Trelawny of the Wells

Amy Morgan, Daniel Mays, Susannah Fielding
Maggie Steed, Ron Cook (Photos by Johan Persson)

What the popular press had to say...

"While it makes a perfectly amiable evening, Wright can't help pushing Pinero's faithful re-creation of a past theatrical age to the edge of caricature...Clearly the play is about the inevitability of change, but I think Wright grossly exaggerates the stageyness of the old theatrical order...It's a charming play, but given a slightly over-strenuous production here as if Wright is trying to assert his theatrical credentials."
Michael Billington for The Guardian

"The pace is uneven and the best moments are long coming. Although there is visual interest throughout, the production needs more snap and bubbly charm — and less caricature."
Henry Hitchings for The Evening Standard

"I found myself shuttling between pleasure and embarrassment that director Joe Wright was taking things so slowly.
Quentin Letts for The Daily Mail

"I cannot imagine anyone who enjoys plays and musicals failing to warm to Pinero’s love letter to the theatre, with its mixture of broad comedy, touching sentiment and the occasional Victorian parlour song...This is a wonderfully funny and touching evening, which, among much else, hauntingly depicts the transient nature of theatre itself. "
Charles Spencer for The Daily Telegraph

"Self-reflexive drama and meta-theatrical in-joking require a sureness of touch that's lacking here and the first half of this production feels terribly laboured and unfunny and concept-driven. "
Paul Taylor for The Independent