Ladies in Waiting: The Judgement of Henry VIII

Really interesting history lesson told from an "inside" perspective - past, present and even future - of the intimacies between this often mocked King and the multifaceted women who had so much influence over him and his legacy. A truly fascinating story, excellently executed. ... full review

The show was riveting as I was literally on the edge of my seat with anticipation of which wife would speak and what she would say. I know the history very well and completely believed each character. The staging and pacing helped bring this story to life as Henry is confronted with the truth of his misogynistic and narcissistic behaviors. Henry fought hard against these truths and I was completely drawn into his struggle and stunningly powerful performance. I loved that they saved Katherine of Aragon for last. All of the actresses were powerful and brilliant and, I must say that Katherine was absolutely superb! The haunting chant: Divorced, Beheaded, Dead, is the music to which you will be transported through time and space and leave you fe... full review

SEE THIS PLAY. You will not regret it. It is theatrical, it is compelling, it would make Elizabeth I smile.... full review

Divorced, beheaded, died... The prayer-like repetition of the fates of the wives takes us through the trial of Henry, who refuses to get it even as he is surrounded by the proof of his misogyny. Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon are given especially striking performances as they finally get their chance to get a word in edgewise. ... full review

Can we put this on Broadway? Ladies in Waiting is an exceptional play with stellar writing and an outstanding cast. Henry VIII wakes up in purgatory and is put on trial by his six wives. What follows is a play that touches upon sexism, love, heartbreak, and the lust for power. It's quite a timely piece as we currently have another "ginger king" whose legacy may be defined by the women he hurt and loved. ... full review

Excellent performances from James & the outstanding cast of Ladies in Waiting. I love the way they clearly delineate the different relationships and personalities of each of Henry's wives: every Queen is presented with beauty, grace and the drama needed to give you a multi-dimensional understanding of the challenges facing a lusty English monarch! Speaking as a native Englishman, I was particularly impressed with the quality of the English accents performed by American actors in the cast - their delivery was flawless & it leads you deeply into the Tudor court. 'Ladies in Waiting' is thought-provoking, enticing & dramatic, a kind of purgatory fantasy where the lust-filled King has to face his demons, and his beautiful ex-wives are there to p... full review

Poignant, intense, beautiful! I had all of the feels seeing "Ladies In Waiting". James Canfield has written a wonderful script, performed with great poise by the author himself and 6 OUTSTANDING up-and-coming actresses. These Ladies are the real frickin' deal. If you love historical drama, don't wait to see this show (see what I did there? ;) ... full review

Strong work, well researched (or imagined?), well written and well played. Congratulations!... full review

Powerhouse performances from the whole cast. Compelling storytelling that brought up new points of view for a period in history that has no shortage of dramatizations. Highly recommended!... full review

Worthwhile and fun, especially for a fan of the wives' stories. Not much new here to chew on, but it's all accurate in ways that "The Tudors" decidedly was not, and the actresses are justly cast physically, and the author's choice to lead up finally to the first wife, Catherine of Aragon, really pays off. Not only is her role the best written and the author's take on how her success as Regent impacted Henry the most original of the play's points, but the actress Hilary Elman knocks it out of Hampton Court with her sweetness, her indomitable fire, her devotion, purity, her well-deserved self-righteousness, her perfectly restrained "foreign" accent, and her tragic stature. The other actresses all have something to recommend them. Boleyn is a s... full review