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Rain Man cruises into Theatreland Rain Man cruises into Theatreland
(2 days later)
By Neil Smith Entertainment reporter, BBC NewsBy Neil Smith Entertainment reporter, BBC News
Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett has made his West End debut in a stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning film Rain Man.Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett has made his West End debut in a stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning film Rain Man.
Hartnett and Godley play brothers who take a cross-country road tripIn the role Tom Cruise played in Barry Levinson's 1988 movie, the 30-year-old stars as a car salesman shocked to discover he has a long-lost brother who is an autistic savant.Hartnett and Godley play brothers who take a cross-country road tripIn the role Tom Cruise played in Barry Levinson's 1988 movie, the 30-year-old stars as a car salesman shocked to discover he has a long-lost brother who is an autistic savant.
Dustin Hoffman won an Academy Award for playing the latter role, recreated in Terry Johnson's production by Britain's Adam Godley.Dustin Hoffman won an Academy Award for playing the latter role, recreated in Terry Johnson's production by Britain's Adam Godley.
Johnson replaced original director David Grindley, whose departure from the show caused its first night to be postponed by one week.Johnson replaced original director David Grindley, whose departure from the show caused its first night to be postponed by one week.
Judging from the occasional fumbled line and a couple of awkward silences, his cast might not have had all the rehearsal time they needed.Judging from the occasional fumbled line and a couple of awkward silences, his cast might not have had all the rehearsal time they needed.
ExploitationExploitation
On the whole, though, Hartnett makes a confident fist of Charlie Babbitt, an angry cynic on the verge of bankruptcy outraged to learn his institutionalised sibling has inherited their late father's fortune.On the whole, though, Hartnett makes a confident fist of Charlie Babbitt, an angry cynic on the verge of bankruptcy outraged to learn his institutionalised sibling has inherited their late father's fortune.
Abducting Godley's Raymond from the hospital facility where he lives, Hartnett's character finds himself bonding with his brother on a road trip across the US.Abducting Godley's Raymond from the hospital facility where he lives, Hartnett's character finds himself bonding with his brother on a road trip across the US.
Hartnett's films include Black Hawk Down and Pearl HarborAlong the way, Raymond alleviates Charlie's financial worries by using his uncanny capacity for mental computation to help him make a killing in Las Vegas.Hartnett's films include Black Hawk Down and Pearl HarborAlong the way, Raymond alleviates Charlie's financial worries by using his uncanny capacity for mental computation to help him make a killing in Las Vegas.
The shameless exploitation of a disabled man for monetary gain, glossed over in Levinson's film, is once again downplayed in Dan Gordon's adaptation.The shameless exploitation of a disabled man for monetary gain, glossed over in Levinson's film, is once again downplayed in Dan Gordon's adaptation.
In an unwitting parallel with Ben Stiller's current comedy Tropic Thunder, meanwhile, the script also includes a number of uses of the word "retard" that some may find offensive.In an unwitting parallel with Ben Stiller's current comedy Tropic Thunder, meanwhile, the script also includes a number of uses of the word "retard" that some may find offensive.
Perhaps this production's biggest problem, though, is the way it is forced to eradicate the road trip aspect that was so pivotal in its celluloid predecessor.Perhaps this production's biggest problem, though, is the way it is forced to eradicate the road trip aspect that was so pivotal in its celluloid predecessor.
Most of the action takes place in the various motel rooms Charlie and Raymond take refuge in during their cross-country odyssey, giving the piece a claustrophobic and repetitive feel.Most of the action takes place in the various motel rooms Charlie and Raymond take refuge in during their cross-country odyssey, giving the piece a claustrophobic and repetitive feel.
It also makes Hartnett's transformation from opportunistic hustler to reformed altruist seem abrupt and unconvincing, for all the actor's considerable charm and presence.It also makes Hartnett's transformation from opportunistic hustler to reformed altruist seem abrupt and unconvincing, for all the actor's considerable charm and presence.
The real stand-out is Godley, whose gangly frame, stooping posture and prominent ears automatically set his Raymond apart from Hoffman's interpretation.The real stand-out is Godley, whose gangly frame, stooping posture and prominent ears automatically set his Raymond apart from Hoffman's interpretation.
WindfallWindfall
The actor's flawless comic timing, meanwhile, enables him to get a laugh even from such a nondescript phrase as "I don't know."The actor's flawless comic timing, meanwhile, enables him to get a laugh even from such a nondescript phrase as "I don't know."
Ultimately, though, the play fails to offer a compelling reason why this particular film merits translation to a different medium.Ultimately, though, the play fails to offer a compelling reason why this particular film merits translation to a different medium.
The film of Rain Man won four Oscars in 1989, including one for best pictureAfter all, it is not as if London's West End has a shortage of shows that take their inspiration from the cinema screen.The film of Rain Man won four Oscars in 1989, including one for best pictureAfter all, it is not as if London's West End has a shortage of shows that take their inspiration from the cinema screen.
So far this year, there has been a Gone with the Wind musical, a staging of Brief Encounter and The Wizard of Oz at the Royal Festival Hall. So far this year there has been a Gone with the Wind musical, a staging of Brief Encounter and The Wizard of Oz at the Royal Festival Hall.
They will be followed shortly by Girl with a Pearl Earring, a play based on the Tracy Chevalier novel that was filmed with Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson in 2003.They will be followed shortly by Girl with a Pearl Earring, a play based on the Tracy Chevalier novel that was filmed with Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson in 2003.
It probably makes sense from a business standpoint to have a built-in recognition factor that - combined with a star of Hartnett's stature - may generate a box-office windfall.It probably makes sense from a business standpoint to have a built-in recognition factor that - combined with a star of Hartnett's stature - may generate a box-office windfall.
That, however, did not save Gone with the Wind, whose costly failure suggests there is not always an audience for the tested and familiar.That, however, did not save Gone with the Wind, whose costly failure suggests there is not always an audience for the tested and familiar.
Reviews of Rain Man so far have been luke warm. Reviews of Rain Man so far have been luke-warm.
Paul Taylor, of the Independent - who gave the play three stars out of five - said Hartnett's "inexperience is at its most damaging in the silences which punctuate and accelerate the tentative growing rapport between the siblings". Paul Taylor of the Independent - who gave the play three stars out of five - said Hartnett's "inexperience is at its most damaging in the silences which punctuate and accelerate the tentative growing rapport between the siblings."
But the reviewer praised Godley's Raymond as "an anguishing joy". But the reviewer praised Godley's Raymond as "an anguishing joy."
The Guardian's Michael Billington, meanwhile, said Hartnett was "perfectly competent as Charlie" and praised Godley for his "subtle skill" and "expressive detail".The Guardian's Michael Billington, meanwhile, said Hartnett was "perfectly competent as Charlie" and praised Godley for his "subtle skill" and "expressive detail".
He gave the performance two stars out of five. He gave the production two stars out of five.
Rain Man is at the Apollo Theatre in London until 20 December.Rain Man is at the Apollo Theatre in London until 20 December.