PLAY REVIEW: Entertaining Mr Salone ★★★

 

Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr Sloane remains a potent concoction of seduction, manipulation and social unease, and this revival at the Young Vic under the direction of Nadia Fall brings both strengths and weaknesses to the fore. It’s a show that often bristles with dark humour and uncomfortable moments — yet it never quite settles into the fully jagged edge that one might hope for.

Tamzin Outhwaite makes Kath a vivid, messy presence: lonely, longing and more complex than a mere caricature of sexual frustration. There are moments when her performance crackles with energy, particularly in the tension—and revulsion—she provokes. Jordan Stephens, in his stage debut as Sloane, shows promise. He carries an alluring aura, sometimes mysterious, sometimes manipulative, though there are stretches in which Sloane feels under‑sketched; more shadow than shape. Daniel Cerqueira’s Ed and Christopher Fairbank’s patriarch Kemp provide solid support, though neither quite surprises.

The visual design by Peter McKintosh is clever and atmospheric: the set in‑the‑round works well to trap the characters in their domestic purgatory, and the suspended furniture above the stage creates a sense of skewed memory and unease. Sound and lighting do a good job emphasising mood. However, pacing is inconsistent: after a sharp and engaging first half, the second can drag, and some of the modern touches (music cues, visual interludes) don’t always feel fully earned, sometimes distracting rather than enhancing.

Overall, this Mr Sloane is worth seeing for its moments of raw edge, strong performances (especially from Outhwaite) and atmospheric staging. But it doesn’t quite dig as deeply into Orton’s darker marrow as one might wish. A decent revival — entertaining, occasionally unsettling, but not quite unforgettable.