Rain Man, a play based on the well known and Oscar winning 1988 film starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman arrives at the Theatre Royal this week as a comedy road trip drama featuring two long lost brothers on a journey of self-discovery.
The story centres on an arrogant and angry wheeler and dealer Charlie Babbitt, who is struggling to keep his business from going under when he receives a call that his estranged father has died. When he finds out that his millionaire father has left all of his fortunes to his long lost autistic brother, who has been living in a medical institution, he comes face to face with Raymond who medical professionals don’t think is capable of living on his own. Charlie decides to “borrow” Raymond from the facility he lives in and embarks on roadtrip across America, featuring many comedy capers and challenges along the way.
The set design is kept fairly simple with some clever furniture moves and lighting changes to indicate scene changes, punctuated by blasts of classic 80s music in-keeping with the time period.
The theme of a roadtrip, so prevalent in the movie version, is difficult to deliver on stage with a limited set design and lack of detailed backdrops (and the absence of a car, of course). At times it was difficult to pinpoint the geography of where they were travelling. However the solid performances from both of the male leads keeps the production on the road.
Adam Lilley steps in as un understudy for Paul Nicholls to play the character of Raymond. It is always difficult for an actor to play a part featuring a profound disability in a consistent and sensitive manner. However Lilley navigates his portrayal of a man who struggles with social interactions, physical touching and routines.
Chris Fountain stars in the role of Charlie. Fountain, a former soap star, showcases two sides to his character – an angry, cold hearted man after the family fortune he feels entitled to, into a soft, gentle and patient man who learns how to love through his acceptance and understanding of his brother.
There are some poignant moments where the relationship between the brothers deepens. Both actors work in partnership on stage to grab the audience’s attention from the first scene.
Screenwriter Barry Morrow claims he never intended his Oscar-winning script for the 1988 film to be a story about autism. “It was simply a tale of two estranged brothers, their journey and their fragile redemption,” he said, in an interview with the Guardian last year.
Twenty years later, Rain Man is still a relevant and heart-warming tale of a love between two brothers. A thoroughly enjoyable watch.
Rain Man is at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow until Saturday 30th March.