‘I found myself mildly bored’: Lily Allen is branded ‘unengaging and limited’ by critics in tepid reviews after her gender-swapped debut in ‘flimsy’ revival of The Pillowman
Lily Allen’s debut in the revival of Martin McDonagh’s play The Pillowman has received tepid reviews after its opening night at the Duke Of York Theatre yesterday.
The singer has taken on the gender-swapped role of Katurian in the play, which follows the fiction writer as she is imprisoned by a totalitarian state.
But despite ditching her typically stylish looks for a more bloodied and bruised appearance, critics weren’t so impressed by the revival.
One wrote that they were ‘mildly bored’ watching the show, while others branded the her talents too ‘limited’ for the complex character.
Lily sported a bloodied face as she took a bow at the end of her press night debut after starring opposite Steve Pemberton and Paul Kaye in the play, taking on the role that had been previously played by David Tennant in the 2003 original.
Didn’t like it? Lily Allen’s debut in the revival of Martin McDonagh’s play The Pillowman has received tepid reviews from critics after its opening night at the Duke Of York Theatre
Writing in The Telegraph, Claire Allfree awarded the show three stars, writing: ‘[The] production lacks psychological conviction and a certain atmospheric pungency, while Allen is all at sea amid the play’s daring shifts in tone.
‘I went expecting to be shaken and sickened. Instead I found myself often mildly bored.’
The Times gave the play a paltry two stars, with Clive Davis writing: ‘Is Allen up to the task? It’s true that she didn’t disgrace herself in that immensely popular supernatural thriller, 2:22: A Ghost Story.
‘But here, her limitations are more exposed. There’s precious little variation in her voice and gestures; sometimes she seems almost a spectator at her own ordeal.
‘It’s Steve Pemberton and Paul Kaye — as the sadistic Tupolski and Ariel respectively – who command your attention.’
However, The Evening Standard’s Nick Curtis awarded the play four stars, writing: ‘Allen, who made an impressive stage-acting debut in Dunster’s ongoing 2:22 A Ghost Story, is compulsively watchable: drawn, intense, angular.
‘But this show requires a juggling of emotional states she can’t quite muster.’
Meanwhile The Stage awarded the show three stars, with Sam Marlow writing: ‘There’s a pallid blankness about Allen that may be intentional, but makes her difficult to engage with.
Dark: The singer has taken on the gender-swapped role of Katurian in the revival of the 2003 play, which follows the fiction writer as she is imprisoned by a totalitarian state
Stunning: But despite ditching her typically stylish looks for a more bloodied and bruised appearance (pictured at the press night), critics weren’t so impressed by the revival
‘McDonagh glances at, rather than interrogates, the myth of the tortured artist, as well as the notion of creative immortality, yet in mischievously refusing to commit to a point of view, he repeatedly undercuts his own arguments, with the result that the play feels flimsy and nebulous.’
Writing for Theatre Mania, Alex Wood said: ‘As she did in her West End debut 2:22 A Ghost Story (also directed by Dunster), Allen fares well on stage – sincere, eloquent and never overly maniacal in a role that could easily slip into histrionics in the wrong hands.
‘She most certainly has better material to work with here than in her freshman stage outing, to the extent that you can trace a quite definite character arc as Katurian moves from bewilderment to assured catharsis.’
After the press night show, Lily appeared to be in jovial spirits as she appeared on stage at the Duke of York Theatre alongside her co-star Steve Pemberton.
Bowing to the crowds, Lily showed off her character’s injuries as blood trickled down her face and stained her jumper, hinting at the tragic ending of the production.
Lily appeared pleased with the debut press night run of The Pillowman as she flashed a huge smile and waved at the crowds while taking a bow.
She was joined on stage by her co-stars Steve, who plays Tupolski, and Matthew Tennyson, who stars as Michal, for the curtain call.
Lily is the first woman to play Katurian, after David Tennant portrayed the leading character in the original Olivier award-winning play.
That’s different! Lily took on the role that had previously been played by David Tennant in the original 2003 play
Speaking about the decision to cast a woman in the role, Lily told The Telegraph: ‘I think it will add an extra layer of horror, because we’re not used to seeing women being beaten up.
‘It will be shocking, in that sense. I also feel that men don’t necessarily get the same c**p for their artistic output that women do.’
The Pillowman follows Katurian as she is brutally questioned by authorities after a spate of murders bear similarities to her short stories.
The black comedy ‘examines the role of the artist in society and asks what price do we pay for freedom of expression’, according to a synopsis on the play’s website.
Speaking about The Pillowman’s discussions around censorship, Lily said the play raises a lot of questions about freedom of speech and the internet.
The production will run at the Duke of York Theatre until September 2, with its hotly-anticipated opening night on Friday having already sold out.
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