Dianna Agron gave it her best shot. The former Glee star took to the stage in London’s famed West End at St. James Theatre to show her stuff. The critics were not only not impressed, they were distressed.
Not too many West End production criticisms make it to trending news in the United States. We laughed it up when the Duck Dynasty musical opened and folded in the same month. But this was a world premiere of James Phillips’ play McQueen. Phillips’ play City Stories has been running that the St. James since 2013, so the crowd appreciates his stuff.
But Dianna Agron was declared out of her element. A few of the reviews for the show — or more specifically, for Dianna Agron — were vicious.
“Another issue is Agron…who never manages to elevate her character beyond a clothes-horse spouting psychobabble. She speaks in a strange, sing-song voice throughout, reciting rather than metabolizing her lines.”
“Dianna Agron falls into monotonous vocal rhythms as Dahlia.”
Dianna Agron has officially begun her West End debut in #McQueen: http://t.co/Mgx9gs8Zaj pic.twitter.com/Qv2tHxBfzN
— JustJared.com (@JustJared) May 22, 2015
“But Glee star Dianna Agron is not good, I’m afraid. Her delivery is glib yet slow – I never believe the quick-fire rapport with McQueen, and when they get onto more profound or personal matters, her probing feels painfully crass rather than deep-and-meaningful.”
“That actor Stephen Wight should wring a tender portrait of a troubled man out of such crass writing, surrounded by tech and opposite the expressionless void of co-star Dianna Agron (“Glee”), is nothing short of a marvel.
“Agron, however, is little more than a clothes horse. She plays up Dahlia’s numbness and ends up vocally monotone, facially inert and deeply unwatchable.”
But even the Yahoo Trending Summary about reactions to the play were vicious. Perhaps the words “fucking devastating” made it past the Yahoo team members.
Stunned Yahoo would use the F word to summarize @DiannaAgron and her performance in #mcqueen #McQueenThePlay pic.twitter.com/edgnoejTMa
— Jay Clark (@jcrocker8) May 22, 2015
Fortunately for Dianna Agron, the critics are outnumbered by the audience.
@TracyAnnO @DiannaAgron and Stephen wight gave a marvellous performance of @McQueenThePlay tonight. A must see! Well done all!
— David Jones (@davidjones2011) May 22, 2015
@DiannaAgron @McQueenThePlay Di you are grace and beauty thankyou .. Very impressed with this camera / film making talent of yours x
— Tracy Ann Oberman (@TracyAnnO) May 26, 2015
I just can't wait to go to London to see @McQueenThePlay with the wonderful @DiannaAgron in just a few days…. pic.twitter.com/eCMFnplHEn
— Laura (@03Laura03) May 26, 2015
LOVED watching McQueen at St James Theatre – Stephen Wight is frighteningly good as are @DiannaAgron @TracyAnnO off to shop for couture …
— Sarah Solemani (@Solemani) May 26, 2015
@DiannaAgron was sensational tonight @McQueenThePlay , such a touching interaction between her and Stephen. Thank you Dianna
— Gary James McQueen (@GaryJamesMcQuee) May 20, 2015
Wonderful performance from @McQueenThePlay cast last night and met the lovely @DiannaAgron too 🙂 pic.twitter.com/gWQHHxmE7c
— Charlie Martin (@charlielmr) May 26, 2015
