Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Not often I go to the theatre - certainly not often enough - but I went the other week to see the latest version of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Like much of Williams' work it's a play brimming with dysfunctional family issues, repressed sexuality and, frankly, quite a lot of unpleasant characters.

This particular staging is slightly different as it has an all black cast. Directed by Debbie (Fame) Allen it stars James (voice of Vader & CNN) Earl Jones, Phylicia (Mrs Cosby) Rashad, Adrian (Hustle) Lester and, somewhat strangely, Richard (the Richard Blackwood Show) Blackwood. It is wonderful.

The cast are excellent, with no weak links, and all give excellent performances nuanced between making the characters unpleasant, which most are, but allowing us to see some of their redeeming qualities. Above all there is the brilliant writing of Williams'. The play may be over 50 years old, but it is still bang up to date - the second act remains one of the best father/son scenes ever written.

If you get a chance to see it, then do - and a play that also has Derek (Playaway and Heads & Tails) Griffiths can't be bad.