Story perspectives

National Theatre Revives Rattigan's Play: Captivating Yet Flawed

2/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

The National Theatre revived Terence Rattigan's 1963 play Man and Boy, with Ben Daniels as the corrupt financier Gregor Antonescu and Laurie Kynaston as Basil, set in a 1930s Greenwich Village apartment.
Critics note themes of capitalism and familial betrayal, while the experimental staging detracts from the narrative.
Ben Daniels delivers a captivating performance, yet the production's overall execution leaves the story's potential unfulfilled and the emotional journeys distant.

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Story summary

The National Theatre revived Terence Rattigan's 1963 play Man and Boy, with Ben Daniels as the corrupt financier Gregor Antonescu and Laurie Kynaston as Basil, set in a 1930s Greenwich Village apartment.
Critics note themes of capitalism and familial betrayal, while the experimental staging detracts from the narrative.
Ben Daniels delivers a captivating performance, yet the production's overall execution leaves the story's potential unfulfilled and the emotional journeys distant.