, including an interview with Sonia Friedman, reviews of Shakespeare in three different abbreviated versions, and a YouTube star appearing on Broadway.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Height of the Storm at Wyndham’s Theatre
Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins star in Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of Florian Zeller’s play The Height Of The Storm at the Wyndham’s Theatre. Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews…
‘Simultaneously entrancing & exhilarating’: THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM – West End ★★★★
Florian Zeller’s new play The Height Of The Storm at Wyndham’s Theatre is as enigmatic as it is engaging. Even the title confounds.
’Privilege to watch Pryce & Atkins at the height of their powers’: THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM – West End ★★★★★
After huge UK successes with The Father, The Mother, The Truth and The Lie, now comes Florian Zeller’s The Height of the Storm, once again in the limpid, easy-on-the-ear translation of Christopher Hampton.