Los Angeles Times - Recommended
"...O'Neill's tragedy wounds without providing the salve of catharsis. But the acting artistry of Manville and Irons redeems this grueling journey into the heart of a family's darkness."
Broadway World - Recommended
"...Each masters the downward spiral of the play in his or her own way over the course of one long day that plays out in three and a half hours of stage time. The first act gallops along at a brisk pace but it takes a while for the ear to tune to the British actors various American accents. With the day beginning to wane, Act II's somber tone can make it more challenging to remain engaged but secrets further revealed, particularly by Irons, are well-worth the stay."
Stage and Cinema - Somewhat Recommended
"...You may argue that a true dysfunctional family would never open up to each other as the Tyrones do; there would be sullen encounters, nasty but brief exchanges and mutual avoidance but no truth-telling. O'Neill, however, employs alcohol, morphine and the force of our own collective curiosity to unburden this Connecticut clan of seemingly unstoppable secrets. But the truth will never set them free."
LA Splash - Highly Recommended
"...This Bristol Old Vic Production of LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT is directed by Richard Eyre, who keeps the pace brisk in this piece which lasts just over three hours. In this day of short plays, often without intermissions, O'Neill's drama is long and complex. At the same time, it allows for the slow stripping away of facades from each of the four principals - as well as the build-up of frustration and exasperation in the audience when there seems to be no end - or solution - in sight. O'Neill masterfully profiles each of his family members - and the uber-talented cast bites into the roles with fierce gusto."
CurtainUp - Highly Recommended
"..."Long Day's Journey..." should be seen in any production on any level, amateur or professional: you will carry it with you for the rest of your life. But this production in Beverly Hills, at the Wallis Annenberg Center, has the pairing of Jeremy Irons and Leslie Manville as James and Mary Tyrone, two of the most indelible characters ever. Jeremy Irons suavely climbs the mountain of James Tyrone in his "bad, good luck" monologue. Leslie Manville plays the lonely, drug addicted mother, Mary Tyrone, former convent girl, without hysteria, just ever so delicately and on edge. There is more than a vestige of love between all the members of the Tyrone family, however doomed and enveloped in fog, their own personal pathos. If you want to experience theatrical history, in a production that will be long remembered, this is it."
Hollywood Progressive - Highly Recommended
"...this bravura production of Long Day's Journey Into Night spearheaded by the virtuoso Irons is among the best tragedies this reviewer has ever seen. It is a must see for all lovers of great acting and drama. Don't miss it. On opening night it was met with a well-deserved standing ovation. Bravo!"
Stage Raw - Recommended
"...In Long Day's Journey into Night, Eugene O'Neill wrote what is probably the most searing family portrait ever penned. It owes its extraordinary power to the fact that it is mercilessly autobiographical. The family in the play are called the Tyrones, but they are an almost literal representation of O'Neill and his family."
Haines His Way - Highly Recommended
"...But the crowning jewel in this production, and she shines like a 1000 exploding suns, in the performance of Lesley Manville as Mary. From her early fretting over the health of Edmund, to her coquettish flirtation with her difficult husband, to her slow descent into madness is as thrilling and exciting as it is harrowing to watch. If you have never experienced a Long Day's Journey Into Night, you won't go wrong by seeing this one. Manville's performance alone makes it one for the ages."
On Stage Blog - Highly Recommended
"...Standing in the lobby after the show, I noticed Irons and Smudge walking outside to a motorcycle. With my one chance to get my father close to his (and mine) favorite movie and stage star, I led my father to Irons and asked if my father could be in a photo with him. Kindly this dignified man put his arm around my father's shoulder, listened to my father praising his talent, and blessed my dad on Father's Day as I snapped away. As he turned to leave, Smudge came over to me and licked my hand after I gave him a scratch. Then the two walked across Canon Drive in Beverly Hills and disappeared. The memory of this theatrical experience before, during and after Long Day's Journey into Night will stay with me forever."
