Rather a curate's egg - decidedly mixed. It's not really witty enough for Coward - the first fifteen minutes contain lots of aphorisms that you cannot hear because they are garbled too quickly - and it's not really dramatic enough - snooty twenties English aristos don't like pushy modern American girl. Big deal, but where's the drama in that that we haven't seen a dozen times before. You can't dip in and out of a play to suit attention deficit audiences of today and expect a coherent entity. Acting is best part - Jessica Biel triumphs and looks good - just like most blonde US stars, eg Naomi Watts, Scarlett Johanneson. Kristin Scott Thomas reprises her Gosford Park role, and Colin Firth waits around like a spare P**** until called upon to tango. Oh, and he throws in a bit of acting regarding his 'damaged' psyche over the Great War, just to prove he's worth his salary. The rest of the aristos do not cut the mustard, and Ben Barnes as a heart throb - give us a break! And a mention for Kris Marshall - freed from the BT adverts - to give yet another butler who drinks and sees everything for what it is. Come back John Gielgud all is forgiven! Just alright really.
Review of Easy Virtue
