I have to be honest the only reason I wanted to see The Children’s Hour was for the celeb factor of Keira Knightley and Elisabeth Moss but actually, despite the almost depressing story-line, I did end up enjoying the play for itself. Oh I also recognised one of the actresses from the television show Skins!

The surprise for me was just how slender and tall Keira was. Of course you see her movies and the pap shots and yes she has a good figure – but its not until you see her live that you appreciate just how slender she is.

The Children’s Hour is set in an all-girls boarding school run by the two characters played by Keira and Elisabeth. One of the girls at the school gets into trouble and runs away from school to her grandmother’s place where, to cover up tells a lie that the two are having an affair. Being the early 1930s this was quite the scandal and of course lives and relationships are ruined.

The play got off to a bit of a slow start and at first I was a bit unsure about Keira’s accent (seemed to modulate all over the place) and acting at first (felt she was over-acting) but soon settled and really hit her stride in the second half. Generally all the other characters were very well acted particularly by Elisabeth Moss, Ellen Ellen Burstyn and the guy who played Keira’s fiancé (sorry – didn’t get his name!)

The theatre was very full even reaching the closing dates (or perhaps because of.) but one suspects that like me many people were in for the star power. The play itself was just okay without being stunning. The lasting impression I have is a feeling of unease from the malevolence portrayed by Bryony Hannah in playing the girl who causes all the trouble. A very strong performance.