REVIEWS
The Fabulist
Clarice
Charing Cross Theatre
London, United Kingdom
12th of August - 21st of September, 2024
Lucinda Everett
WhatsOnStage
"The cast of six are all excellent singers but Réka Jónás as Clarice and Lily De-La-Haye as her film director sister Cassandra are remarkable, their sparkling voices soaring upwards towards notes unimaginable.
Theirs is also the most compelling relationship on stage. Clarice is ruled by love while Cassandra relies on the reason of philosophy to guide her. Totally unable to relate to one another, and driven further apart by more than a touch of sibling rivalry, their bickering and scrapping (often mid-song) bring some of the show’s funniest moments. And their eventual reconciliation is touching."
Holly O'Mahony
The Stage
"Meanwhile, Jonas and De La Haye are terrific sopranos, their voices vastly outshining their hackneyed characters."
Patrick Marmion
The Daily Mail
"The soprano sisters (Lily De La Haye and Reka Jonas) are a joy."
Maryam Philpott
The Reviews Hub
"The Fabulist proves a strange title for a musical whose lead character is really Clarice, and it is on her quick wit and ability to manoeuvre her family and her potential lover that the success of the plot rests, receiving her own solo in Act Two, Love Guide Me. As a result, Réka Jónás’ performance is one of the strongest in the show, not only vocally impressive but also a charming heroine with enjoyable comic timing and plenty of entertaining reactions."
Scott Matthewman
Musical Theatre Review
"The performances generally help. Jónás’ madcap, mischievous soprano is the standout."
Penny Lane
London Theatre Reviews
"...all of the songs are given truly stunning performances by an incredibly gifted cast of singers. In particular, Réka Jónás is a show-stopping soprano."
Tim Hochstrasser
Plays to See
"Perhaps the standout performance comes from Reka Jonas as Clarice, the daughter who has seen off dozens of suitors. She has a dazzling top range which is put to the test in the score, but also, like Susanna in Figaro, she has to guide the action along in the second half as the only person aware of most of the machinations."
Gary Naylor
The Arts Desk
"The cast sing beautifully and act their socks off with this thin material. Hungarian soprano, Réka Jónás, makes good use of her crystal clear voice as the screenwriter/man-eater Clarice, who has the cojones to stand up to her father, the church and Il Duce."
Britney Langdon
Adventures in Theatreland
"The relationship of the sisters is a standout of the piece, perhaps the most successfully portrayed relationship of them all, as their personalities differ but collide to allow them to strive for their desire to override the dictatorship they exist within. Both performances are very strong but Jónás’ performance throughout is bubbly and captivating, with fantastic vocal abilities frequently receiving the most applause."
Anne Reimers
Lost in Theatreland
"Réka Jónás stands out as the clear star of the show, delivering a vocally impressive and emotionally nuanced performance as Clarice, a screenwriter embroiled in a chaotic romance, with 44 suitors and counting, and with some familial tangles (siblings… we all love them) within the plot. Her chemistry with Lily De La Haye, who plays her sister Cassandra, brings a delightful dynamic to the stage, especially in their comedic exchanges."
Alix Owen
London Pub Theatres Magazine
"This is a piece where the movement is really given a chance to shine. And a stand-out is Réka Jónás, who, along with a fairytale charm and outstanding vocals, gives us a pitch perfect performance with impeccable comic timing. Her little tics and quirks are effortless, and in many ways some of the funniest moments of the night come from her slightest reactions."
Alice Rose
North West End UK
"...the real interesting love story is between the sisters. Fiery and fiercely independent in this patriarchal environment, they combat aggressive views whilst also still holding onto teenage angst against each other. Their relationship was strong and comforting and it transcended their individual romances. For me, it was hard to keep my eyes off them- I wanted to know more and see more of them together.
Only but high praises of the sisters, their skills in both acting and singing are phenomenal."