Fram - TNT

With its framing device of a Greek professor resurrecting actress Sybil Thorndike, plus its discussion of the role of arts in humanitarian affairs, Tony Harrison's ambitious new verse play frequently loses sight of the man at the heart of it — Fridtjof Nansen, Norwegian polar explorer, diplomat, politician and 1922 Nobel Prize winner. Written in rhyming couplets, this production (co-directed with designer Bob Crowley) has a funny colloquial touch to counterpoint the stark historical facts and images as Nansen swaps his Darwinian stance for a more philanthropic view. The play is too long, sometimes repetitive, and frequently indulgent, but it's worth waiting for the moment when Fram, Nansen's ice-defying ship, rises triumphantly from the depths — a symbol of all that he accomplished.
Olivier at the National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 (020-7452 3000). Until May 22. £10-£30 (part of the Travelex £10 season)