Everyman review, Olivier Theatre

Carol Ann Duffy and Chiwetel Ejiofor: surely a pairing made in Heaven, or in the case of the Medieval morality play Everyman, Hell. The subject is gloom-laden - Everyman represents the sloth and greed and villainy that lays us all low before God, but the effervescence in the opening scene of Rufus Norris's production had us grinning broadly as the eponymous hero celebrated his 40th birthday to a Donna Summer soundtrack. It was pure Enron, our bad boy in a sharp blue suit, blowing candles, drinking, snogging, and snorting shedloads of white stuff: rich as Croesus, thank you Jesus.

Like life, this play is littered with moments of unexpected joy - a scene in a top store where Everyman's vanity is reduced to the value of his credit card, an hilarious return home to a senile father and a mother on oxygen, and a sojourn on the streets with a woman who can pee standing up - and times of unremitting dullness. Duffy's script soars when the lines rhyme, but is flat in the philosophical exchanges, possibly because the whole notion of having to account for yourself is out of time in a society where personal responsibility has been offset by the group email and group discussion.

Ejiofor is glorious on stage and the music and movement are terrific. There is some gratuitous swearing (and plenty that isn't) that is clunky. The people behind me hated that. Paul Anderson's stark lighting is great for creating mood, but ten rows back it bounced off faces so detail got lost. That's a bummer when there's a superstar in the lead role. The ensemble is excellent and Dermot Crowley as death, pulling on his rubber gloves, his hat, and CSI overalls like the well rehearsed serial killer he is, delivers brilliant lines brilliantly: I know... I could have done betterer, et fucking cetera.

In conclusion: The 100 minute production moves quickly. Are we convinced by Everyman's reflections on his failings? Not in a society that venerates success, ownership and individualism. The high points are so exuberant they sparkle and offset the dull. If you like the writer, the star, or morality plays, Everyman is a must. If not, spend your money on a more cutting edge narrative.

References
Everyman,
Tickets
Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, South Bank London SE1.      Run ends August 30