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“Compassionate, raw in its realism, inspirational.
27 July 2019
Dear Sarah
Further to my email earlier this week, expressing some concerns that I had regarding some reviews of “The Starry Messenger” - I just thought I would email to say how pleased we were that we decided to come to the performance of “The Starry Messenger” tonight.
We were entranced from the very beginning. We laughed, we cried, we were inspired. The play is compassionate, raw in its realism- it addresses issues sensitively, but squarely, which gives it sometimes a sad tone, sometimes a joyous tone. Such an incredible cast who clearly deliver their performances with great passion and dedication.
We were grateful too, for the time that the cast spent with us at the Stage Door. Hopefully we didn’t take up too much of their time but we felt we needed to express our gratitude for their superb performances which genuinely resonated with us.
Our thanks too, to your staff who provided a great service to us tonight: they were friendly and informative.
Our very best wishes,
Lynn and Hannah Mathers x
Sent from my iPhone
Lynn Mathers Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Overrated
24 July 2019
It is a thought-provoking show. However, it seemed slow and predictable in some instances.
N. Alborno Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Really good
15 July 2019
Excellent show and cast especially Mathew Brodorick.... Kept me interested all the time
Michael Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Fabulous play!!
15 July 2019
What a rollercoaster of emotions throughout this play! There were moments I laughed out loud and then moments I had tears rolling down my cheeks.
The actors were amazing... played their characters perfectly. Wasn’t expecting the catastrophic event that happened (as they put it in the write up) to be what it was. I came out of the theatre trying not to burst into tears.
I really enjoyed the performance and would recommend going to see it.
Sarah Pearce Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Starry Messenger
14 July 2019
We were very much looking forward to seeing the Starry Messenger, especially knowing that the two main people were definitely some of our favourites!
We found it too long drawn out and the dialogue was also partly too long winded and not at all interesting.
On a person note, we were not enthusiastic about the whole play and found it even depressingly sad, as it didn't even end up beat or throughout the play have lightening moments. ( except when the student gave him the rating) A great pity, as we had high hopes. I nevertheless wish the play, the cast and everyone else a wonderful running and still endless great reviews to come. With best wishes for the further weeks to come with the Starry Messenger
C.M.S Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Loved The Starry Messenger
13 July 2019
Beautiful play and great performances.
Helen Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Overall experience
30 June 2019
Was pleasantly surprised to find some very funny scenes amongst the serious (but realistic) themes in the play. Acting was superb.
Victoria Confirmed ticket purchaser
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The reality life
26 June 2019
It was a great presentation of person stage in middle life. Matthew Broderick with such bored and neutral emotion shows dilemma of middle age issues and temptations. Very great performance as always can be presented by such a lucky charm of artistic industry. Elizabeth McGovern represents women who run the family trying include the other half too. Rosalind Eleazar shows emotions of every young women who tries to do something better with their life. Great show !!!!
Dorota Confirmed ticket purchaser
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The Starry Messenger
23 June 2019
I saw the matinee performance of The Starry Messenger on Saturday 15 June 2019 and thought it was excellent. Funny, absorbing and subtly acted, not just by the principal actors Elizabeth McGovern and Matthew Broderick, but all of the cast. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Kim Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Witty but Extremely Slow
22 June 2019
I liked the jokes but fell asleep twice.
Review from 907 Confirmed ticket purchaser
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The Starry Messenger
21 June 2019
Rather a long play and very slow during the first half. However it held my attention and the second half was more enjoyable. It is worth seeing.
Mixed Review Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Charming slow burn
20 June 2019
Don't expect fireworks from this play but do expect a witty subtle interesting show that explores middle aged relationships, passion and grief. We loved it.
Ramone of Ilford Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Lackluster
19 June 2019
I couldn't tell if Matthew Broderick, in the lead role, brought no character to the role, or whether he was totally immersed in the characterization of a lost soul. The only characters of interest were secondary, the elderly patient and his daughter.
The sets were well done.
FKB Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Matt B is brilliant
15 June 2019
Good performances. Need patience as it isn’t fast moving as is the subject matter but worth it, just enjoy the play.
Stacee Confirmed ticket purchaser
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The complexities of a plain man
15 June 2019
A adept performance by Broderick, showing the sadness and humour of a seemingly settled man needing more.
Barb Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Starry messenger
14 June 2019
First half very slow,struggled to stay awake second half some improvement
Peter P Confirmed ticket purchaser
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13 June 2019
Such star pulling power, so very disappointed with the script! Everyone tried so hard to deliver but the plot was very slow & disjointed.
