After a successful West End run and tour, Ronald Harwood’s classic tragicomedy finally arrives at Chichester Festival Theatre for a short run.
The cast show none of the ennui and exhaustion displayed by one of its leads – Ken Stott’s unstable and lachrymose ‘Sir’ – that you might expect after such a long time living with these characters.
Set in an unknown provincial town during World War Two, this fascinating play about theatre people focuses on the co-dependent relationship between the devoted Norman, played by Reece Shearsmith, and his actor-manager boss Sir. Supporting characters come and go – most amusingly Simon Rouse’s fool – but the two men are at the heart of this play.
Scott is wonderful as Norman’s wayward charge. Anyone who has tried to get a recalcitrant child out of the door would recognise the tension in the first half. Veering wildly between lachrymose despair and cheerful optimism at there being a full house, Stott is never less than convincing as a desperate old ham.
Shearsmith’s journey from high camp to moving pathos was also incredibly impressive. The play loses some of its momentum in the second half once the play-within-aplay has finished, and there is a feeling that the production might be rather too long.
However, the final monologue brings focus back and one is left feeling very moved by the poignancy of Norman’s life.
Emily Angus
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