Oppenheimer, Vaudeville Theatre ***

This latest RSC transfer is another fully white cast treading the boards. This is the perfect example of a play which could have easily used actors from a diverse background but has failed. Why does it have to be left to shows like Dara and Miss Saigon to use actors who have a different skin colour other than white. It is shocking that theatre in the present day is still such a discriminatory culture. That aside, the first half of the play is pretty middle of the road, with some interest from Oppenheimer himself whose few speeches are passionate and sincere. However, there is nothing particularly interesting until the bomb is revealed. There, Tim Morton Smith's text comes to life and gets beyond the science (although Stoppard could learn a trick or two from Smith on how to use science in plays and get audiences to understand it) and to the interesting part of this project- the ethics. The final speech from Michael Grady- Hall is one of the most beautiful speeches that will no doubt be performed as audition pieces for RADA for years. The cast too, as white as they are, are electric and superb. Unfortunately, the set has much to be desired. There is minimalism and then there is can't be bothered/ no budget. Having two poles sticking out and a blackboard doesn't count as a set. This has the potential to set the world alight if it was staged in an exciting way. This production is many things, but it is far from exciting.