Star-studded revival of Juno and the Paycock is a bit of a mixed bag – review
We weren’t too sure what to expect from Sean O’Casey’s Juno and the Paycock, although given it’s billed as “the Irish masterpiece” and has arrived in London’s glittering West End with a big name cast, we had fairly high expectations. So does it live up to them?
First of all – a bit about the play itself. It is now a hundred years old: set in Dublin during 1922, it tells the story of the fight for Irish independence through a selection of working class lives. It’s an interesting premise for a play, and with Mark Rylance (who won an Olivier for Jerusalem) and J Smith-Cameron (adored by many as girl boss Gerri from Succession) in the leading roles, it seems like a recipe for success. Throw renowned director Matthew Warchus and wonderful producer Sonia Freedman into the mix – what could go wrong?
Well, something doesn’t quite feel right here – there’s a lot going on and it doesn’t gel particularly coherently. It’s a tragicomedy, but the tragedy and the comedy don’t sit together at all well, given how ludicrously farcical and slapstick some of the comedy is – it grates against the more poignant moments. We’re not entirely sure the musical elements work, either – they’re a fun diversion but often feel quite random and unnecessary.
It does make some good observations. In particular we enjoyed the idea that people don’t change – Rylance’s ridiculous “Captain” Jack Boyle is an awful person at the start of the play and, with the news of a surprise inheritance, remains utterly repugnant (just with slightly nicer furniture). The play does have a fair number of good lines and a handful of enjoyable set pieces, and it’s great to see J Smith-Cameron (who is in fine form) on the West End stage.
However, Juno and the Paycock is very much an example of a show that never adds up to more than the sum of its parts. Yes, it has some great acting, it lands some points well and there are humorous moments throughout – but it never comes together cohesively. We enjoyed our evening at the theatre, but we were expecting more.
GAY TIMES gives Juno and the Paycock – 3/5
More information can be found here.
The post Star-studded revival of Juno and the Paycock is a bit of a mixed bag – review appeared first on GAY TIMES.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings