Theatre Reviews

Henry IV part I, II and Henry V The Courtyard Theatre Stratford upon Avon and The Roundhouse Camden Eastcheap is marvellously created, a terrific Maureen Beattie here (Mistress Quickly). Reviews Gate 2007 Lex Shrapnel's flashing-eyed, graceful, alluring Hotspur does the play proud, as does Maureen Beattie's heaving-cleavaged Mistress Quickly; when she comes on to the Lord Chief Justice, you feel, as you should throughout these plays, the staid getting tipsy. The Guardian 2007 Maureen Beattie playing Mistress Quickly, reminded us of what being a Landlady of all the talents called for. Sexy, yet authoritative, a mistress of communication. She could turn you on or throw you out in a trice. Survival was the name of her game Theatre News 2007 Maureen Beattie's Mistress Quickly offers a deeply moving account of the death of Falstaff, surely one of the most beautiful speeches in the whole of Shakespeare Telegraph 2007 Maureen Beatties excellent Mistress Quickly, which promises great things for 2H4 Whats on Stage 2007 But there is much to enjoy in Maureen Beatties glorious Glaswegian Mistress Quickly, presiding over an Eastcheap brothel of slamming trap doors and huge red swags; Whats on stage 2007 Here, though, there's little wrong with the ensemble. How can it be when you have actors of the calibre of Maureen Beattie (Mistress Quickly), British Theatre Guide 2007 The Eastcheap scenes were well done, lively and funny. Maureen Beattie held court with an excellent comic performance as Mistress Quickly, and with Streatfeild helping keep up the energy the two of them really seemed to lead these scenes, allowing Warners Falstaff to recline and do his good work. Warwick ac uk 2007 Mistress Quickly, once again played by the marvellous Maureen Beattie, and Julius D'Silva's carbuncular Bardolph are good fun" Sunday Telegraph More successful is Maureen Beattie as Mistress Quickly, whose sexuality and bawdiness are eminently watchable. Beattie conjures a woman whose skills in the art of love are only matched by her pragmatic acceptance that younger, fresher blood might be lusted over. Quickly easily adapts to her new role, providing Falstaff with Doll Tearsheet, played with remarkable verve and clarity by Alexia Healy. Add to this Julius D'Silva's Bardolph and, in Part II, a wonderful Pistol in Nicholas Asbury, and you have the makings of great humour. Rogues and vagabonds 2007 Henry VI part II Gloucester and his wife (Maureen Beattie) gave a very nice intimate home scene that stood out amidst the rest of the action. Maureen s performance was good, especially excelling when dressed in sackcloth and shivering on the streets with bloodied feet. Richard Corderys Gloucester was excellent throughout, confused and frustrated by his gradual loss of power and touching in the loss of his wife. Rebecca Richmond Theatre 2005 Maureen Beatties Mrs Danvers starts as she means to go on with a high pitched barnstorming performance which leaves no room for surprise at her final collapse and leaves one wondering why she was in charge of the house in the first place. New Theatre Cardiff February 2, 2005 Maureen Beatties Mrs Danvers continues the more real approach with again a much more believable personality nevertheless strong and whilst remaining pretty obsessed with the memory of Rebecca has abandoned the pantomime villain approach to the role. We question was she in love with Rebecca or even was she her mother? So strongly does she register the bond. Her attempts to drive a wedge between de Winter and his new young little wife are what you would expect from an one in such strained circumstances. H M Tennent Limited The Deep Blue Sea Nottingham Playhouse, May 9, 2000 As Hester, Maureen Beattie pierces the heart with a splendid, skilfully understated performance. Her moments of raw, humiliating passion are all the more moving because they erupt from such a well- bred, witty lady who, crucially, is never for one moment fooled by herself. Beattie stares with a terrible clear-eyed, almost calm acceptance into the sort of erotic doom one associates less with Ladbroke Grove than the groves of ancient Greece. Medea The Hindu Times, February 20 2002 With some stunning performance by Maureen Beattie as Medea and able support from the Chorus, the play was just that: a commentary on the attitudes of men and women in modern times. The `modernisation' of the play was all-round. What better theme for the love-lost troublesome times of today than infidelity, even revenge?