Reviews

• Ann gillespie

  Mar 22, 2023

  Well I loved it. I wasn’t expecting the outcome The two actors were brilliant How do they manage to do these plays amazes me. Hat off to them It was the last day of the show. Glad I got in there Well done xx

• Terry

  Mar 19, 2023

  Something very different - two brilliant actors take the stage for the duration of the play and captivate us all .

• Michaela

  Mar 12, 2023

  It was an interesting play but little confusing at times and it would be better if it explained things more clearly and the end felt unfinished. Also the communication from the venue wasn't great, no reminders with tickets and we only learned at theatre that cast changed.

• JAE

  Mar 7, 2023

  Interesting concept but contrived and a little tedious

• Nancy

  Mar 7, 2023

  This play caught me by surprise! I hadn't read the synopsis and went along willingly with the idea that our words would be restricted by some evil government regime. How that impacts the evolving relationship of the two characters is revelatory! The leads are brilliant, staging is excellent, the pace and the dialogue are superb! I just loved it! I would go again but it's almost out of London now and what tickets are left are exorbitant! But hopefully someone filmed it and we will get it to watch again on acreen!

• Jo

  Mar 5, 2023

  A brilliant play, I loved the way it challenges how accepting people are of change. A couple from different backgrounds with different views of how a law will affect society. And how the reality is quite different to the idea. Quite political.

• Caroline

  Feb 28, 2023

  90 minutes or so, straight through - and yes, by and large we thought it could have been shorter. It's well acted, and the characters are personable - in fact, the conversations they have are very interesting. The pre-quietude ones, that is. (I think that's what it's called, the Quietude Act. Something like that.) You see, after this law is passed, it becomes illegal to speak more than 140 words per day, so the conversations become necessarily stilted. I couldn't help comparing it to Brexit - the passing of an inane law that does no-one any good, but is inexplicably voted for, to the bafflement of those who are against it. And just like the Covid restrictions, what do we find during the play but politicians making exceptions for themselves - the word limit doesn't apply in Parliament. Or in its restaurants, etc. Of course, what it really (to use an example of one of the words that one of the characters thinks could happily be dropped) is getting at, is a dig at Twitter, which used to have a 140-character message limit. And in particular, I guess the play's message is how much communication is lost in that - yes, you can get the basic meaning across; but how much richness do you lose, how much depth of feeling, how much context? How much less do you know about the person? Hey, even Twitter doubled their limit in the end.. Particularly disquieting is when, at the end of the day - when they use their remaining words for a conversation - on one occasion, they start to sing an old song (Total Eclipse of the Heart, as it happens). But then they have to stop, because they've used up their word quota. It's an interesting concept - for instance, they briefly consider the effect on babies - but it did drag a bit. And the constant back-and-forth between pre-Quietude, when they could let loose volleys of words, and post-Quietude, where they're constantly counting them and inventing abbreviations to save words, is a little confusing. None of the concepts they could have explored really were dealt with - which is why it dragged, I think.

• Heather Jones

  Feb 22, 2023

  We loved it. Aidan and Jenna are such talented actors. We were amazed that just the two of them with no change of scenery could keep our attention and enjoyment for the whole 86minutes.

• Jamie

  Feb 18, 2023

  Enjoyed the play and particularly the performances by the two stars but struggled to hear some of the dialogue which impacted our overall enjoyment. Think the sound could be better but we are in our 60s!

• Sharon

  Feb 12, 2023

  Loved the play. Amazing acting.

• Katherine

  Feb 12, 2023

  We really enjoyed Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons. Jenna & Aidan had us captivated the whole time, fabulous performances.

• Nic

  Feb 9, 2023

  Brilliantly thought provoking!!!

• Siobhan

  Feb 9, 2023

  We loved it! We were initially disappointed that Jenna Coleman wouldn’t be playing but Katie Bucholz did a great job, she was amazing, as was Aidan Turner.

• CP

  Feb 5, 2023

  I love it and Aidan and Jenna were amazing in play Oliver & Bernadette. Just a note but my personal opinion - the final is slightly too predictable and you are able to understand that very soon the truth will be said because Bernadette is constantly asking .....about Julia ! But in doing so the script is diminishing the amazing concept of the 140 words limit and the protest linked with it .....democracy, freedom of speech or even more, just slightly tinted in the script, " rich against poor " ....meritocracy against nepotism .....and even the conflict within the couple . I mean is Bernadette, a divorce lawyer with a working-class background and Oliver, is the musician with family privilege? I guess that not Oliver but Bernadette supposed to protest agaist that law.... If you do the opposite amazingly you have just confirmed that Bernadette is constantly believing that justice will prevail with common sense but it is not the case because the " 140 limit law " is passed ( any amendments ????) ....and Oliver in a funny flamboyant way is embracing the protest either for fun or because he truly believe that the cause is worth it !? Wonderfully done the scenes when the couple use words not for their literal meanings but underlying effects, singing and creating a non-verbal, embodied language between them. Thanks for the entertaining Saturday I had and above have i used too many words already, over my limit ??? Camilla

• melvyn gandz

  Feb 3, 2023

  It leaves you thinking how our world would change with less language Wonderful acting

• Jo Cooper

  Jan 29, 2023

  We had restricted view seats on royal circle which weren’t distracting. The play is great and thought provoking. How would you communicate daily with a limit of 140 words? Acted brilliantly by Auden Turner and Jenna Coleman. Jumped about a lot in places though so sometimes hard to follow. No interval which made it more watchable. Funny moments and heartfelt communication. A great play.

• Vicky

  Jan 29, 2023

  The play has a very interesting theme of only being allowed to speak 140 words a day. The play explores the consequences of this ‘new’ law. A great performance from both actors who are on stage continuously for 95mins. There was great chemistry between them otherwise this staging would not work. Whilst it held my attention and had some amusing and emotional moments it was a tad too long perhaps? Nonetheless a most enjoyable and interesting way to spend Saturday afternoon.

• theatre fan

  Jan 25, 2023

  The acting by Coleman and Turner is excellent-great timing ,shifting of nuance etc. The play has an interesting starting concept but ends up disappearing up its concept-and becomes -despite the actors and only 95 minutes-a bit tedious-and ultimately doesnt say anything or speak much to anything.But the acting is terrific.

• Sour!

  Jan 24, 2023

  Sorry but this was just not for me! I found it completely disjointed and had no idea where the action was taking place (today, yesterday, tomorrow) and any number seemed to be thrown out when they were in the 149 word zone. It was impossible to follow and I felt sorry for the cast trying to do it!

• Chris Warman

  Jan 22, 2023

  My wife and I were really looking forward to this, but sadly it did not live up to expectations. Whilst both Jenna and Aiden did a brilliant job of keep it going, the story lacked any cohesion and we both found it rather boring. Its a shame to say that, but it is honestly how we both felt when we left the theatre.

• Marcella

  Jan 21, 2023

  Interesting and unusual play. You would need to have read up on the theme beforehand as some of the audience thought the legislation was about Brexit! Both actors were excellent and Jenna Coleman is always a class act.

• Philip

  Jan 20, 2023

  Overall, this play left us a little confused about the message. Clearly about words but some aspects of the staging were not clear e.g. lighting, the numbers in the dialogue. It was well performed by the two actors.