The Jamie Lloyd-helmed production of Lucy Prebble's (Succession) The Effect is officially open, and the reviews are in. The revival began previews at Off-Broadway's The Shed March 3 and opened March 13. The run marks the production's U.S. premiere, having begun at London's National Theatre in 2023. The London run is currently a nominee for Best Revival at the 2024 Olivier Awards.
The cast features Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) as Tristan and Taylor Russell (Bones and All) as Connie, participants in a clinical drug trial who begin an illicit romance, alongside Michele Austin (This Is Going to Hurt) as Dr. Lorna James and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical) as Dr. Toby Sealey. The play was first produced in London in 2012 by the National Theatre.
Read the reviews below.
New York Stage Review (Frank Scheck)
New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell)
New York Theatre Guide (Allison Considine)
The New York Times (Naveen Kumar)*
TheaterPizzazz (Brian Scott Lipton)
*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
The production also features set and costume design by Soutra Gilmour, lighting design by Jon Clark, composition by Michael “Mikey J” Asante, sound design by George Dennis, movement direction by Sarah Golding and Yukiko Masui (SAY), fight direction by Kate Waters, intimacy coordination by Ingrid Mackinnon, and casting by Alastair Coomer.
READ: How the Cast of The Effect Put a New Spin on an 11-Year-Old Play
Visit TheShed.org.
See photos from the London run below:
Paapa Essiedu and Taylor Russell in THE EFFECT
Paapa Essiedu in THE EFFECT
Paapa Essiedu and Taylor Russell in THE EFFECT
Paapa Essiedu and Taylor Russell in THE EFFECT
Michele Austin in THE EFFECT
Michele Austin and Taylor Russell in THE EFFECT
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith in THE EFFECT
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith in THE EFFECT
