James Corden Wins Over Critics with Triumphant Stage Return
In 2011, James Corden captivated audiences on the West End with the farcical comedy One Man, Two Guvnors, earning a Tony Award for Best Actor following its successful Broadway transfer. Now, more than a decade later, Corden has made a triumphant return to the London stage, starring alongside Anna Maxwell Martin in Joe Penhall’s political drama, The Constituent.
The Gavin and Stacey star’s return has garnered generally positive reviews from critics, though some opinions vary in enthusiasm. The Independent praised Corden as a “truly great actor in a flawed political play,” while WhatsOnStage critiqued his performance for lacking subtlety, describing it as “painting with broad, blunt colours.”
In The Constituent, Corden portrays Alec, a troubled ex-soldier who is introduced to the audience while installing a security system in the office of backbench MP Monica, played by Maxwell Martin. Over the course of 90 minutes, Alec’s character spirals into desperation, increasingly leaning on the support of his local MP to navigate a messy divorce and the family courts.
Corden’s performance, despite mixed reviews, has rekindled his stage presence and demonstrated his versatility as an actor, making his return to the West End a notable event in London’s theatre scene.