we were on a break
05-25-2005, 01:23 PM
Mixed Reviews for Former Friends' Star's West End Debut
By Sherna Noah, PA Showbusiness Correspondent
Former Friends star David Schwimmer’s West End debut was given a mixed response by critics today.
The American actor has the lead role in Some Girl(s), a contemporary morality play by Neil LaBute.
He is cast as a teacher who is about to finally settle down and marry, but decides to visit four ex-girlfriends first.
Troy beauty Saffron Burrows, comedy star Catherine Tate, Vera Drake actress Lesley Manville and London’s Burning star Sara Powell all play ex-girlfriends.
The Daily Mail’s Quentin Letts says that Schwimmer’s performance at the Gielgud Theatre, was similar to what he does in Friends.
He writes: “Mr Schwimmer, or Ross, is quite good – so far as he goes. He is handsome and charming, just as he was in Friends.
“But there doesn’t seem to be any amazing acting talent here. He just chunters away in his nasal way, using some cliched delay gestures and feints of limb.
“It’s all perfectly likeable but the role probably has greater possibilities. A more sinister edge might have been interesting to see but I’m not sure Mr Schwimmer does sinister. He’s just Ross.”
But Charles Spencer at The Daily Telegraph is more complimentary.
“Schwimmer proves inspired casting. So fondly remembered from Friends, he takes to the stage with the audience already on his side, and his endearing gaucheness seems designed to ensure our continued sympathy,” he writes.
“Schwimmer mercilessly lays bare his character’s opportunism, casual cruelties, and chronic self-deception.”
Sheridan Morley at The Express writes that “Schwimmer brilliantly captures an essentially nerdish man as well as his ability to be perpetually surprised by his own selfishness.”
Michael Billington at The Guardian says he was “only mildly enthralled by Neil LaBute’s new play”.
But he praises its stars, saying “Schwimmer and the four ‘old flames’ are a pleasure to watch...He makes you feel the man is schmuck but one with a certain charm.”
Benedict Nightingale in The Times also warmed to the former Friends star, describing the whole cast as “excellent”.
“Schwimmer...has successfully made the transition to the stage, giving us an earnest, anxious figure who sometimes seems less like a man than a dog eager to be told he’s a good boy,” he writes.
Although Some Girl(s) could be tenser, “there’s plenty of subtle, telling, funny writing in a play which is far more than an excuse for a TV star to parade his skills in London”.
But The Independent’s Paul Taylor says Schwimmer “is not called upon to extend his range nearly as far as one might have expected in Some Girl(s)”.
“Throughout Schwimmer remains bland, competent, and boyish – though not fatally boyish in the manner that appears to have turned these women on...This love rat would much rather be stroked than bite,” he says.
Reviews mixed for Schwimmer in U.K.
Associated Press
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/cp/entertainment/20050525/e052510a.jpgU.S. actor David Schwimmer, left, and actress Catherine Tate re-enact a scene from the play "Some Girl(s)" at the Gielgud Theatre in London, May 19, 2005. (AP/Matt Dunham)http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.canada.com/images/s.gifhttp://m3.doubleclick.net/1040760/PacificaBigbox300x250.gif (http://http://m3.doubleclick.net/1040760/PacificaBigbox300x250.gif)http://m3.doubleclick.net/1040760/PacificaBigbox300x250.gif (http://http://m3.doubleclick.net/1040760/PacificaBigbox300x250.gif)http://ad.ca.doubleclick.net/N3081/ad/ccn_carclick.com/entertainment/story;kw=ccstorybox;loc=storybox;sz=250x250;kw=ent ertainment;ptile=4;ord=62612845 (http://http://ad.ca.doubleclick.net/N3081/ad/ccn_carclick.com/entertainment/story;kw=ccstorybox;loc=storybox;sz=250x250;kw=ent ertainment;ptile=4;ord=62612845)LONDON -- Some critics are fair-weather friends.
London theatre reviewers blew hot and cold Wednesday over David Schwimmer's West End debut in Neil LaBute's Some Girls.
Several praised the sitcom star's turn as a soon-to-be-married womanizer visiting four former girlfriends. But others doubted Schwimmer was the right actor to tackle a writer famed -- in plays like In the Company of Men and Your Friends and Neighbors -- for unblinking examinations of male misogyny.
