The Ruling Class – a play by Peter Barnes

The Ruling Class – a play by Peter Barnes

Trafalgar Studios until April 11^th 2015

Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Peter Barnes’ 1968 parody of the English aristocracy ages well to provide a great evening of wicked humour. James McAvoy jumps (literally) to the challenge of taking on Peter O’Toole’s original stage and Oscar nominated film role.

McAvoy plays Jack Gurney who, due to his father’s unexpected death, inherits the title to become the 14^th Earl of Gurney. The only problem being that Jack is a paranoid schzophrenic who believes he is Jesus Christ. The play is a wondrous black comedy where virually all aspects of the upper classes are teased and tortured through Barnes’ hilarious script and director Lloyd’s cutting style. One of the cleverest scenes involves Jack being interviewed by a “master of lunacy” to determine his sanity and therefore ability to assume his inheritance. However, in more than a nod to a certain political party facing re-election, there is a comic rendition of the Etonian boating song and old school allegiances ensure than Jack is, of course, perfectly normal.

James McAvoy’s performance is tremendous. Like, Peter O’Toole before him, he is able to portray a raving lunatic and be completely believable. One moment he’s crounched down like a minature circus performer and the next he’s strutting, Michael Jackson style. McAvoy delivers his dialogue with a perfect tone of refinement and that’s even when pitted against O’Toole who possessed one of the finest and natural dramatic voices.

Ultimately the play’s message is that all aristos are nuts and therefore Jack fits in just fine. Towards the end the doctor is wearing a strait jacket to indicate that the lunatics really are in charge of the asylum. Politically motivated? Probably but the metaphor resonates on a broader scale.