Stage: Entertaining Mr Sloane

Following Emporium’s 5 star acclaimed production of Beckett’s Endgame, the same company of actors and director now turn their attention to Joe Orton. This year sees the 50th anniversary of perhaps his most famous play, Entertaining Mr Sloane. Made doubly famous by an excellent film interpretation starring Beryl Reid, this work is perhaps more iconic than any of his other works and in that sense it comes with far more preconceptions. Fortunately for us director James Weisz is not one for sticking to the past and designer Gary Blair has already shown great flair with his costumes for Cinderella as well as his set and costumes for Endgame.

When it was first produced, Sloane caused much controversy with its themes of blackmail, murder and sexual deviance – but will it have the same impact today as it did then? Maybe not, but it will be surely no less entertaining, peppered as it is with Orton’s deliciously wicked and often poetic dialogue. Had Orton lived he would now be 81, just one year older in fact than Alan Bennett who this year celebrates his 80th birthday and is still writing and performing.
Entertaining Mr Sloane is at Emporium until 22 June
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