Good Night, Oscar review: Will & Grace's Sean Hayes is master and maestro in this heartbreaking comedy
Sean Hayes stars in a strictly-limited run at The Barbican this summer.
Nothing can prepare you for a viewing of Good Night, Oscar. No knowledge of Will & Grace, late-night talk shows, jazz – or in my case, none of the above – will ready you for this hurtling journey through the life and mind of American musician Oscar Levant.
Sean Hayes and Doug Wright's play ended its Broadway run with near saintly status, scooping up three Tony Awards in the process, but there was certainly a question mark over how its US-centric themes would translate for British audiences.
The answer is simple: go see it. I find it hard to believe anyone could leave their seat having not identified with something from this startling whirlwind of a story.
The show transports you back to 1958 on the night pianist and comedian Oscar Levant escapes a mental health facility to appear on the famous sofa of talk show host Jack Paar. While Paar wants Levant for his musical talents and ability for shocking one-liners, Levant will do nearly anything to avoid playing the piano – in particular, the pieces of his musical idol Gershwin.
Across the show, we see Levant struggle under the weight of mental illness and addiction, all the while grappling with a near life-long feeling of being second best to the music that inspired him. But, trust me on this, it's also real funny.
Much like the orchestra Levant imagines, this show is layered and comes out in full force. Its themes run one after the other, from misogyny to TV censorship to mental illness, building up to a crescendo that encompasses everything from the exploitation of public figures to the uncredited influence of Black culture in music. Yet, while so many shows find themselves muddled by the noise of competing topics and in-your-face messaging, Good Night Oscar's string together in one note-perfect symphony.
Throughout the performance, you find yourself agreeing with everyone and no-one as each argument is laid down in front of you with light-handed empathy. Turns out, throwing everything dart at the board can work when you hit the bullseye every time, the credit for which must be shared between Doug Wright's deftly written script and the unbelievable mettle of the cast.
Of course, Sean Hayes is a virtuoso in every sense. His embodiment of Levant sees a complete transformation of face, limbs and voice. In a previous interview with RadioTimes.com, co-star Rosalie Craig said Hayes was repeatedly told he should play Oscar Levant, and yet I found it hard to see anything of the Will & Grace star in this jittery, sharp-tongued genius who fires off one liners at the speed of light.
By far the highlight was Hayes's... let's say "politically incorrect" interview with Jack Parr (played by Ben Rappaport), which elicited more barks of laughter and nervous giggles from the audience than an off-beat comedian's Netflix special. Rappaport's slick performance of Paar was also key to this as he gleefully eggs Levant on, poking at topics like a naughty child with a beehive.
Praise is also due to Rosalie Craig for her energised performance of Levant's wife June and Daniel Adeosun's role as the stalwart orderly Alvin. But for me, the surprising highlight came in the form of David Burnett as Gershwin, who could have easily fallen into the trap of appearing as 'arrogant genius celebrity number one,' but instead ends up just as tragic a figure as Levant himself.
It is their final scene together where Hayes gives the musical performance of a lifetime, pouring every bit of feeling into his playing of Rhapsody in Blue, which I would urge all non-classical music fans (like myself) to watch, and simply breathe in.
It's funny how you can enter that theatre knowing nothing of Levant, nor the culture he lived in, but by the end of it feel like you've absorbed every inch of him.
Good Night, Oscar is only running at The Barbican until September, so make sure you see it before the music stops.
For a range of offers on theatre tickets, check out the Radio Times Theatre Pass.
When and where is Good Night, Oscar performing in London?
Good Night, Oscar is running for a strictly limited run, from until 21st September 2025.
The play will be performed at the Barbican Theatre, which you can find in central London at the following address: Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS.
How to get Good Night, Oscar London tickets today
Tickets are on sale at LOVETheatre and TodayTix, with prices starting from £23.
- Buy Good Night, Oscar tickets from £24 at LOVETheatre
- Buy Good Night, Oscar tickets from £23 at TodayTix
Make sure you also check out our guide of the best West End shows and best pre-theatre dinner menus.
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