After The Dance – THEATRE REVIEW
Despite critical success in 1939, the advent of war contributed to the early
closure of this “lost” play by Terence Rattigan.
All credit to the National,
then, for Thea Shurrock’s fine revival of his study of the Bright Young
Things of the twenties who, now no longer young, are desperately holding
onto their frivolous existence, closing their eyes to the imminent threat to
their hedonistic Mayfair lifestyle of constant partying.
At the centre is
Benedict Cumberbatch’s suave, moneyed, would-be historian, encouraged by his
cousin’s determinedly bright-eyed fiancée to abandon not only the booze
that’s killing him but his wife (a moving Nancy Carroll, her true feelings
hidden under a flippant façade) as well. And, observing from the sofa,
Adrian Scarborough is deliciously droll as a parasitic relic with surprising
insight.
4/5
Lyttelton at the National, South Bank, SE1 9PX
020 7452 3000
Tube: Waterloo
tube
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Until 11th August
£10 – £44.00
Review: Louise Kingsley
