The London West End theatre, which could have been named after Terence Rattigan, plans to temporarily stall. Instead, a more fitting tribute would be to revive one of his plays, with the rarely seen 'Man and Boy' set to reopen at the National's Dorfman Theatre later this month. This production offers a fresh perspective on an author often shrouded in mystery.
The play's origins are rooted in a book about Swedish financier Ivar Kreuger whose business empire collapsed during the Great Depression. Set in 1934, 'Man and Boy' follows Gregor Antonescu, a ruthless Romanian financier hiding out in his estranged son's Greenwich Village apartment. The complexity of this character is striking, as Rattigan portrays him with a ruthlessness reminiscent of Shakespeare's Iago.
What is remarkable about Rattigan is how much the play mattered to him personally. In an era where his theatrical reputation was on the decline, he saw 'Man and Boy' as his last chance to prove himself as a serious dramatist. His emotional investment in the play stems from his complicated relationship with his father, who was forced to resign from his diplomatic career after an affair with a Romanian princess.
Rattigan often explored this theme of family dynamics through his work. In 'Adventure Story', he drew inspiration from his father's personality and character traits, while 'Who Is Sylvia?' is a thinly veiled portrait of his own philandering father. By the time we reach 'Man and Boy', Rattigan delves deeper into the complexities of their relationship, weaving together social and political tensions with interdependence.
Another thread running through this play is Rattigan's recurring theme of homosexuality. Despite being discreet about his personal life, he returns to this topic in several works, including 'The Browning Version' and 'Table Number Seven'. It is notable that 'Man and Boy' contains undertones of a gay relationship between the protagonist and his confidant.
While some may see parallels with recent scandals, such as those involving Robert Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein, it's essential to approach this play on its own terms. Rattigan has masterfully woven drama from characters that evoke both revulsion and fascination. By embracing the central paradox of theatre – our affinity for monsters who embody William Blake's notion of 'energy is eternal delight' – we are drawn into the world of 'Man and Boy', despite its darker themes.
The play's origins are rooted in a book about Swedish financier Ivar Kreuger whose business empire collapsed during the Great Depression. Set in 1934, 'Man and Boy' follows Gregor Antonescu, a ruthless Romanian financier hiding out in his estranged son's Greenwich Village apartment. The complexity of this character is striking, as Rattigan portrays him with a ruthlessness reminiscent of Shakespeare's Iago.
What is remarkable about Rattigan is how much the play mattered to him personally. In an era where his theatrical reputation was on the decline, he saw 'Man and Boy' as his last chance to prove himself as a serious dramatist. His emotional investment in the play stems from his complicated relationship with his father, who was forced to resign from his diplomatic career after an affair with a Romanian princess.
Rattigan often explored this theme of family dynamics through his work. In 'Adventure Story', he drew inspiration from his father's personality and character traits, while 'Who Is Sylvia?' is a thinly veiled portrait of his own philandering father. By the time we reach 'Man and Boy', Rattigan delves deeper into the complexities of their relationship, weaving together social and political tensions with interdependence.
Another thread running through this play is Rattigan's recurring theme of homosexuality. Despite being discreet about his personal life, he returns to this topic in several works, including 'The Browning Version' and 'Table Number Seven'. It is notable that 'Man and Boy' contains undertones of a gay relationship between the protagonist and his confidant.
While some may see parallels with recent scandals, such as those involving Robert Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein, it's essential to approach this play on its own terms. Rattigan has masterfully woven drama from characters that evoke both revulsion and fascination. By embracing the central paradox of theatre – our affinity for monsters who embody William Blake's notion of 'energy is eternal delight' – we are drawn into the world of 'Man and Boy', despite its darker themes.
, I am SO stoked that they're reviving 'Man and Boy'! Terence Rattigan is like my ultimate fave playwright, he's so underrated 
. I mean, have you seen 'Adventure Story'? it's like, whoa 
. But yeah, the way he explores themes of family dynamics, power struggles, and identity in this play is just SO on point 
. And let's talk about his complex relationships with men, it's like... Rattigan was ahead of his time, you know? 
His writing always felt so nuanced and layered, like there's always more to uncover 
. Can't wait to see this production come back to life on stage! 
so like i read this article about terence rattigan's play man and boy and honestly its kinda mind blown how much he poured his heart into it 
and then there's that whole thing with his dad and romanian princess... talk about complicated family dynamics 
btw can't deny that the themes of homosexuality in the play are pretty interesting... no need to jump all over it, let's just say its a product of its time 
especially since its one of Rattigans most complex works. I mean, who wouldn't wanna see a drama about a guy with a dark past and some pretty interesting family dynamics? 
what im wondering is why dont more ppl talk about the gay undertones in this play tho? i mean its like 30 yrs old but still kinda relevant. 
You know, back in my day, we used to have these amazing West End shows that would stay on for years, not just a few months like some of those new-fangled productions these days 
. Anyway, Terence Rattigan's writing is just so clever and complex - I mean, who else could make you feel both repulsed and intrigued by the same character? 
The parallels with those scandals are definitely interesting, but I think we can appreciate the play for what it is - a masterpiece of theatre that holds up today as well as it did back when it first came out. Can't wait to see this 'Man and Boy' come back to life at the National! 
. And can we talk about how ahead of his time this play was? The themes of homosexuality and power struggles are still super relevant today 
, you know like how they change it every week? And I'm thinking, have you tried the new ube latte trend? It's all over Instagram and TikTok, but honestly, I think it's overrated 
!
And let's not forget the themes of identity and morality that run deep through the play. It's like Rattigan is speaking straight to our collective psyche. Can't wait to see how the production brings it all together! 
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I think what's so great about this play is that it doesn't shy away from its darker elements, but instead, uses them to explore the complexities of human nature. It's like a wild rollercoaster ride, but one that'll leave you feeling all the feels 
. The fact that Rattigan poured his heart and soul into this play makes it even more special - it's like he was trying to prove himself as a serious dramatist, and boy, did he succeed! 
. The way Rattigan explores themes of family dynamics and societal pressures through this play is like, so deep 