British Theatre Guide about “Good Grief”

http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/good-grief-yvonne-arnaud-t-8200

Despite a surprisingly wobbly Yorkshire accent, Penelope Keith carries this show by default as the script is virtually a monologue and could very easily be presented in the style of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads, but that is not to dismiss the other performers who each expertly add physical presence and emphasis to the dialogue… Jonathan Firth is Eric, a newsman and junior colleague of June’s editor husband, and with the most insincere ingratiating smile I’ve ever seen (“He’s a slimy bugger Sam”)… Tragedy and comedy go hand-in-hand through life. This play addresses the depth and complexity of feeling after the death of a loved one—but comedy has the upper hand and it’s very funny and a joy to watch. Recommended. 

The Public Reviews gave 4 stars to the “Good grief”

http://www.thepublicreviews.com/good-grief-yvonne-arnaud-theatre-guildford/

Whilst the character of June is explored and exposed as the play develops, the same cannot be said of the other roles which seem much more lightly drawn, and although well portrayed there is little depth for the cast to work with. Jonathon Firth is certainly slick to the point of being slightly oily as the former colleague of June’s husband, Flora Montgomery cold and distant as the step daughter, the reason for her frostiness only revealed late on in the play. It’s left to Christopher Ravenscroft as the enigmatic Dougie to provide any real distraction from this becoming more of a monologue than a play.
With plenty of laughs, especially during the first act, some exploration of the complex ways in which grief can affect one, and one or two shocks along the way, the play moved along at a cracking pace yet never felt rushed thanks to the skill of the cast, and although let down slightly by the rather sudden ending this was nevertheless a very entertaining evening.

Stage Dragon Review: Good Grief – Yvonne Arnaud - 'Simply wonderful'

This review has some nice words about actors, direction, set design

http://www.guildford-dragon.com/2012/10/30/review/

...Jonathan Firth as Eric is slimy, smarmy and everything one expects of a high flying newspaper exec.

"Good Grief" in Guildford

Next week the “Good Grief” tour will continue in Guildford.

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford 29 October - 3 November

http://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/production/good-grief

Main Auditorium

Mon 29 Oct - Sat 3 Nov

Mon - Thur eve 7:45pm

Fri & Sat eve 8pm

Thur & Sat mats 2:30pm

Unusual and interesting building in the picturesque place :)

"Great Grief"

Great Grief (great review from Wednesday, October 24, 2012 Gloucestershire Echo).

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Great-Grief/story-17166085-detail/story.html

...Meanwhile, an obnoxious journalist (Jonathan Firth) her husband despised is hovering with an unpleasant secret.

At first the other actors do seem like bowling machines hurling cues to Keith.

But she constantly keeps the humour sparking, and if her northern accent is less sure, hers and the other characters develop deeply and meaningfully.

The result is a real insight into the vulnerability of a women suddenly alone, forced to look back on her life, warts and all.

All the performances are absolutely excellent and tautly choreographed by director Tom Littler, who I suspect doesn't mourn too much about his star's fluctuating vowels.

The "Good Grief" cast is superb!!!

One local journalist (from Cheltenham) attended Monday performance and he wrote on Twitter: "Great first night for Good Grief. Penelope Keith & the rest of the cast superb. Don't miss!"

So, if you live near Cheltenham, go and see it! And I will envy you :)

Good Grief in Cheltenham

Next week “Good Grief” performances will take place at the Everyman Theatre.

https://tickets.everymantheatre.org.uk/show.asp

Monday, 22nd October 2012 to Saturday, 27th October 2012.
Mon-Sat 19:45. Thu, Sat Mats 14:00

Jonathan with a hat :)

I love this photo(maybe, you’ve seen it before). It was taken on June 24, 2005. Jonathan participated in one interesting  photo project (with 84 other actors).  This project is based around a hat that was made specifically  to show the difference in character one assumes when behind a mask....or in this case a hat.

I think it’s an awesome portrait and a really good photographer’s  idea.

Other actors can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewfphoto/sets/72157600263837480/with/513167530/

Theatre review: 'Good Grief' at the Marlowe

This review has some nice words about each actor.

http://www.inquirelive.co.uk/node/5311

...Jonathan Firth adds just the right amount of harmless corny charisma...

Vulgar in the extreme

More positive review of the play than the previous one. Published today -

Wednesday, October 17 2012

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/whats_on/2012/october/17/review_good_grief.aspx

Keith, now 72, is the undoubted star with the other three main characters - Flora Montgomery as Pauline, Jonathan Firth as oleaginous journalist Eric and Christopher Ravenscroft as a character known as The Suit - moulding neatly around her.