Susan Swift Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Spellbinding
11 June 2019
Having been told of the negative response from a lot of reviews for this, I was slightly trepidatious as me and my friends (or should that be my friends and I? - you'll have to watch the play to get the joke) took to our seats last night.
However for such a lengthy play, I don't think the time has ever gone by so seemlessly and at the interval my two friends and I breathed large sighs of relief, not because it was the interval, but because we could talk about how fantastic the show was, even just after the first act.
Admittedly, some of the acting was in and out - at points it was difficult to tell whether Broderick's bumbling was his character or whether he was stumbling over lines and equally McGovern's gratingly whingey wife was unconvincing for the majority of the play.
However, it is easy to forgive all this when the sheer amount of warmth and commitment is clearly apparent from the entire cast. Creating the right relationship between performers and audience can be challenging, but last night I felt so connected to what was happening on stage that I don't think I have ever laughed so consistently throughout a show. There were several moments where I also had to wipe tears away from my eyes.
It is not often that I have a burning desire to watch a play again, however The Starry Messenger would certainly be one of them. Despite the minor criticisms, it achieved what I feel a great performance should achieve - moments of laughter, moments of sadness, but above all ending with an audience that leaves the theatre with a warm and fuzzy feeling of being happy and grateful for being alive.
Joe Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Nice evening out
9 June 2019
Good story Matthew is a star nothing new there Elizabeth needs to project hear voice better as a lot of dialogue is lost
Not sure story deserves 3 hours but not sorry i went
Marius Vermeulen Confirmed ticket purchaser
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The Starry Messenger
6 June 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this play! The dialogue is so good- you can relate to the different characters and various human characteristics are brought alive in a very clever way. The humour is good and certain life events covered really tug at the heart-strings
S Karia Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Starry Messenger
6 June 2019
Moving, and humorous play. Had seen reviews that the ending did not tie up the ends, but life is not like that. Superbly captured the challenges uncertainties of life. Great acting and well worth seeing.
Susan Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Great play !
6 June 2019
Everyone is wonderful and the play by it self is amazing.
Asterios Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Acting good, characters (some) uninteresting
5 June 2019
While the play was good-i liked the acting and the set design, i was uninterested in the main character, which destroyed my caring for the outcome. I found his character a “shlemezel”-and a bit nasty and self centered as well as uninspired. (Until the last monologue-but by then it was too late and also he doesn't live up to that)
Nomi Confirmed ticket purchaser
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excellent Mathew Broderick
3 June 2019
Enjoyed the play!
best cast!
Piru Confirmed ticket purchaser
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A great afternoon out
2 June 2019
An easy watch. Excellent sets which rotate regularly and keep you engaged the whole way through. Not mind-blowing, but consistently good and very enjoyable.
Muxxy Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Outstanding
2 June 2019
The show was great, how can Matthew Broderick remember so much, he had a lovely monolog in the second half in the class room where you could hear a pin drop , amazing acting from the whole cast including Lady Cora , great show .
Patrick Dee Confirmed ticket purchaser
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A bit dull
31 May 2019
The play was a bit dull, but definitely worth seeing Mathew Broderick he was great!
Sandy Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Very disappointing
29 May 2019
I had travelled from abroad to enjoy London and to see this play. In short, I felt so underwhelmed with the production and acting that I left at the interval.
The play felt extremely slow and struggled to keep my attention. While it managed to entice some laughter with the odd injection of a one-liner or two (Jim Norton was excellent) and indeed at times succeeded in making me feel uncomfortable in my seat, I felt that overall the number of overly overly dull moments outweighed the enjoyable ones.
The dialogue was excessively wordy, to the point where I wondered at times if Mr Broderick and others had forgotten their lines and had gone on some sort of ramble in the hopes of jogging their memories.
Perhaps the second half was better. Others will know the answer to that. I did not stay to find out. A very disappointing first visit to this theatre.
Pearse Confirmed ticket purchaser
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26 May 2019
I’m afraid I was bored to distraction and left at the interval. If this man was having a mid life crisis, I really didn’t care. He might have come alive in the second act, but by that time he’d put me to sleep. Elizabeth McGovern needs to project her voice. She wasn’t reaching up to the Grand Circle. A curiously old fashioned production, but maybe that was part of the point.
Fiona Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Memorable
26 May 2019
We thoroughly enjoyed The Starry Messenger. Matthew Broderick is one of our favorite actors and did not disappoint! Every character in the play seemed real and relatable. Strong performances by all.
Betty & Joel Bechtel Confirmed ticket purchaser
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FUN TO SEE Matthew Broderick etc.
