close
close

Association-anemone

Bite-sized brilliance in every update

Lily Collins is supported by husband Charlie McDowell following her latest performance in West End play Barcelona – after the show failed to impress critics
asane

Lily Collins is supported by husband Charlie McDowell following her latest performance in West End play Barcelona – after the show failed to impress critics

Lily Collins was supported by husband Charlie McDowell as she left the Duke Of York’s Theater in London after her final performance of the play Barcelona on Thursday.

The Emily In Paris star, 35, who made her West End debut in the show, wrapped up warmly in an oversized teddy bear coat and scarf as she stopped to sign autographs.

Still wearing her glam stage make-up, Lily also sported a gray baseball cap and appeared to be in high spirits as she flashed a huge smile.

Meanwhile, film director Charlie, 41, who married the actress in 2021, wore an orange padded jacket and knitted beanie as he carried his beloved wife’s bags.

The play, which stars Emily as a woman who embarks on a one-night stand during a hen night in the Catalan capital, has so far failed to impress critics – with The Independent joking “Emily should have stayed in Paris”.

Lily Collins is supported by husband Charlie McDowell following her latest performance in West End play Barcelona – after the show failed to impress critics

Lily Collins, 35, was supported by husband Charlie McDowell, 41, as she left the Duke Of York’s Theater in London after her final performance in the West End play Barcelona on Thursday.

Emily In Paris star, who made her West End debut in the show, stopped to sign autographs

Emily In Paris star, who made her West End debut in the show, stopped to sign autographs

Annabel Nugent wrote of The Two Hands, in which she stars alongside Alvaro Morte in Money Heist: “Emily in Paris star makes her West End debut in a play about another American abroad – but its contrived plot means this story of two unfortunate strangers. it fails to have an emotional impact”.

While Tom Wicker said in his two reviews of Stage: “Emily in Paris’s Lily Collins makes her West End debut in this made-up, cliché-filled play”.

Meanwhile The GuardianChris Wiegand, who also awarded two stars, called the track “awkward” and “curiously flat”.

Lily and Álvaro plays in the West End show for 12 weeks until 11 January 2025.

Before making her debut in the play last month, Lily said Telegraph: “I think one of the first things I said to you (Álvaro) was, ‘OK, I just want to be very honest, I’ve never done this.

“I’m so excited, but I’m also terrified — in the best way — and I want you to know that there are going to be times when I’m stressed, I’m anxious, I’m nervous, I’m going to doubt myself.”

Barcelona aims to keep the audience guessing and explore the fantasy of who we pretend to be, versus the truth of who we are.

Set in 2009, late at night in Barcelona, ​​an American tourist (Lily) goes home with a handsome Spaniard (Álvaro).

Lily wrapped up warmly in an oversized teddy bear coat and scarf which she layered over a brown tracksuit

Lily wrapped up warmly in an oversized teddy bear coat and scarf which she layered over a brown tracksuit

Lily wrapped herself up warmly in an oversized teddy bear coat and scarf which she layered over a brown tracksuit and trainers.

The actress jumped into the back of his chauffeured car

The actress jumped into the back of his chauffeured car

The play, which stars Emily as a woman who embarks on a one-night stand during a hen night in the Catalan capital, has so far failed to impress critics.

The play, which stars Emily as a woman who embarks on a one-night stand during a hen night in the Catalan capital, has so far failed to impress critics.

The play is a two-person game and stars Emily alongside Alvaro Morte from Money Heist

The play is a two-person game and stars Emily alongside Alvaro Morte from Money Heist

The Spanish actor also braved the cold weather as he met fans outside the theatre

The Spanish actor also braved the cold weather as he met fans outside the theatre

One reviewer quipped

One reviewer quipped “Emily should have stayed in Paris” (Lily was pictured during a curtain call last month)

What begins as a carefree one-night stand becomes a high-stakes clash of intentions and desires as the personal and the political become intertwined.

Lily and Charlie celebrated their three-year wedding anniversary in September, with the stunner sharing a tribute in an Instagram post.

“Happy birthday to the man who makes me laugh harder than anyone. Three years held in each other’s arms was the greatest gift,” the actress wrote.

“Nude and in a basic t-shirt, you make me feel like the most special man on the planet. I love you @charliemcdowell. More than I know how to say.

“Here’s to countless incredible moments together (plus twinning photo shoots). And to think, the best is yet to come…’ she said at the end of the heartfelt post.’

Barcelona: What do the critics say?

Daily Mail

At only 100 minutes long, the play goes on too long to make us care about these two characters. But as the plot eventually thickens and both reveal their much more interesting selves, we finally get involved – and increasingly tense.

“Barcelona is not perfect: there are too many stories and too few shows. But it turns into a play about learning to live again when you think it’s all over.

The Guardian

Rating:

“Emily in Paris and Money Heist stars team up for curiously paid drama that mixes suspense, comedy and politics”

“But in Lynette Linton’s production, neither the suspense nor the humor hit home, the mix often more uncomfortable than unsettling. The biggest reveals in a handful of plots don’t have an emotional impact and don’t so much shed light on previous events as make them less distracting.

The Independent

Rating:

The ‘Emily in Paris’ star makes his West End debut in a play about another American abroad – but his contrived plot means this tale of two hapless foreigners fails to make an emotional impact.

Moments intended as gut punches land with a light touch; monologues are heavy on exposition but lack the emotional scaffolding to support them. As the sun rises and Manuel confides his terrible secret to Irene, it’s too little too late to care.

Scene

Rating:

Lily Collins from Emily in Paris makes her West End debut in this made-up play full of clichés.

Collins does well to soften the edges of a character who remains fundamentally irritating, even as we learn more about her.

The Times

Rating:

It’s certainly brave of the daughter of rock star Phil Collins to step into the West End. The problem is that most of the time her character, Irene, is so insufferably idiotic that you struggle to see how anyone could bring her to life.

The Sunday Times

Rating:

It doesn’t quite add up, but there’s plenty to enjoy along the way. Collins again plays a Midwestern woman who breaks free from her home life on a trip to Europe. She’s dealing with comedy again, but this is more grunge territory.

i News

Rating:

Collins’ remarkable stage debut had the audience holding their breath in reverent concentration”

This is among the best 90 minutes of theater I’ve seen all year, and the applause at the end of the play went on so long that Collins began to look embarrassed.