The Independent's Paul Taylor found LaBute and the Friends star "an incongruous pairing.... There is something invincibly wholesome about Schwimmer."
"Throughout, Schwimmer remains bland, competent and boyish... This love rat would much rather be stroked than bite," he wrote.
For The Daily Mail's Quentin Letts, Schwimmer's performance could not erase the image of his unlucky-in-love sitcom character, Ross Geller.
"It's all perfectly likable but the role probably has greater possibilities," Letts wrote. "A more sinister edge might have been interesting to see, but I'm not sure Mr. Schwimmer does sinister. He's just Ross."
But The Times' Benedict Nightingale was impressed by Schwimmer's "earnest, anxious figure who sometimes seems less like a man than a dog eager to be told he's a good boy."
The show, "while never bland, could sometimes be tenser," he wrote.
"Yet there's plenty of subtle, telling funny writing in a play which is far more than an excuse for a TV star to parade his skills in London."
And Daily Telegraph critic Charles Spencer found Schwimmer "inspired casting."
Having won the audience's sympathy with his endearing persona, "Schwimmer mercilessly lays bare his character's opportunism, casual cruelties, and chronic self-deception," Spencer said.
Most critics found something to like in LaBute's play and in David Gridley's world-premiere production at the Gielgud Theatre. Many praised female stars Catherine Tate, Lesley Manvile, Sara Powell and Saffron Burrows as the variously wronged women.
The Guardian's Michael Billington reminded readers that Schwimmer, who got his start in Chicago's vibrant theatre scene, "is a real Chicago stage actor rather than some cathode-ray carpetbagger."
But he declared himself only "mildly enthralled" with the play.
Other Hollywood stars to have embraced the London stage recently include Kevin Spacey -- who runs the Old Vic Theatre -- Holly Hunter, Christian Slater and Sex and the City's Kim Cattrall.
Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kathleen Turner, Matt Damon, Friends star Matthew Perry and even Madonna have also appeared in West End productions in recent years.
Some Girls is scheduled to run until Aug. 13.
Its funny how most of them thought it was excellent a few grumpy people thought it was cack it is great and probably better than what they could ever dream of writing or acting like.
By Sherna Noah, PA Showbusiness Correspondent
Former Friends star David Schwimmer’s West End debut was given a mixed response by critics today.
The American actor has the lead role in Some Girl(s), a contemporary morality play by Neil LaBute.
He is cast as a teacher who is about to finally settle down and marry, but decides to visit four ex-girlfriends first.
Troy beauty Saffron Burrows, comedy star Catherine Tate, Vera Drake actress Lesley Manville and London’s Burning star Sara Powell all play ex-girlfriends.
The Daily Mail’s Quentin Letts says that Schwimmer’s performance at the Gielgud Theatre, was similar to what he does in Friends.
He writes: “Mr Schwimmer, or Ross, is quite good – so far as he goes. He is handsome and charming, just as he was in Friends.
“But there doesn’t seem to be any amazing acting talent here. He just chunters away in his nasal way, using some cliched delay gestures and feints of limb.
“It’s all perfectly likeable but the role probably has greater possibilities. A more sinister edge might have been interesting to see but I’m not sure Mr Schwimmer does sinister. He’s just Ross.”
But Charles Spencer at The Daily Telegraph is more complimentary.
“Schwimmer proves inspired casting. So fondly remembered from Friends, he takes to the stage with the audience already on his side, and his endearing gaucheness seems designed to ensure our continued sympathy,” he writes.
“Schwimmer mercilessly lays bare his character’s opportunism, casual cruelties, and chronic self-deception.”
Sheridan Morley at The Express writes that “Schwimmer brilliantly captures an essentially nerdish man as well as his ability to be perpetually surprised by his own selfishness.”
Michael Billington at The Guardian says he was “only mildly enthralled by Neil LaBute’s new play”.
But he praises its stars, saying “Schwimmer and the four ‘old flames’ are a pleasure to watch...He makes you feel the man is schmuck but one with a certain charm.”
Benedict Nightingale in The Times also warmed to the former Friends star, describing the whole cast as “excellent”.
“Schwimmer...has successfully made the transition to the stage, giving us an earnest, anxious figure who sometimes seems less like a man than a dog eager to be told he’s a good boy,” he writes.
