"Portrayed by Hilary Kelman, who also directed the play, Kelman is splendid. She presents Catherine with a quiet surety. She knows she was wronged by Henry, but she made a vow to him and she was going to keep it. Kelman has mastered Catherine's Spanish accent, and presents the character with dignified grace." - Emily Noxon
(Ladies in Waiting: The Judgement of Henry VIII)
"...a meaningful double performance from Kelman, first as Lady Percy, and then as Vernon. The former has the heart of a warrior. As Vernon, Kelman wears a determined bearing that matches the Douglas's while endowed with common sense: a woman's common sense. [...] Kelman displays great dexterity with Shakespeare's verse, as when her Vernon gives a stirring description of Hal mounting his horse and, later, issuing the single combat challenge with Hotspur. "Cousin, I think thou art enamourèd on his follies," Hotspur says, his tone suggesting, being as how Vernon is a woman, she has a secret crush on the prince. Kelman's Vernon, being a woman, replies with an eye-rolling expression that suggests, with much visual volume, what a typically stupid guy thing to say." - Eric Minton (Henry IV, Part I)
"...Catherine of Aragon, his original wife, portrayed strikingly by Kelman..." - Chris Curcio
(Ladies in Waiting: The Judgement of Henry VIII)
"[...] breathes life into each of the women’s individual voices with such force that, even by the time we get to number six, they’re thrilling to listen to. [...] The performers all do a great job of defining women who can often get grouped into one homogenous mass as “Henry’s Wives,” delivering Canfield’s pacey dialogue with strength and poise, wittily highlighting the contradictions of a man who would behead women for having affairs while behaving the same way himself." - Sally Stott
(Ladies in Waiting: The Judgement of Henry VIII)
"Each of the characters is well portrayed, with a special mention for Hilary Kelman as his long-suffering first wife, Catherine of Aragon." - Caroline Cawley
(Ladies in Waiting: The Judgement of Henry VIII)
"Each of the six wives is given a voice so strong and so unique, with six phenomenal actresses bringing them and their stories to life. [...] The quality of the acting and the electric connection between king and wives in each scene enhances this, creating a gripping and intense drama that goes from strength to strength as the judgement proceeds to a conclusion." - Fiona Russell
(Ladies in Waiting: The Judgement of Henry VIII)
The Drayton Theatre in South Kensington awarded Ladies in Waiting 5 stars and nominated the show for the Kensington Prize as part of their Eddies Awards.
-Aug 26, 2016
"The strongest writing comes in the angry confrontation with Anne Boleyn (Wendy Kenney) and the final conversation with Catherine of Aragon (Hilary Kelman), Henry’s first and longest serving wife and the one he most needs to beg forgiveness from [...] Ladies in Waiting is a well written play on an interesting theme with a strong cast. Well worth adding to your list if you’re making the trip to Edinburgh in August." - Rhiannon Evans
(Ladies in Waiting: The Judgement of Henry VIII)