One Last Dance

Last night I went to see Terence Rattigan's play, After the Dance at the National Theatre, following so many recommendations, both from the professional critics and fellow theatre-goers. But when I arrived at the theatre and read that the show was three hours 15 minutes, I wondered if I'd be able to concentrate for the full production. But the critics were right. I was gripped from the moment the curtain rose, to the last line of this remarkable play. Many will have spoken about the fine acting of Benedict Cumberbatch and Nancy Carroll, but for me, Adrian Scarborough, playing the hedonistic John Reid, stole the show, and indeed received the largest round of applause at the end of the evening. However, it was an amazingly strong cast (26 actors on stage at one point); how many other theatres in the world could have contemplated such a production? Although it only has a couple of performances left, if you can get a ticket, grab it.