Now Or Later **** TNT
Prince Harry caused a ruckus several years back by sporting a swastika at a fancy-dress party. Christopher Shinn’s timely play imagines what might happen if the gay son of the Democrat President-elect made a similar (but in this case calculated) faux pas by dressing up as Muhammad and refusing to apologise.
Set in the anonymity of a Southern hotel room, Dominic Cooke’s convincing production is both intelligent and thought provoking as it explores issues of freedom of speech and intolerance. Eddie Redmayne exudes damaged sensitivity as the Ivy League student, determined to preserve his private autonomy, and Matthew Marsh is calculatingly effective as it becomes clear the principles that helped him get to power now lie somewhere between hypocrisy and compromise.
Prince Harry caused a ruckus several years back by sporting a swastika at a fancy-dress party. Christopher Shinn’s timely play imagines what might happen if the gay son of the Democrat President-elect made a similar (but in this case calculated) faux pas by dressing up as Muhammad and refusing to apologise.
Set in the anonymity of a Southern hotel room, Dominic Cooke’s convincing production is both intelligent and thought provoking as it explores issues of freedom of speech and intolerance. Eddie Redmayne exudes damaged sensitivity as the Ivy League student, determined to preserve his private autonomy, and Matthew Marsh is calculatingly effective as it becomes clear the principles that helped him get to power now lie somewhere between hypocrisy and compromise.
Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Sq, SW1 (020-7565 5000). Until November 1. £10-£25
LOUISE KINGSLEY
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