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Sunday 7 September 2008

The old problem

King Lear
Globe

That Face
Duke of York's

Beau Jest
Hackney Empire

Infinitely more entertaining is Beau Jest, a family comedy that ran for two years in New York. The daft storyline has an emotional core that makes it feel like a classic. Sarah, a nice Jewish girl with a gentile boyfriend, comes under pressure from her parents to ‘marry in’, so she hires an actor to pose as her Jewish fiancé. The actor gradually falls in love both with the girl and with her family. Trouble is, he’s not Jewish either. This is the set-up in act one and the play is rich with unexpected pleasures. Sarah’s scheme introduces us to the lives of observant Jews who celebrate their ancient rituals with reverence and mockery. I was amazed how close Jewish and black culture are. Even today Jews are fired up with defiance and pride when they remember their forefathers’ emergence from slavery in Egypt. The play is also a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty myth. The thorns and briars that keep Beauty captive are the bonds of loyalty that Sarah feels to her religion. Oddly enough, the show is blatantly racist too and the family’s intolerance doesn’t just go unpunished, it’s positively commended. Susie McKenna’s production has been cast with faultless brilliance. The leads, Lara Pulver and Adam Rayner, are highly charismatic, moving and extremely funny. What a fantastic night out. Put this in the West End and you can forget about promise. Here’s delivery.

More articles from: Lloyd Evans | this section

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