Scarlett Johansson drew overwhelmingly positive reviews from the critics for her revival of Maggie in Tennessee Williams’ play Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.

Scarlett, 28, had the huge task of stepping into Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic role who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the 1958 movie which starred Paul Newman.

But she can breathe a sigh of relief as the critics dubbed her portrayal of Maggie ‘cerebral and proud… an undeniable life-force..; and called Scarlett ‘the only major player in Cat who appears to have a fully thought-through idea of the character she’s portraying.’

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Casual curves: Scarlett Johansson attended the Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Broadway Opening Night after party on Thursday

Simple ensemble: Scarlett donned a black top and trousers for the event at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers

Not much chemistry: Benjamin , left, and  Scarlett during their performance of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, one critic said they accurately portrayed the lack of chemistry between the characters

The actress celebrated the opening of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof by looking absolutely stunning as she graced the red carpet for the after-party.

Scarlett donned a black ensemble consisting of fitted black trousers and a crochet button fastened top short sleeve top, allowing her tattoos to be seen.

Keeping it simple she added lace print pointy toe heels on her feet for the event at The Lighthouse in New York.

Work pals: She was joined by Benjamin Walker on the red carpet

Hair do: Scarlett wore a chic up-do for the opening night

But the 28-year-old added a pop of colour with her beauty choices, wearing scarlet lipstick and a matching hue of nail polish.

The blonde wore her hair up in a bun and fashioned green and blue drop earrings.

She portrays Maggie in the Tennessee Williams play and dons a strawberry blonde wig for the part.

Plus one: Scarlett was seen with her new boyfriend Romain Dauriac as she exited the stage door of the Richard Rogers theater on opening night

Scarlett was joined as she posed for photos by Benjamin Walker, who also stars in the Broadway play and is an actor on American Horror Story.

Benjamin’s co-star Sarah Paulson turned up to show her support for the production at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where the play had preview performances earlier this month, wrapping up in a long coat.

While Scarlett was later seen leaving the theatre with her new love, French journalist Romain Dauraic.

In character: Scarlett portrays Maggie in the Tennessee Williams plays

Miaow: Scarlett wore her hair in bouncy curls, and channelled Elizabeth Taylor’s classic look

The end: Walker, Johansson, and Ciaran Hinds attend the curtain call for the Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

‘[Johansson’s] sophomore Broadway performance isn’t as fully integrated as the one she gave in “Bridge”; there are a few miscalculations in her take on Maggie. She is perhaps too forthright to be truly feline, and for a poor but well-brought-up debutante, her accent is strangely common. But Ms. Johansson confirms her promise as a stage actress of imposing presence and adventurous intelligence. Her Maggie is, as she must be, an undeniable life force and – as far as this production, directed by Rob Ashford, is concerned – a lifeline… Ms. Johansson is also the only major player in ‘Cat’ who appears to have a fully thought-through idea of the character she’s portraying.’           Ben Brantley, The New York Times’Scarlett Johansson turns in a nifty turn as Maggie, finding humor and barely hidden desperation in her role as frustrated wife and mother-to-be. She’s less overtly sexy than other actresses who have played the ironic role, making her Maggie more cerebral, angry and proud. Benjamin Walker, as her husband Brick, is slow to boil but savage when he does, a former athlete turned into a languid hunk of beef who sits on the edges of the stage avoiding conversation and hiding in a bottle. They have little chemistry at first – but that’s kind of the point.’ Mark Kennedy, Associated Press’Somebody spayed the cat. And it wasn’t the hard-working main attraction Scarlett Johansson, who plays Tennessee Williams’ tenacious feline title character in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The star and her similarly marooned fellow cast members are all at the mercy of Rob Ashford, a director out of his depth and reaching for any floatation device he can grab in this sinking Broadway revival, which manages to be both thunderously emphatic and curiously flat.’David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

‘Scarlett Johansson…unlike so many young movie stars, she has no problem expanding her performance chops to the live theater, booming out a character that has been precisely forged and defined but ill-advisedly contained… a clear point of view is absent in this generally confused, low-stakes and halting production – that went through changes and subtractions in its preview period and now seems stuck. It’s neither a traditional staging nor a suite of fresh ideas on a great American drama that should both embody timeless interpersonal truths and reflect how much our world is changed, sexually speaking, in little more than a half-century.’                                       Chris Jones, The Chicago Tribune

Fellow thespians: Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz were seen leaving the play

Broadway fans: American Horror Story‘s Sarah Paulson and Tracey Ullman

Other guests included actresses Mamie and Grace Gummer as well as Tracey Ullman.

Mamie is married to Walker and is the daughter of actress Meryl Streep.

Others seen arriving to catch the first official night of the show included Nick Jonas, who starred in Les Miserables in London’s West End in 2010.

Actors Matt Bomer and Victor Garber – who recently revealed he is gay – also caught the performance, and Daniel Craig was seen exiting with his wife Rachel Weisz.

Ravishing in red: Actresses Mamie Gummer, who is married to Scarlett’s co-star Benjamin Walker and Grace Gummer were at the Richard Rodgers Theatre

Supporting Scarlett: Actors Matt Bomer and Victor Garber came out to to see the new show