KAFKA THE MUSICAL - PRESS AND REVIEWS
The Scotsman - April 23, 2011 - Jim Gilchrist
"In his Doctor Who days, David Tennant negotiated some bizarre plots, but tomorrow's drama on 3 – Kafka the Musical perhaps takes the biscuit.
Tennant takes the role of the playwright himself, who discovers, in what one can only call a Kafka-esque scenario, that he has to play himself in a musical about his own life."
The Radio Times - Jane Anderson
"Tennant's performance, from nervous stutters through to grunting intercourse, is nuanced with such sadness that it's impossible to get to the end without weeping."
The Independent - April 28, 2011 - Jane Thynne
"This should have been fun, and indeed David Tennant was subtle and amusing as a gauche and hesitant Kafka. . . "
Everythingexpress.co.uk - April 28, 2011 - Robin Catling
"...Except Tennant doesn’t do conventional, the twist is this is a dream-fantasy... Murray Gold, composer of many TV sound-tracks (including Dr Who), displays a finesse for dialog, structure and pace...
Ably supported by a strong cast, Tennant turns in a poignant, achingly alienated performance as the consumptive, socially inept Kafka, emotionally and physically paralysed and led along by events.
Reminiscent of his BBC Hamlet, Tennant does his usual turn of stutters, anxiety and manic intensity, clearly trying to underplay the role. But he’s such a strong personality that at times he overwhelms the drama. It’s had mixed reviews. I found it engaging and entertaining..."
The Telegraph - April 26, 2011 - Gillian Reynolds
Kafka the Musical: it's a bit of a trial, review "...so there I was on Sunday night, ready to give it another go. After all, Kafka was being played by David Tennant and he’s always good.
Then I remembered hearing something on Radio 5 Live about United on BBC Two also on Sunday night. David Tennant was in that too but it started at 9:00pm. Dilemma time. I’d have to skip the last half-hour of Kafka the Musical to watch all of United.
...Reader, I thought of you. So I listened to Murray Gold’s Kafka the Musical all the way through, including the final half-hour (where it does actually turn into sort of a musical but the kind of musical where you wonder how much more of it there is) right down to the very end.
The excellent cast gave it salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.
Even when Tennant had lines like “I’m just a writer. I write because I have to” before two knocks at a door heralded two men singing, Weill-style, “Two sharp knocks at the door, two men come in the night…” the performances stayed energetic. The play, alas, lay dead on the air."
The Scotsman - April 23, 2011 - Jim Gilchrist
"In his Doctor Who days, David Tennant negotiated some bizarre plots, but tomorrow's drama on 3 – Kafka the Musical perhaps takes the biscuit.
Tennant takes the role of the playwright himself, who discovers, in what one can only call a Kafka-esque scenario, that he has to play himself in a musical about his own life."
The Radio Times - Jane Anderson
"Tennant's performance, from nervous stutters through to grunting intercourse, is nuanced with such sadness that it's impossible to get to the end without weeping."
The Independent - April 28, 2011 - Jane Thynne
"This should have been fun, and indeed David Tennant was subtle and amusing as a gauche and hesitant Kafka. . . "
Everythingexpress.co.uk - April 28, 2011 - Robin Catling
"...Except Tennant doesn’t do conventional, the twist is this is a dream-fantasy... Murray Gold, composer of many TV sound-tracks (including Dr Who), displays a finesse for dialog, structure and pace...
Ably supported by a strong cast, Tennant turns in a poignant, achingly alienated performance as the consumptive, socially inept Kafka, emotionally and physically paralysed and led along by events.
Reminiscent of his BBC Hamlet, Tennant does his usual turn of stutters, anxiety and manic intensity, clearly trying to underplay the role. But he’s such a strong personality that at times he overwhelms the drama. It’s had mixed reviews. I found it engaging and entertaining..."
The Telegraph - April 26, 2011 - Gillian Reynolds
Kafka the Musical: it's a bit of a trial, review "...so there I was on Sunday night, ready to give it another go. After all, Kafka was being played by David Tennant and he’s always good.Then I remembered hearing something on Radio 5 Live about United on BBC Two also on Sunday night. David Tennant was in that too but it started at 9:00pm. Dilemma time. I’d have to skip the last half-hour of Kafka the Musical to watch all of United.
...Reader, I thought of you. So I listened to Murray Gold’s Kafka the Musical all the way through, including the final half-hour (where it does actually turn into sort of a musical but the kind of musical where you wonder how much more of it there is) right down to the very end.
The excellent cast gave it salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.
Even when Tennant had lines like “I’m just a writer. I write because I have to” before two knocks at a door heralded two men singing, Weill-style, “Two sharp knocks at the door, two men come in the night…” the performances stayed energetic. The play, alas, lay dead on the air."