Jumpers

Written by Tom Stoppard
Directed by David Leveaux

National Theatre, London, 2003

 

Reviews

"Jonathan Hyde, delectable as the smoothie vice-chancellor swathed in pomp and circumstance, keeps slipping into Dorothy's bedroom.  Always ready with a little light bribery, he stage-manages the beautifully balletic scene when McFee's body is smuggled out of the house by the Jumpers.  This eminent academic, George's direct opposite, comes to represent a school of deviousness and comforting make-believe, that softens hard facts." -- Nicholas de Jongh, Evening Standard

"The most immaculate performance comes from Jonathan Hyde who endows the vice-chancellor with a venner of self-admiring omnicompetence." -- The Guardian

"Jonathan Hyde is urbanely efficient as Archie, George's nemesis and almost, but not quite, Dorothy's lover." -- The Independent

"Jonathan Hyde is terrifically oily and elegant . . . " -- Kate Bassett, Independent on Sunday

"There is faultless, funny support, too, from Jonathan Hyde as the smooth Archie." -- Oliver Jones, What's On

"Hilarious supporting performance from Jonathan Hyde." -- The Telegraph

"Jonathan Hyde, vice-chancellor and mega-opportunist, suavely embodies all that's wrong with this brave new world." -- The Times

"Stoppard's academic Jumpers are led buy Archie (Jonathan Hyde) as a sleek, Flash Harry academic and poncy polymath." -- John Peter, Sunday Times

"There's excellent support from Jonathan Hyde's oily vice-chancellor."  -- John Nathan, Jewish Chronicle