Hayes, the multiple Emmy-award winning actor best known for playing the campy Jack in ‘Will & Grace’ is remarkable as Oscar Levant, an American pianist, composer, comedian, author, and actor, long forgotten. He was also heavily burdened with mental issues, addicted to prescription drugs, and was committed to a mental hospital at the peak of his popularity.
Writer – Doug Wright, Director – Lisa Peterson, Set Designer – Rachel Hauck, Costume Designer – Emilio Sosa, Co‑Lighting Designers – Ben Stanton & Carolina Ortiz, Sound Designer – André Pluess, Original WHAM Designer – J. Jared Janas, US Music Supervisor & Arranger – Chris Fenwick, UK Associate Director – Denzel Westley‑Sanderson, US Associate Set Designer – Mike Kaukl, UK Associate Costume Designer / Supervisor – Sabrina Cuniberto, UK Associate Lighting Designer – Rob Casey, UK Associate Sound Designer – Gareth Tucker, UK Associate WHAM Designer / Supervisor – Sam Cox, Props Supervisor – Marcus Hall Photo credit Johan Persson
In this fictionalized version of a few hours in the life of Oscar when he is asked to appear on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar (played by a very good Ben Rappaport), Levant is given furlough from his psychiatric hospital to supposedly attend his daughters graduation but instead heads to the television studio in Burbank, California. His long suffering wife June (an excellent Rosalie Craig) is very supportive and reassures Paar and the head of the network that Levant’s appearance will go smooth. There is a bit of a buildup before Hayes appears on stage as Levant, but when he does the audience applauses enthusiastically, and Hayes kills it with his mannerisms and voice as Levant, the opposite of Jack from ‘Will & Grace.’
Levant is not well in the head, he needs more medication to get through the show, but his hospital minder will not allow anymore. But Levant talks the show production assistant (Eric Sirakian) to get him his medication right before he goes live and this puts him over the top during the live interview where he tells several hilarious jokes (including ‘Elizabeth Taylor is always the bride, never the bridesmaid’!). But when Levant plays the piano, Hayes gives us a masterful 10 minute piano performance – it is simply amazing – who knew Hayes had this talent? And once done the audience erupts in clapping for several minutes. Actually the whole show holds your attention throughout its 100 minute run time (no interval). ‘Goodnight Oscar’ is a show with masterclass acting and we are privileged to see Hayes on stage in London. Thank you thank you Sean, and writer Doug Wright and Director Lisa Peterson, for bringing Oscar’s story to life, and to London!