Reviews

A Very Expensive Poison by Lucy Prebble

mskft's review

dark emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

coralkathleen's review

informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Fantastic play. Strong ensemble of characters that are quick to grasp. Funny at times but also very tense and intelligently written. Near perfect structure and form.

calloel's review

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

jackieeh's review

5.0

A thrilling, unflinching, engaging true story. (Also: darkly hilarious.) I wish I'd gotten the chance to see it on stage, as this is clearly an adaptation that takes full advantage of the medium.

tisalwayssunny's review

dark emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I don't usually read plays so this was interesting. I'm familiar with Prebble's work on tv and it's great that her humor comes across here as well (down to the stage notes!). The play itself is a bit melodramatic with Putin as the puppetmaster villain but I liked the focus on the central relationships. Stylistically, I found the intertwining timelines to be well done and kept the play engaging. Would have loved to see it performed. 

holly_golightly's review

challenging dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

jonathan_daley's review

5.0

Absolutely brilliant. It manages to take such a serious subject matter and present it with integrity, wit and humour. Putin as a pantomime villain works so well. I hope that one day I can see it staged. The final monologue, with the audience participation, was exceptionally powerful.

endlessly_emerging_playwright's review

4.0

Funniest depiction of Stalin I have read. Would love to see it on stage at some point. Prebble's dialogue is just lush.