Sandra Oh makes her London stage debut in the National Theatre’s new, gender-flipped adaptation of Molière’s 1666 comedy, The Misanthrope. In the production, Oh plays Alice, a sharp, acerbic bestselling novelist who offers advice to a young writer. Critics describe the story as being updated for a modern audience, with changes that include an Americanised setting and a conversational, debate-driven approach to themes such as writing, relationships, and how people choose to live. Several reviews highlight that the adaptation is ambitious and that Oh brings force and energy to the role, including a strong presence and comedic bite. However, multiple outlets differ in their assessment of the overall execution. While some reviewers acknowledge the production’s drive and moments of theatrical impact, others argue that the satire can lose its edge and the script may feel overstuffed, undermining the balance between comic material and drama. Overall, the coverage portrays a high-profile reinterpretation that uses gender reversal and contemporary dialogue, with varied opinion on whether it fully delivers on its aims.
Sandra Oh stars in National Theatre’s gender-flipped rework of Molière’s The Misanthrope
Sandra Oh makes her London stage debut in the National Theatre’s new, gender-flipped adaptation of Molière’s 1666 comedy, The Misanthrope. In the production, Oh plays Alice, a sharp, acerbic bestselli...
- Sandra Oh stars in the National Theatre’s London production of The Misanthrope.
- The adaptation is gender-flipped from Molière’s original, with Oh playing Alice.
- The rework updates the story with contemporary elements, including an Americanised setting.
- Critics widely describe the production as ambitious, with mixed assessments of how well the satire and drama land.
- The show is running at the National Theatre in London until 1 August.
The ‘Killing Eve’ star plays an acerbic novelist in a gender-swapped adaptation of Molière’s 1666 comedy
2 months agoNational Theatre, LondonHeroic but imperfect modern-day version of the 17th-century classic is stuffed full of debates about how we might live differentlyMolière’s misanthrope here is a bestselling writer in a stylish trouser suit, gender-reversed as Alice and Americanised in the formidable form of Sandra Oh. When an aspiring novelist asks for literary advice, Alice tells her to always make her writing “seductive”.Is that what playwright Martin Crimp has aspired to do here? His modern-day version is certainly as high-wire an endeavour as his beat-boxing reboot of Cyrano de Bergerac, a French canonical text which he turned into something new, dangerous and yes, extremely seductive.At the National theatre, London, until 1 August. Continue reading...
2 months agoStar Sandra Oh is let down by the National’s gender-flipped Misanthrope The TelegraphThe Misanthrope review – Sandra Oh brings riveting heart and fire to over-stuffed Molière update The GuardianThe Misanthrope with Sandra Oh – first look photos WhatsOnStageThe Misanthrope review — Sandra Oh, what a disappointment The TimesThe Misanthrope – National Theatre, London The Reviews Hub
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