A reviews round-up for Working at Southwark Playhouse.
Slick and inspiring, Working celebrates the endeavours of the ordinary American people.
Originally opening on Broadway in 1978, this “genre-defining musical” by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso is based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with the American workforce.
It’s a portrait of the American workday from the perspective of the schoolteacher, the housewife, the fireman and the waitress whose aspirations reflect the truths of the people that make up a nation.
Working is directed by Luke Sheppard and stars Gillian Bevan and Peter Polycarpou.
A great production that is full of energy.
Read our round-up of reviews below
Working runs from 2 June 2017until 8 July 2017 at Southwark Playhouse, London.
REVIEWS ROUND-UP
“This musical revue – which originally flopped on Broadway – features exquisite performances and songs by Hamilton’s creator but still feels quaintly nostalgic.”
“What the show does beautifully is celebrate the endeavours of ordinary people.”
“It is a nice idea to create a backing chorus of recent drama-school graduates, but the choreography created for them is so strenuous that I felt as if I’d done a day’s work simply watching it.”
Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
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“This much-revised revue-style musical from 1977 feels bitty and dated in places, but it’s a slick, committed and superbly sung production.”
Sam Marlowe, The Times
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“evocative and inspiring”
“Staged on a evocatively grimy industrial-looking set that has to serve multiple locations, Isaac McCullough presides over a punchy six piece band on a visible upper platform.”
Mark Shenton, The Stage
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"Director Luke Sheppard has assembled an impressive ensemble of new and established talent."
“Southwark Playhouse has built a reputation for high quality imports of unsung American musicals, and 'Working' is no exception.”
Theo Bosanquet, TimeOut
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“This denim-clad 1970s elegy to the dignity of labour still feels relevant.”
“Working has a good claim to be noticed. For the cast, it is clearly a labour of love.”
Miranda Green, Financial Times
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