A Tale of Two Cities Reviews
Edge- Recommended
"...The entire play, at over two hours, is sprawling and eventful, some of which is hard to follow if you don't know the novel, but it's also a sturdy evening of quality theatre, well worth the visit. "
Stage Scene LA- Highly Recommended
"...Forget every A Tale Of Two Cities you've seen before, and that includes the 1935 MGM classic. A Noise Within's United States Premiere of Mike Poulton's thrillingly reconceived 2014 stage adaptation is in a class by itself, Dickens retold for a 21-century audience, instantly compelling, gorgeous to look at, profoundly moving, and as directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliot, the absolute must-see production of ANW's all-around smashing Fall 2017 season."
TheatreMania- Recommended
"...A tale this massive may require a longer text to capture all the nuances and suck the audience into this grotesque era. At two-and-a-quarter hours, the play doesn't have time to breathe. Regardless, A Noise Within soldiers on with A Tale of Two Cities, forging a diligent production that condemns mob mentality."
Stage Raw- Somewhat Recommended
"...Not to say that A Noise Within's production of Mike Poulton's adaptation (which premiered in Northhampton England's Royal & Derngate Theatre in 2014, and is now receiving its US premiere at ANW) is mediocre, per say. The source material is a brilliant if sluggish read, a historical fiction that takes place in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. But the epic scope of its setting, themes and characters makes it difficult to pare down and present in a two-and-a-half-hour stage play to any great affect. In fact, the liberal cuts leave the piece neutered."
Haines His Way- Somewhat Recommended
"...Directors Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott keep the action flowing at a good pace and there is a lot of energy in the mob scenes but this script never really delivers its emotional impact. The cast is competent, many playing multiple roles, but this revolution never fully ignites."
Tin Pan LA- Recommended
"...Poulton opens the play with a gripping courtroom scene combining functional exposition with intriguing melodrama right from the start. As the play commences, we realize that his adaptation is extremely faithful to Dickens' original narrative. Accordingly, for those who seek a fresh perspective, or an even more abridged retelling, Poulton's loyalty to the original becomes a liability as the play's running time and plot may prove too dense for some. Even so, this almost goes unnoticed given the captivating production and talented cast that breathes life into these classic roles."
On Stage and Screen- Somewhat Recommended
"...There is also a bit of suspension of disbelief required in general-while the actors playing Charles and Sydney do not look entirely dissimilar, to believe they are as identical as the plot requires is a bit of a stretch, and one that would be far easier to pull off with the helpful post-production magic of television and film. Overall, this is an interesting, politically-charged take on a classic story that should entertain both fans of the source material and casual viewers alike."