Rain Man showered with praise
Audience cheer cast at Milton Keynes Theatre.
THERE was no classic 1949 Buick Roadmaster or scenic views of the great mid-west but it's surprising how soon you adapt to your surroundings while watching one of the great road movies of our time.
Transferring a story that stretches the breadth of America to the stage wasn't going to be easy but the epic Rain Man proved a powerful and emotional ride at Milton Keynes Theatre this week.
Its success was entirely down to its two leading men – no not Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman – but television favourites Neil Morrissey and Oliver Chris.
Rain Man makes difficult watching for a modern audience with frequent and abusive outbursts from one of the characters reminding us of time when society was intolerant and impatient of the needs of the disabled.
But it's a relationship story that managed to be endearing without labouring the sentimentality. There's still a brittle edge throughout.
Charlie Babbitt (Chris) isn't likeable no matter what he learns on his journey with his profoundly disabled brother Raymond. You begin to understand him, you may even feel a little sorry for him, but you wouldn't want him as a best friend.
Charlie grew up never being good enough for his father. He had an imaginary friend who he called Rain Man and eventually he cut the familial ties for a life hustling, wheeling and dealing, and keeping one step ahead of his creditors.
When dad dies Charlie gets a few rose bushes while the $12m estate goes to a man living in a nursing home and the black sheep has a surprise when he goes looking for the heir.
Who'd have thought that the slob from Men Behaving Badly could pull off a role like Raymond Babbitt, an autistic savant with the mind of a child, who is addicted to TV programmes like Judge Judy and Jeopardy and is incapable of forgetting anything?
It was inspired casting with Morrissey keeping a tight rein on his character to ensure he was utterly believable.
His mannerisms, rituals and habits, made for fascinating watching. There was even a fart joke slipped in.
"How can you live with yourself?" snears Charlie after his brother broke wind. "I don't mind it," says an accepting Ray.
Though his performance was a pure imitation of Hoffman it was engrossing nonetheless.
Chris cut his teeth on comedy, with roles in The IT Crowd, Bridget Jones and The Office but the 6ft 3ins Green Wing regular is an impressive straight actor who made a commanding and watchable Charlie Babbitt.
Coronation Street's favourite Irishman, Charles Lawson (Jim McDonald), had a cameo as Raymond's doctor, further demonstrating his versatility as a stage actor. His last appearance at MKT was in the musical Annie Get Your Gun.
A very clever set, designed by Jonathan Fensom portrayed a story that moved from an office to nursing home, mansion to motel, airport to Las Vegas Casino without losing any credibility.
Sadly there was no room on stage for the men's swank automobile but the tale lost nothing as a result.
Rain Man was a tremendous drama that further strengthened Milton Keynes Theatre's reputation as one of this country's premier venues for top class entertainment. Why bother with the West End when it gets as good as this on your doorstep?
Rain Man runs until Saturday (September 19). For tickets and information contact the box office 0844 871 7652 or go online www.ambassadortickets.com/miltonkeynes
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Friday 25 May 2012
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