If I Were You (play) - Critical Reviews

Critical Reviews

The Stephen Joseph Theatre production attracted considerable attention during its Scarborough run and the tour. In many of the reviews, attention was shared between the play itself and Alan Ayckbourn's decision to return to the theatre following his stroke. Those reviews which did so applauded Ayckbourn's decision to do to.

The comments on the play itself were equally positive in most of the reviews. Credit was given for the scene where Sam moves his father with his Shakespearian speech, the effective switch between the home and the furniture showroom, and ability of the two leading actors to switch roles halfway through the play.

The only major review with a negative slant came from Alfred Hickling of The Guardian, who was critical over the lack of explanation for the body-swapping. However, other reviews were positive about the low-key way the switch was done.

Perhaps the most positive comment was made by Dominic Cavendish of The Daily Telegraph: "If I were him, I'd take it easy for the next few months. If I were a West End producer, I'd book this sharpish."

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