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Master Class - © Johan Persson
Could this transatlantic transfer revival of Terence McNally's 1995 Maria Callas play be any more Broadway? Only if they quadrupled the ticket price and added an angry man outside flogging pretzels.
A smash across the pond last year, Stephen Wadsworth's production is most notable for Tyne Daly's reprisal of her lauded turn as the aging opera diva, teaching a voice master class at New York's Juilliard School.
Your enjoyment of 'Master Class' will hinge on whether you're there to revel in Daly being archly fabulous, or to watch a good play. If it's the former and you've got a high tolerance for pantomimic fourth wall breaking and waspish asides then you'll have a marvellous time.
If it's the latter, you'll be frustrated at how Daly's powerhouse performance is blunted by a text in thrall to McNally's unilluminating vision of Callas as a magnificently wounded wisecrack machine.
When she's not mugging, Daly is very good, a bristling, ambivalent presence, hacking her way through the inane pupils sent her way. But it's only in two sensitive flashback scenes that her performance is truly allowed to sing.
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Read full venue reviewTransport Charing Cross
0844 482 9675
£25-£52.50. Runs 2hrs 20mins
Any misgivings about taking a day trip to London to see Master Class were very soon dispelled. I would say it was probably the best play I have ever seen. I thought it a very clever production, with no troughs often experienced in a lot of plays when your focus begins to wander. It takes great talent to pull it off, and hold an audience. Tyne Daly was superb, how she held her very mobile countenance in such control was remarkable, in what I perceived to be a very demanding and draining role She was magnetic, and allowing the story of Callas's life to evolve was clever, it made me want to know more about her, what more could you wish for? I disagree with a lot of comments here. Nothing sparse about this production to me, it remained with me for a few days. It kept me wondering if those singers would sing, they did, and the audience applauded in response. In summary a very clever play, and worth my travel from Souuth Wales, very well done to all involved in that production.
I saw the first half of this - Daly started off well, but ultimately didn't have enough of the magnetism or charisma that I would associate with Maria Callas. Ultimately, there was very little dramatic incident or flow in the play. A sparse production that left one cold.
I am a New Yorker and I saw the play three times with three different actresses...Zoe Caldwell, Patti LuPone and Tyne Daly and I must say Tyne just blew me away. Her performance is so good and so entertaining, that I do agree with your critic who sated that the play's flaws are that much more obvious with Ms. Daly's "masterful" performance.
well I went yesterday and was overjoyed with the performance excellent !!! you felt as if you were attending the class !!
Wonderful matinee on Saturday 28th Jan. Daley gave a poignant and powerful performance that I'll remember for a very long time. The supporting cast are great also and you will hear some fine voices, although of course, nothing rivals la Diva! As she declares to her class "how can I have rivals when no-one can do what I do?" Fabulous! A must-see.
Absolutely enthralling. Tyne Daley is so amazing that you find yourself wondering if she wasted years on Cagney and Lacey.
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