The Lightning Play

Genre: Drama
Opened 17 Nov 2006
Written: Charlotte Jones
Directed: Anna Mackmin
Produced: Almeida
Cast: Eleanor David, Matthew Marsh, Adie Allen, Christina Cole Lloyd Hutchinson , Simon Kassianides, Katherine Parkinson, Orlando Seale
Synopsis: North London at Halloween, Max Villiers, a celebrity ghost writer, and his wife Harriet, a talented shopper, host a party. As Max connects his first plasma TV, the evening is hijacked by interference from the past. There are trick or treaters at the door and strangers on the brand new rug.

What the critics had to say.....
MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "Highly enjoyable new play." NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "An indigestible, drearily derivative theatrical cocktail." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "Begins as a not-so-funny drawing room comedy and, soon after a girl trick-and-treater has appeared at the door dressed as Harold Shipman, turns into a north London version of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, complete with rudeness, rows and revelations about a defunct child...But Anna Mackmin's able direction couldn't stop me feeling that the play lacks unity and coherence." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "It's funny, touching and consistently entertaining...Anna Mackmin directs a sprightly, elegant production that almost manages to conceal the play's uncertain sense of identity and direction, and designer Lez Brotherston has some tricks up his sleeve with his opulently elegant set." PAUL TAYLOR fro THE INDEPENDENT says, "Slickly mounted in a cannily performed production by Anna Mackmin."

External links to full reviews from popular press
The Guardian
The Independent
The Times
Daily Telegraph