The Score Reviews

MetroWeekly- Recommended

"...Theater legend Trevor Nunn’s well-constructed production has made its way here with much of its cast and creative team intact, leading with redoubtable Succession star Brian Cox as musical genius Bach, who, initially, is unsure he even wants an audience with King Frederick."

Talkin Broadway- Highly Recommended

"...Cox is the rock on which the production stands, while Hagan amuses and captivates with his waspish wit and Peter De Jersey shines as another notable guest, Voltaire. The entire cast of 14 works together to enhance the splendor of Frederick's court."

Stage and Cinema- Highly Recommended

"...What happens when artistic genius meets absolute power? The Score, written by Oliver Cotton and directed by Trevor Nunn, brings Johann Sebastian Bach and Frederick the Great face to face in a compelling clash between a king accustomed to being obeyed and an artist unwilling to compromise his convictions. At the center of it all is Brian Cox, whose Bach is not simply a musical genius, but a deeply human man confronting power, mortality and the question of what an artist ultimately leaves behind."

MD Theatre Guide- Somewhat Recommended

"...There is certainly much to enjoy in the staging by Trevor Nunn, the mega musical mastermind who knows how to stage a spectacle. Robert Jones's set and costumes draw a sharp line between Bach's earthy household and the gilded, martial splendor of Frederick's court. Johanna Town's lighting, with its steady glow of windows, suggests the watchful presence of a higher power. Nunn stages it all with assurance, though the polish reads more commercial than probing. It covers the script's weaknesses rather than fixing them."

Morris Theatre DC- Recommended

"...Brian Cox reprises his West End role here, and his jolly magnanimity lives up to the hype as J.S. Bach. He maintains a controlled presence on the stage, despite being the largest name on the marquee, and frequently is able to cool his jets to prevent his dramatic reputation from over-saturating the experience. This carries over into the play itself, as his character too is the biggest name in most of the rooms, but it helps that his co-stars stand toe-to-toe with sparky performances. Jamie Wilke's Carl is feebly anchored as the son of a musical legend with much to lose, and Stephen Hagan's bawdy turn as King Frederick was full of annoying toxicity. Conversely, Peter De Jersey's Voltaire was full of deft physical humor, which unfortunately like Juliet Garricks' Emelia, we don't see nearly enough of."

BroadwayWorld- Somewhat Recommended

"...Unfortunately, one is left wishing that he and the rest of the cast had better material to work with. In the first scene, set in 1747 Liepzeig, where Bach is the choir director of the a boys' school, the composer urged by his wife, Anna (Cox's real-life wife, Nicole Ansari) to finally accept the summons of Frederick II, King of Prussia to appear at the Royal Court. Bach replies that he is reluctant to go because his daughter, Regina, is ailing and he does not want to leave her side. You might expect that Regina's fate might play a signficiant part in the play, but she never appears and, unless I missed it, is never mentioned again after that scene. This is a recurring problem in the story: various ostensibly significant elements are introduced, then neglected, or not incorporated into any sort of overarching theme."

K Street Magazine- Highly Recommended

"...Yes, the initial ticket temptation is obvious: Brian Cox. The Golden Globe winner and Succession star brings his considerable star power to Johann Sebastian Bach, while legendary director Trevor Nunn, whose résumé includes Les Misérables and Cats, takes the reins. That’s enough marquee wattage to fill a theatre."

Hill Rag- Somewhat Recommended

"...Brian Cox, a Thespian samurai, is supported by an equally strong cast. Stephen Hagan in the role of Frederick echoes Hamilton's King George III with a hit of lethality. Juliet Garricks, as the long-suffering survivor Emilia, is luminous."

A Theatre-Goer's Thoughts- Highly Recommended

"...The music of J.S. Bach is played throughout the production, rendering it a musical as well as theatrical experience. The set and costume designer are the same person, Robert Jones, whose costumes reflect in some cases the elegance of the 18th-century era and in some cases its practicality. Frederick the Great is seen much as he appears in portraits. Meanwhile, the sets are conversely deliberately restrained, even within the palace walls of Potsdam, thereby giving greater focus to the themes of the play."

DC Theater Arts- Somewhat Recommended

"...The moment the curtain rises, playwright Oliver Cotton's The Score - playing through October 25 at Shakespeare Theatre Company in a visiting production from Theatre Royal Bath - is designed for entrance applause. Johann Sebastian Bach, played by Emmy- and Olivier Award-winning actor Brian Cox, stands alone in his dim apartment, waiting patiently, like the suitcase by the door, for the audience to finish offering their regard before getting down to the business at hand. It proves to be a fitting start for Cotton's nearly three-hour hagiography of the legendary composer."