Review: Must-see play about a Jewish pianist you may have to google

Something extraordinary happened at The Barbican on Wednesday night. An actor who, for over two decades, has been best known as the hilarious star of a hit US comedy series brought the audience to their feet by playing the piano.

Sean Hayes who has forever been jazz hands “Just Jack’” Karen’s lovable sidekick in Will & Grace revealed there’s much more to him than sitcom sparkle when he performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue live on stage.

Raving about performances has become a reflex these days, but I genuinely wished I’d brought roses, because I would have thrown them at his feet. Appearing on various chat shows ahead of opening night, Hayes revealed he is classically trained, and his husband, composer Scott Icenogle told me  that the actor plays the keys every night at home. Boy, does it show!

With that much musical talent and his cue perfect comic timing, being cast as Oscar Levant — the Oscar of the title —was written in the stars for this star.

Now Oscar Levant will send a lot of you to Google — so I’ll save you the bother. Levant was once a household name in America for being a virtuoso pianist, actor, and sharp-tongued wit who was a regular on talk shows from the 1940s to the early ’60s. But beneath the wisdom and wisecracks was a man tormented by mental illness and addiction.

In Levant, a celebrity haunted by self-doubt and overthinking, playwright Doug Wright saw a story that was relevant for today and that’s Goodnight Oscar, 90 minutes of sharp dialogue, emotion, and a standout performance of unforgettable music by Sean Hayes who won a Tony for his Oscar.

Oscar was Jewish and Wright reflects that in the rhythm of the dialogue and occasional Yiddish. Oscar refers to himself as an alter kaker, drops in a schlemiel and there is a poignant reference to George Gershwin’s mother saying a Hebrew prayer (Viddui) when her 38-year-old composer son was dying from a brain tumour. George Gershwin is key(s) to the play. Oscar was his  friend and significantly after Gershwin’s death, a friend who then became the go-to interpreter of his work.

Being anchored spiritually to Gershwin is a problem for Oscar as he loves him but resents his genius, measuring his self-worth against him. Gershwin lives permanently in Oscar’s head, but Wright brings the composer (David Burnett) on to the stage as a mesmerising, ghostly presence who reminds Oscar of his duty.

One of Oscar’s truest admirers is Tonight Show host Jack Paar. It was he who, at the end of every show said – “Goodnight Oscar Levant, wherever you are” and he is played with easy charm and one hell of a good face by Ben Rappaport. For his debut West Coast broadcast, Paar chooses Oscar as his guest. No spoilers here from me, but let’s just say it’s a bold move because Oscar is not a safe bet. That he arrives at NBC with caring and attentive nurse, Alvin (Daniel Adeosun) is kept from the anxious network boss who knows Oscar does barbed, hilarious one-liners about politics, religion, and sex. Let’s just say that if Oscar was around now he would either be pals with Ricky Gervais or cancelled.

After a chat with Jack that lights up the complaints switchboard, the only way Oscar can save the show — and Paar — is to play the piano. Having been cajoled into the studio by his elegant, restrained wife, Juni(Rosalie Craig), Oscar overloaded on prescription drugs is now Hayes’ responsibility and what a  brilliant job he does. Out of his head, but not too much, his performance of Rhapsody in Blue is jaw dropping. And he does it with Gershwin breathing down his neck.

The standing ovation said it all and so did the Tony he got on Broadway. As I said at the start, I wish I’d brought flowers. But the bouquet Sean Hayes deserved would’ve been awkward to carry on the Tube. If you’ve got friends with tickets, demand they sell them to you.

barbican.org.uk