Anderson and Crudup lead Marianne Elliott's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at sohoplace
Reviews of Marianne Elliott's London staging of Edward Albee's play, starring Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup, praise the leads but differ on how dangerous and funny it feels.
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The story, neutrally told
Marianne Elliott directs Edward Albee's 1962 play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at sohoplace in London, with Gillian Anderson as Martha and Billy Crudup as George. Evening StandardN “Marianne Elliot’s production turns a mid-century modern living room” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The GuardianLC “taken on by two Americans, albeit under the aegis of British directorial powerhouse Marianne Elliott” Read at The Guardian ↗ The play follows a middle-aged couple who return from a faculty party and spend a drink-fuelled night in psychological combat with a younger couple, Nick (Josh Dylan) and Honey (Phoebe Horn). Evening StandardN “It begins with the central duo returning, rankled, from a faculty party” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The GuardianLC “biology academic Nick (Josh Dylan) and his wife, Honey (Phoebe Horn)” Read at The Guardian ↗ Miriam Buether's set is a 1960s-style living room on a revolve, staged in the round. Evening StandardN “slowly revolving gladiatorial arena” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The GuardianLC “Staged in the round, it leaves little room for hiding.” Read at The Guardian ↗
The Evening Standard's Nick Curtis calls the performances towering and Crudup a revelation, describing Anderson as magnificent. Evening StandardN “Crudup is a revelation as George”“Anderson is magnificent here” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The Guardian's Arifa Akbar finds Anderson formidable and says the pair have no shortage of sparks, but that it is not dangerous or emotionally eviscerating enough for too long. The GuardianLC “it does not feel dangerous or emotionally eviscerating enough between them for rather too long”“Anderson makes a formidably angry Martha” Read at The Guardian ↗ Both reviewers note the length, over three hours; the Standard gives it as three hours 20 minutes and calls the last act overegged, while the Guardian says it feels like a punishment. The GuardianLC “it still feels like a punishment” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “At three hours and 20 minutes it doesn’t stint on the methodical savagery.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
The Guardian finds the couple's game-playing at times cartoonish, likening them to George and Mildred, while the Standard sees the supporting roles as underwritten, though given texture by Horn and Dylan. The GuardianLC “their game-playing a little cartoonish at times” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “given texture here by Phoebe Horn and Josh Dylan” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The run continues until 19 December. Evening StandardN “Until 19 December, sohoplace.org.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- A mixed-to-positive review: strong leads, but the marriage lacks danger early on and the tone leans comic.
- Emphasis
- Celebrity casting, comparison to George and Mildred, the length, and the Nick and George rivalry.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the exact running time or the run's end date.
- Charged language
- “feels like a punishment”“panto-like”
- For example
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“it does not feel dangerous or emotionally eviscerating enough between them for rather too long” — The Guardian
“their game-playing a little cartoonish at times” — The Guardian
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A rave for the two leads, with reservations about the play's underwritten supporting roles and its final act.
- Emphasis
- Crudup's turn after his earlier London misfires, Anderson's stage record, and Albee's own view of the play.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little attention to the production's comic register.
- Charged language
- “towering”“outstanding”“peerless”
- For example
-
“as a vehicle for two splendid actors to go the full nine rounds of emotional extremes, Who’s Afraid is peerless” — Evening Standard
“Crudup is a revelation as George” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup star as Martha and George in Marianne Elliott's production at sohoplace.
- Josh Dylan and Phoebe Horn play Nick and Honey.
- The staging uses Miriam Buether's revolving 1960s living-room set.
- The production runs over three hours.
- Both reviews praise the central performances.
Where accounts differ
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How emotionally intense the central marriage feels
- Left
- Sparks and sparring, but not dangerous or emotionally eviscerating enough for too long; comedy leans cartoonish.
- Centre
- Devastating, 'methodical savagery'; the leads go 'the full nine rounds of emotional extremes', though the last act feels overegged.
Gillian Anderson person
Praised by both critics as a formidable Martha, hard-edged and unsentimental.
“she refuses to submit to the actor’s vice of wanting to be liked” — Evening Standard
“She is all hard edges and armour” — The Guardian
Billy Crudup person
Seen by the Standard as a revelation; the Guardian describes a put-upon, passive-aggressive George.
“Crudup is a revelation as George” — Evening Standard
“Crudup is put-upon, dusty, literally all (in) grey.” — The Guardian
Left1 article
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The GuardianLC · · Opinion
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? review – Gillian Anderson fights tooth and nail in marital meltdown
Mixed Admires the leads but finds the marital warfare too comic and the evening long.
Centre1 article
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Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup are outstanding
Celebratory Frames the production as a showcase for two actors at the top of their game, despite weak supporting parts.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 1 Oct 12:00 First Evening StandardN Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup are outstanding
- 1 Oct 12:00 First The GuardianLC Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? review – Gillian Anderson fights tooth and nail in marital meltdown Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.