Mr Foote's Other Leg, Hampstead Theatre ****

Shows about theatre and it's actors seem robe blooming. People, Places and Things start with a scene from The Seagull; Nell Gwynn explores Restoration theatre of the 17th century and now Ian Kelly's stage adaptation of his biography Mr Foote's Other Leg. Like Nell Gwynn, humour dominates this play following the life of Samuel Foote however, unlike Swale's play, there is a darker side to Kelly's play. The satirisation get more brutal and the laughter becomes less about the fool and more about the pain of Foote's later life. After a needless prologue, the play bounces along, with a few medical scenes which seem oddly out of place. Richard Eyre's production juggles the silly with the serious well. It doesn't get too jarring with either and does well in showing this extraordinary man. Simon Russel Beale takes the starring role as Foote and, as always, is a delight. The joy he brings is tremendous yet he also provides an insight into how being in the public eye can distort and disturb an individual. Dirvla Kirwan is wonderful as Peg Woffington whose accent and character is a marvel to behold whilst Joseph Millson is a grand and aloof yet sympathetic David Garrick. It's fitting that this play is getting a transfer to the theatre which Foote set up and it is thoroughly deserved for a perfectly judged play.