London's West End Theatre Plans Stalled, Revival of Terence Rattigan's 'Man and Boy' Looms
A potential name for London's West End theatre has been put on hold, but a more fitting tribute to the playwright may be reviving his lesser-known works. One such revival is scheduled to premiere at the National Theatre's Dorfman theatre later this month, with Terence Rattigan's 'Man and Boy'. Although it had a brief run in 1963 and was revived in 2005 with David Suchet in the lead role, this production will be an unknown adaptation for many.
The play's origins date back to a book about Swedish financier Ivar Kreuger, whose business empire collapsed during the Great Depression. Rattigan adapted this idea into 'Man and Boy', which is set in 1934. The story revolves around Gregor Antonescu, a ruthless Romanian financier hiding out in his estranged son's apartment, where he manipulates his son to secure a merger that could save his life.
What's striking about the play is its portrayal of exploitation, particularly by the titular character who behaves similarly to Shakespeare's Iago. Rattigan himself was fiercely protective of his work and would not have it softened or altered, as seen in his dealings with Rex Harrison and director Glen Byam Shaw. This dedication stems from a deep personal connection – Rattigan drew heavily from his own complicated relationship with his father, Frank.
Rattigan's exploration of family dynamics is evident throughout his works, including biographical dramas like 'Adventure Story' and the thinly veiled 'Who Is Sylvia?' The later play critiques his father's philandering ways. By contrast, 'Man and Boy' delves into a tangled web of social and political antagonism as well as interdependence.
Homosexuality is another recurring theme in Rattigan's work, with even subtle hints present throughout his plays. Although the playwright himself kept these matters under wraps, his works show an evolution in depicting non-hetero relationships, particularly as attitudes began to shift by the 1950s. The themes of 'Table Number Seven' and 'Separate Tables' hint at a more open discussion about same-sex behavior.
The modern relevance of Rattigan's 'Man and Boy' is undeniable, given recent high-profile scandals involving powerful figures and their exploitation of others. While audiences will ultimately decide its worth, the play seems to contain echoes of past wrongdoings that still trouble us today – though, unlike Gregor Antonescu, Rattigan himself was a master at manipulation and deception on stage.
A potential name for London's West End theatre has been put on hold, but a more fitting tribute to the playwright may be reviving his lesser-known works. One such revival is scheduled to premiere at the National Theatre's Dorfman theatre later this month, with Terence Rattigan's 'Man and Boy'. Although it had a brief run in 1963 and was revived in 2005 with David Suchet in the lead role, this production will be an unknown adaptation for many.
The play's origins date back to a book about Swedish financier Ivar Kreuger, whose business empire collapsed during the Great Depression. Rattigan adapted this idea into 'Man and Boy', which is set in 1934. The story revolves around Gregor Antonescu, a ruthless Romanian financier hiding out in his estranged son's apartment, where he manipulates his son to secure a merger that could save his life.
What's striking about the play is its portrayal of exploitation, particularly by the titular character who behaves similarly to Shakespeare's Iago. Rattigan himself was fiercely protective of his work and would not have it softened or altered, as seen in his dealings with Rex Harrison and director Glen Byam Shaw. This dedication stems from a deep personal connection – Rattigan drew heavily from his own complicated relationship with his father, Frank.
Rattigan's exploration of family dynamics is evident throughout his works, including biographical dramas like 'Adventure Story' and the thinly veiled 'Who Is Sylvia?' The later play critiques his father's philandering ways. By contrast, 'Man and Boy' delves into a tangled web of social and political antagonism as well as interdependence.
Homosexuality is another recurring theme in Rattigan's work, with even subtle hints present throughout his plays. Although the playwright himself kept these matters under wraps, his works show an evolution in depicting non-hetero relationships, particularly as attitudes began to shift by the 1950s. The themes of 'Table Number Seven' and 'Separate Tables' hint at a more open discussion about same-sex behavior.
The modern relevance of Rattigan's 'Man and Boy' is undeniable, given recent high-profile scandals involving powerful figures and their exploitation of others. While audiences will ultimately decide its worth, the play seems to contain echoes of past wrongdoings that still trouble us today – though, unlike Gregor Antonescu, Rattigan himself was a master at manipulation and deception on stage.
... i think its great to give more attention to his lesser-known works. i mean, we all know his plays like separate tables and table number seven are classics, but man and boy is still super fascinating 
. its like rattigan was a master at exploring these complex family dynamics and social themes that are just as relevant today as they were back in the 1930s 
. i love how his works show this evolution of depicting non-hetero relationships, even if he did keep them under wraps himself 
. cant wait to see how this new production brings man and boy to life 
so i think this production is super cool! 
terence rattigan's work is like, so underrated 
like 'table number seven' and 'who is sylvia?' 
and now 'man and boy' gets a fresh new spin 
it's like rattigan tapped into something that still resonates with us today 
but overall, i think it's gonna be a wild ride 
i mean, who knew he wrote about exploitation and manipulation way back in the 1930s? it's crazy how his personal life influenced his writing, especially with his complicated relationship with his dad 
. It's crazy to think that his plays were ahead of their time in some ways.
here's a chart comparing his plays to the box office numbers: