Dr Johnson would be thrilled. His name up there in lights in the West End. He craved theatrical fame, and was cruelly disappointed that his only play, an exotic tragedy set in Constantinople, had just nine performances in 1749. But here at the Arts Theatre on Great Newport Street (London WC2, until 24 September) he is brought to vivid dramatic life by Ian Redford. In A Dish of Tea with Dr Johnson, the rough-mannered and ill-figured dictionary-maker also finds himself on stage with a glamorous woman, Trudie Styler, who as Hester Thrale even pecks his cheek. Did they ever kiss? Who knows? Their friendship has puzzled scholars for 200 years.
Adapted from James Boswell’s biography, a book that is unusual in the richness of its verbatim conversations, the play is rich in apt quotation. ‘It is by the study of little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible,’ declares Johnson, while talking to his cat Hodge.
The production has been blighted by the sudden illness of Russell Barr (now replaced by Luke Griffin), who usually plays fall guy to Johnson, taking on the characters of Boswell, Reynolds and even Flora MacDonald. Yet this gives Redford an opportunity to dominate the stage. His portrayal is uncannily true to how one imagines Johnson, the cadences of speech, the sudden bursts of anger, the reflective melancholy. There were moments when you could almost believe his spirit was there, hovering in the wings.
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