Zoë's 'a thrill to watch' in Kenneth Branagh's Plays at The Garrick

18 November 2015 17:29

Even more fantastic reviews of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's productions of All On Her Own/Harlequinade, starring Zoë, have been published. Zoë's performances in this Rattigan double bill are capturing the attention of critics and audiences alike.

In All On Her Own Zoë 'terrifically segues between the accents and personalities of the spouses', Rosemary and her late husband Gregory (John Nathan, The Jewish Chronicle)

In Harlequinade Zoë is 'a thrill to watch. It's rare to see an actor have such an effect on an audience.' She 'also gives a bone-rattling performance' in All On Her Own. 'It's not hard to see why she's won two Oliviers' (Culture Whisper)

In Harlequinade Zoë 'is both subtle and side-splitting' (Paul Levy, Plain English, an Arts Journal blog)

In Harlequinade Zoë's 'Dame Maud owns the stage whenever she appears' (Yassine Senghor, The Upcoming)

In the double bill 'the most memorable actor of the night was Zoe Wanamaker, who not only stole every scene she played as outspoken actress Dame Maud but also put in a thrilling performance as a widowed middle-class Londoner in Rattigan's one-hander All On Her Own' (Laura Enfield, East London and West Sussex Guardian Series)

All On Her Own and Harlequinade 'are both thoroughly fascinating'. The former is 'chillingly delivered by the wonderful Zoe Wanamaker', who gives 'a touchingly truthful performance'. In the latter she makes 'scene-stealing appearances' (Davor Golub, London Box Office)

Part of the Plays at The Garrick season, All On Her Own and Harlequinade are being staged as a double bill at London's Garrick Theatre, until 13 January. Tickets are available.

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More excellent reviews of Zoë's performances in All On Her Own/Harlequinade

10 November 2015 19:39

More excellent reviews of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's productions of All On Her Own and Harlequinade have now been published, with Zoë's portrayals of guilt-ridden Rosemary and formidable Dame Maud earning considerable praise, as shown below.

Harlequinade is 'infectiously warm-hearted'. Zoë 'excels' in All On Her Own (Sarah Hemming, Financial Times)

Harlequinade is 'appealingly silly'. In All On Her Own Zoe's 'performance is at once fierce and melancholy – finely judged and genuinely sad' (Henry Hitchings, Evening Standard)

'All On Her Own features Zoe Wanamaker in glorious form as a woman wracked with guilt' (Leslie Felperin, Hollywood Reporter)

In Harlequinade Zoë is 'the real scene stealer'. In All On Her Own she gives a 'dark, stylish performance'. (Charlotte Marshall, Official London Theatre)

In All On Her Own Zoe paints a 'starkly vulnerable portrait' of widowed Rosemary. In Harlequinade 'Wanamaker is a hoot' (Marianka Swain, The Arts Desk)

'A terrific Zoe Wanamaker plays Rosemary' in 'memorable' monologue All On Her Own (James FitzGerald, Londonist)

All On Her Own 'is brought to life by Wanamaker in a tantalisingly engaging performance'. Harlequinade is 'a hoot' (Chris Omaweng, London Theatre 1)

In All On Her Own 'Wanamaker depicts the slow unravelling of [Rosemary's] innermost thoughts with a captivating vulnerability' (Daniel Perks, A Younger Theatre)

This double bill of Terence Rattigan plays is being staged at London's Garrick Theatre until 13 January. Tickets are available.

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Zoë pictured on All On Her Own/Harlequinade opening night, plus fantastic reviews

8 November 2015 19:34

Following yesterday evening's press performances of All On Her Own and Harlequinade at London's Garrick Theatre, Zoë was photographed for Getty Images at the Harlequinade curtain call and after-party. The Daily Mail has covered the opening night's events.

The after-party, held at the National Gallery, celebrated the opening of The Winter's Tale (in which Zoë doesn't appear) in addition to All On Her Own/Harlequinade, as the shows are playing in repertory. Zoë was joined by her husband, Gawn Grainger. Also present were Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench and other cast members.

Some fantastic reviews of tense monologue All On Her Own and comedy Harlequinade have been published. Highlights are below.

In Harlequinade Zoë portrays Dame Maud as 'hilariously soused' and performs All On Her Own 'with a soul-baring virtuosity' (Michael Billington, Guardian)

Harlequinade 'is stolen effortlessly by Zoe Wanamaker's turn as Dame Maud'. When watching All On Her Own, 'Young actors and actresses could learn much from the clarity of her diction and how she uses pitch to create a sense of intimacy in a large theatre – a master at work' (Gary Naylor, BroadwayWorld)

In All On Her Own 'Wanamaker is devastatingly good as a bereaved woman' (Michael Coveney, Whatsonstage.com)

In All On Her Own 'Wanamaker's performance is a miniature tour de force' (Andrzej Lukowski, Time Out)

In All On Her Own 'Wanamaker wrings every possibility from the occasion, her voice resonant with despair and passion', and gives a 'lustrous performance'. Harlequinade is 'an insightful piece of comic delight', in which Zoë is 'likely to bring tears of joy to your eyes' (Stephen Collins, BritishTheatre.com)

In Harlequinade Zoë's Dame Maud is 'gorgeously bossy'. All On Her Own is a 'painfully arresting' monologue (Libby Purves, theatreCat)

Zoë gives 'a thoughtful performance' in All On Her Own. Harlequinade 'has bags of charm' (Maryam Philpott, The Reviews Hub)

Tickets are available for this double bill, which runs until 13 January.

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More photos of Zoë published as All On Her Own/Harlequinade open at the Garrick Theatre

7 November 2015 18:23

On the day that All On Her Own and Harlequinade have their press performances at London's Garrick Theatre, more of Johan Persson's photos of the former play have been published. Time Out has a series of striking new images of Zoë as troubled widow Rosemary (see photos seven, eight and nine in the magazine's gallery).

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company has reported on Twitter that the press performances of its Rattigan double bill are playing to a full house, which reflects the tremendous interest in these productions.

Tickets for All On Her Own and Harlequinade are available. Performances are scheduled until 13 January.

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First production photos of Zoë in All On Her Own/Harlequinade, which open at the Garrick tomorrow

6 November 2015 19:56

The Guardian has published a series of excellent production photos, taken by Johan Persson, of Zoë on-stage in the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's Rattigan double bill. She's pictured as secretive widow Rosemary in All On Her Own and as the formidable Dame Maud, alongside fellow cast members, in comedic gem Harlequinade.

The images' publication is timely, as press performances of All On Her Own and Harlequinade will take place tomorrow at London's Garrick Theatre, marking the opening of the Plays at The Garrick season.

Tickets for the double bill, which runs until 13 January, are available.

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