Review: After The Dance (National Theatre)

After The Dance is one of Terence Rattigan's lesser-known plays. Admittedly, this may be for a reason - it rattles on for three hours, and some of the dialogue is, while exquisitely well thought out, a touch dull. Its cleverness lies in its tragi-comic nature and this is where it stands up against much of the other programmed work at the National at present.

Benedict Cumberbatch gives a sensational performance as family controller David, while Adrian Scarborough will find it hard to better his turn as drunk, lazy friend John, who revels in his role as figure of fun, staying on the sofa as his friends keep him stocked with food and booze and not having to work. Scarborough, pleasingly, is able to show his versatility as John becomes somewhat of a revelatory figure as the piece progresses. Nancy Carroll, too, is excellent as David's wife Joan, the very model of the English wife who suppresses her emotions for far too long.

It's always lovely to see the ever-reliable John Heffernan on stage, and to see him able to flex his dramatic muscles as character Peter finds himself drowning in a sea of loss is brilliant to watch. Pandora Colin too has a nice turn as Joan's drunk, inappropriate friend, who always turns up at the most inappropriate moments.

Ultimately, Rattigan promises more than he delivers. His writing can be superb but besides the shocking end to the second act, this piece is nowhere near as dramatic as it could be.