Rain Man at Leeds Grand Theatre - Review

Based on the Oscar-winning film starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man stars Gavin and Stacey’s Mathew Horne and Downtown Abbey’s Ed Speleers as brothers Raymond and Charlie Babbitt (Horne and Speleers).

I had heard a lot about the film and having an autistic brother, I was inclined to see the show, alongside my step-dad, to see what all the fuss was about. 

My step-Dad Lee Furness had seen the film of which he feels is a fair portrayal of Autism and Savant syndrome (for the time it was made) - the only problem being is the film has led to the wider public thinking that all autistic people have this picture perfect memory and the symptoms of "Savants." Whereas my brother does not. 

I haven't seen the film and had only read the storyline so the stage adaptation  was a first for me.

Rain Man - Review

The play was gripping thanks to the outstanding performances of the two leads Horne and Speelers. The scenes were simple.
My step-dad said that it was very similar to the film, but he felt that it could have been transformed for the stage rather than just a basic replica of parts of the film (see our video review below). 

I however really enjoyed the storyline and the actors really set this show alight for me. 

My stand-out moment was when Charlie teaches Raymond to dance. It brought a tear to my eye because it reminded me of my little brother when he discovered his love of dancing. 

It was an endearing show and left you feeling warmed at the end and ready to go off into the cold autumnal night thanks to a gentle night in one of my favourite theatres. 

The official low-down ( in case, like me, you haven't seen the film)

When self-centred salesman Charlie Babbitt discovers that his long-lost brother Raymond, an autistic savant with a genius for numbers, has inherited the family fortune; he sets out to get ‘his half’. Charlie ‘borrows’ Raymond from the institution where he has spent most of his life and the two brothers embark on a trip across America where Charlie soon discovers that Raymond is worth more than he could have ever imagined. 

Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, Rain Man follows previously acclaimed Bill Kenwright productions of films to the stage, including A Few Good Men, The Shawshank Redemption and Twelve Angry Men. 
Classic Screen to Stage Theatre Company’s production of Rain Man is on at Leeds Grand Theatre until Saturday 3 November 2018. 

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

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We went to #Review #TheRainMan @grandtheatrels1 this evening... It was such a simple yet gripping show from start to finish. The acting was top notch, the staging was basic but slick. Definitely recommend this heartwarming performance â–¡â–¡â–¡ #theatre #review #leeds #leedsgrandtheatre #BlogUpNorth #leedslife #leedsleedsleeds #leedscity #yorkshire #rainman #autism #autisticadult

A post shared by BlogUpNorth (@blogupnorth) on Oct 29, 2018 at 3:56pm PDT