Don Juan In Soho…

I like Patrick Marber. I liked him on various Steve Coogan and Chris Morris TV shows and I liked his first stage play, Dealer’s Choice. And even though I wasn’t a massive fan of Closer, his award-winning four-hander that later became a hit film, I could see that it was a well-written piece.

And Don Juan In Soho is a similarly well-crafted animal. Adapted from Moliere’s play it transports the infamous sexual libertine to contemporary London. Here he woos, seduces and marries a virginal and pure wife then dumps her once he’s had his wicked way.

Her non-too chuffed brothers then threaten revenge unless this creature of utter ego and passion can repent his ways and save himself. Magnificently, of course, Don Juan can’t do this because it would mean denying who and what he is so he ends up knifed dead in the street by the vengeful siblings.

Staged in the intimate Donmar, the play is well-acted and well-directed. Marber’s dialogue and humour are as sharp as ever and Rhys Ifans is eminently watchable in the title role as the man admired for his lust but also damned for it.

But for all its production excellence and strong cast the play isn’t a major piece of work. At its best it’s an admirable attempt at saying something important about living and experiencing life rather than watching it go by. At it’s worst it’s knob gags disguised as philosophy.

It’s still not a bad evening out, though.