Morrisey matches Hollywood in Rain Man (From Surrey Comet)

Morrisey matches Hollywood in Rain Man

3:18pm Wednesday 28th October 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

The popular film-to-play craze saw two British actors more famous for their comedy performances step into the shoes of Hollywood heavy weights at Richmond Theatre this week.

Neil Morrisey’s take on multi Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman’s Raymond Babbett in the stage version of Rain Man, is the standout performance in a night of pleasant surprises.

The former Men Behaving Badly star delivers a poignant portrayal of a hospitalised autistic savant that is neither distracting or patronising and ultimately draws the audience in to his world.

Opposite Morrisey, Oliver Chris - who’s credits include appearances in The Office and Green Wing - is excellent as Ray’s cynical car-dealing older sibling Charlie with a performance that adds credibiliity to the contrasting journeys of self-discovery the pair make on a road trip Las Vegas.

A half-full auditorium may indicate the regular west London theatre going fraternity may feel it had seen it all before and would not better the big screen original - winner of four Oscars, including best picture and best actor (Hoffman).

But the lead pair breath new life into a story first told 21 years ago - adapted for the stage by screenwriter Dan Gordon (Wyatt Earp, Murder in the First) - and deserved their extended ovation.