26 May 2019
The play is staged and performed as well as this play can be. The play is a B perhaps B+, but still fun to see. Great to see this song-and-dance big screen movie star play a dull role on stage and he plays it well. Elizabeth McGovern also interesting, but Rosalind Eleazar has the most interesting role which she plays very well. Worth going to.
cebepe Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Slow unfolding of a plot
25 May 2019
I dont know what I expected but 3 hours seemed too long for the subject and dialogues. Quite slow in parts and some characters seemed unnecessary. Some surprises which kept it interesting and moving. I felt it was a bit laboured although the acting itself was good. Comfortable theatre and stalls were fine.
Charm Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Love and the universe
25 May 2019
Great acting especially Matthew Broderick but the whole cast very strong
The early scenes with Angela and Mark captures their feeling of awkwardness so well
At times there was too much ‘star talk’ but overall very enjoyable and thought provoking
Theatre lover Confirmed ticket purchaser
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25 May 2019
Thought provoking, strong performances particularly from Rosalind Eleazar
Theatrefiend Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Needed editing!
23 May 2019
Very unusual style of play. Bit too ponderous in many parts and one for the nerds we felt. Definitely too long - edit pen required. Did enjoy though.
Cella Confirmed ticket purchaser
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A Starry Mess
22 May 2019
The worst and most tedious evening at the theatre I have EVER spent. The play was boring, banal and just bad, bad, BAD. A word-weary play that purports to open up complex issues but ends up going nowhere. Midlife crisis, worn-out marriage, Roman Catholic inborn guilt? All shopworn, played-out, old hat, clichéd issues that have been examined ad nauseum in both theatre and film. Even Matthew Broderick - who is a fine actor; you can't actually tell that he is acting - couldn't save this dud. The play is wordy and mind-numbingly longwinded. Also, I have never in my theatre-going life seen such bad costume design! Is Chiara Stevenson colour blind? Has she no sense of style or period fashion? I have never seen such a mad mixture of hideous mismatched colours. Also, has she never heard of the theatrical turn of phrase 'breaking down'? That is, making something brand-new look time-worn and used. Obviously not, because Mark's briefcase - which he would have probably been carrying to and from the planetarium for years and it would have showed - looked like it had just come straight out of Bloomingdales men's wear department! Ditto Arnold's attaché case and all the ladies' handbags, especially Angela's brand spanking new high-gloss tan leather bucket bag. These were not REAL clothes worn by REAL people. Overall I would say that this is a dud play and an equally dud production. It's only draw is the star-studded cast! A shame they didn't get Miriam Margolyes to play Mrs Pysner! Now that really would have been a starry, starry cast!!
Thom O'Dwyer Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Slow and underwhelming
20 May 2019
The story was ok but too slow with too much unnecessary and boring dialogue. It felt as though the play never got going. The interval was 90 minutes in. The set looked good with nice use of lighting, but sound was an issue for us as the voices didn’t carry very well for some of the actresses. Would not really recommend.
KFarrant Confirmed ticket purchaser
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tedious and a bit boring
19 May 2019
I think forgetting lines is probably a reflection of the entertainment value of the show. some really good parts, but spoilt by some really dull scenes.
good potential, but really lacklustre.
Matthew's final monologue was so long and had absolutely no purpose, highlights or finale.
quite disappointing!
tim smith Confirmed ticket purchaser
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The Starry Messenger review
19 May 2019
A wonderful play, it keeps your interest throughout the course of the 3 hours, with a roller coaster of emotions. The characters were all very believable. Highly recommend it. Well worth the journey down to London.
JL Confirmed ticket purchaser
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19 May 2019
Great play. Fine performances bt the whole cast. Thoroughly enjoyable night. Matthew Broderick is a welcome addition to the London Theatre Scene.
Hansen Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Excellent play write with a nice underlying theme
18 May 2019
The show started abruptly in the classroom with Broderick holding court, the story, though slow to hold my attention, eventually was captivating and brought a nice sense of satisfaction at the end. Would highly recommend for any theatre goers in the area. Though tickets may be sold out online, if you show up at the door there are often people selling them outside. Cheers!
Louis Max Confirmed ticket purchaser
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Excellent play write with a nice underlying theme
18 May 2019
The show started abruptly in the classroom with Broderick holding court, the story, though slow to hold my attention, eventually was captivating and brought a nice sense of satisfaction at the end. Would highly recommend for any theatre goers in the area. Though tickets may be sold out online, if you show up at the door there are often people selling them outside. Cheers!
Louis Max Confirmed ticket purchaser