Good Grief- Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

Another review from the Public Reviews

http://www.thepublicreviews.com/good-grief-marlowe-theatre-canterbury/

The Public Reviews Rating: 3 stars

Jonathan's character is mentioned only here:

It’s no exaggeration to say that it is her (Penelope) show, something which is highlighted by the fact that the supporting roles – notably that of Eric, a former colleague of Sam’s – are somewhat underwritten and so the focus and energy of the piece lie with Keith’s character.

This article says that "Good grief" perfomance is Penelope's show and that the play is worth seeing for her performance alone. Other actors are in the shadow. It's not fair to the other actors, this is not a one-man show and without the rest of the cast this performance wouldn’t be successful.

In conversation with Penelope Keith

Unfortunately, the article does not mention Jonathan

http://starscreener.com/posts/features/in-conversation-with-penelope-keith

but I liked it, because Penelope Keith says wthat she likes to do while on tour.

Penelope loves being on tour and certainly makes the most of getting out and about. ‘It’s wonderful to see new places, especially places that you might not normally see.

‘When I was last in Edinburgh, I went to the Falkirk Wheel and the Forth Bridge, and from Nottingham I saw the National Memorial Arboretum which was fascinating.

‘This tour is just the right length, we finish on November 17 so then I can get all ready for Christmas.’

I wonder, what Jonathan does while he's on tour???

Good Grief at the Richmond Theatre (II)

This review was published Published by: Carolin Kopplin on 14th Oct 2012.

http://www.uktheatre.net/magazine/read/good-grief-at-the-richmond-theatre_1592.html

Penelope Keith is giving a tour-de-force performance in this very funny and, at the same time, very true depiction of grief. Aptly directed by Tom Littler, she gets splendid support from Jonathan Firth as the smug and undiplomatic Eric, Christopher Ravenscroft as the sweet and gentle Dougie and Flora Montgomery as the snooty and unhappy Pauline.

"Good Grief" at Marlowe Theatre

The “Good Grief”  tour begins next week in Canterbury (Kent) in the Marlowe Theatre (MON 15-SAT 20 OCT).

http://www.marlowetheatre.com/

TIME

Interesting play review

Why it’s interesting? Because it was written by a blind man. On his blog he calls himself  Professor Whitestick (he's not a journalist). This Wednesday he went to see (better to say, “to hear”) the performance at the Richmond Theatre.

http://profwhitestick.blogspot.com/2012/10/good-grief-by-keith-waterhouse-richmond.html

This review praises the play and at the same time criticises some aspects of the production

http://www.ayoungertheatre.com/review-good-grief-richmond-theatre/

New review

http://www.sheengate.co.uk/guildford-farnham-and-woking/2012/10/11/review-good-grief-oct-8-to-13-at-richmond-theatre/

With long stretches of confessional monologue, Keith is to be applauded for a challenging role and it’s one with which many people will identify, particularly the way anger and sadness are so interchangeable at a moment’s notice, normal behaviour given the fluctuations of grief. Christopher Ravenscroft, familiar from TV’s Ruth Rendell Mysteries, appears effectively as the enigmatic Dougie, (or ‘Suit’ as June christens him) and Jonathan Firth and Flora Montgomery offer solid support. Much of Good Grief carries undeniable emotional resonance but notwithstanding Keith’s winning performance the production doesn’t quite pack the dramatic punch initially anticipated.

"Good Grief" at the Richmond Theatre

This week's performances are held at the Richmond Theatre. There are new reviews:

http://nnet-server.com/server/common/revrichmondth001.htm?site=1

This review

http://www.thepublicreviews.com/good-grief-richmond-theatre-london/

says, that Jonathan was excellent in his role.

Despite being excellent in his oleaginous role, Jonathan Firth’s Eric is never given space to reveal his true motivation.

Coupled with an overly complicated set, these factors prevented Good Grief from achieving its full potential, but nonetheless it is an engaging, amusing piece of theatre which is extremely enjoyable and with flashes of true brilliance.

"Good Grief" reviews

New play reviews:

http://www.edinburghspotlight.com/2012/10/review-good-grief-kings-theatre/

http://www.strawberrylinetimes.co.uk/?page_id=22

http://www.kingstonguardian.co.uk/leisure/9969422.Penelope_Keith_excited_about_return_to_Richmond_Theatre/