Although Some Girl(s) could be tenser, “there’s plenty of subtle, telling, funny writing in a play which is far more than an excuse for a TV star to parade his skills in London”.
But The Independent’s Paul Taylor says Schwimmer “is not called upon to extend his range nearly as far as one might have expected in Some Girl(s)”.
“Throughout Schwimmer remains bland, competent, and boyish – though not fatally boyish in the manner that appears to have turned these women on...This love rat would much rather be stroked than bite,” he says.
Reviews mixed for Schwimmer in U.K.
Associated Press
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/cp/entertainment/20050525/e052510a.jpgU.S. actor David Schwimmer, left, and actress Catherine Tate re-enact a scene from the play "Some Girl(s)" at the Gielgud Theatre in London, May 19, 2005. (AP/Matt Dunham)http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.canada.com/images/s.gifhttp://m3.doubleclick.net/1040760/PacificaBigbox300x250.gif (http://http://m3.doubleclick.net/1040760/PacificaBigbox300x250.gif)http://m3.doubleclick.net/1040760/PacificaBigbox300x250.gif (http://http://m3.doubleclick.net/1040760/PacificaBigbox300x250.gif)http://ad.ca.doubleclick.net/N3081/ad/ccn_carclick.com/entertainment/story;kw=ccstorybox;loc=storybox;sz=250x250;kw=ent ertainment;ptile=4;ord=62612845 (http://http://ad.ca.doubleclick.net/N3081/ad/ccn_carclick.com/entertainment/story;kw=ccstorybox;loc=storybox;sz=250x250;kw=ent ertainment;ptile=4;ord=62612845)LONDON -- Some critics are fair-weather friends.
London theatre reviewers blew hot and cold Wednesday over David Schwimmer's West End debut in Neil LaBute's Some Girls.
Several praised the sitcom star's turn as a soon-to-be-married womanizer visiting four former girlfriends. But others doubted Schwimmer was the right actor to tackle a writer famed -- in plays like In the Company of Men and Your Friends and Neighbors -- for unblinking examinations of male misogyny.
The Independent's Paul Taylor found LaBute and the Friends star "an incongruous pairing.... There is something invincibly wholesome about Schwimmer."
"Throughout, Schwimmer remains bland, competent and boyish... This love rat would much rather be stroked than bite," he wrote.
For The Daily Mail's Quentin Letts, Schwimmer's performance could not erase the image of his unlucky-in-love sitcom character, Ross Geller.
"It's all perfectly likable but the role probably has greater possibilities," Letts wrote. "A more sinister edge might have been interesting to see, but I'm not sure Mr. Schwimmer does sinister. He's just Ross."
But The Times' Benedict Nightingale was impressed by Schwimmer's "earnest, anxious figure who sometimes seems less like a man than a dog eager to be told he's a good boy."
The show, "while never bland, could sometimes be tenser," he wrote.
"Yet there's plenty of subtle, telling funny writing in a play which is far more than an excuse for a TV star to parade his skills in London."
And Daily Telegraph critic Charles Spencer found Schwimmer "inspired casting."
Having won the audience's sympathy with his endearing persona, "Schwimmer mercilessly lays bare his character's opportunism, casual cruelties, and chronic self-deception," Spencer said.
Most critics found something to like in LaBute's play and in David Gridley's world-premiere production at the Gielgud Theatre. Many praised female stars Catherine Tate, Lesley Manvile, Sara Powell and Saffron Burrows as the variously wronged women.
The Guardian's Michael Billington reminded readers that Schwimmer, who got his start in Chicago's vibrant theatre scene, "is a real Chicago stage actor rather than some cathode-ray carpetbagger."
But he declared himself only "mildly enthralled" with the play.
Other Hollywood stars to have embraced the London stage recently include Kevin Spacey -- who runs the Old Vic Theatre -- Holly Hunter, Christian Slater and Sex and the City's Kim Cattrall.
Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kathleen Turner, Matt Damon, Friends star Matthew Perry and even Madonna have also appeared in West End productions in recent years.
Some Girls is scheduled to run until Aug. 13.
Its funny how most of them thought it was excellent a few grumpy people thought it was cack it is great and probably better than what they could ever dream of writing or acting like.