Jermyn Street Theatre, London SW1
This is a good time to see John Osborne’s revolutionary play. In 1956 it opened at the Royal Court a month after Enid Bagnold’s The Chalk Garden opened at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, the two dramas offering completely opposing views of 1950s Britain.
The Chalk Garden is currently triumphantly revived at the Donmar Warehouse in London, and if it is revealed as the more accomplished work, Look Back in Anger is still the better state-of-the-nation play.
And Alexander Gilmour’s solid production has the added twist of featuring Jimmy Akingbola’s black Jimmy Porter who veers into a West Indian accent when he wants to emphasise his sense of working-class alienation.
The cast also features Gary Raymond who appeared with Richard Burton and Claire Bloom in the 1958 film version. Recommended. (Tel: 020 7287 2875)
