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Does the British theatre possess a more versatile, indeed more gifted, actor than Roger Allam? He was the original Javert in Les Mis, he was Willy Brandt in Michael Frayn’s Democracy and now here he is taking over the part of Albin from Graham Norton in this Jerry Herman musical. And even the excellent Douglas Hodge, who shone in the role when Terry Johnson’s revival opened at the Menier 16 months ago, would be astonished by the degree of humour and, yes, depth that Allam brings to the ageing chanteuse in the transvestite club of the title.
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Quast is genially laid-back, the dancers are as gymnastic as they’re exotic, but, for me, it’s Allam’s evening. He winces, pouts, boggles, gasps with indignation and does all the camp things required of him without ever pushing the comedy too far. But he also makes it clear what his difficult, unconventional life has meant. When Allam sings 'I Am What I Am' with a mix of pain, grief, bitterness, rage and defiance we’re seeing and hearing a major actor tell us what it feels like to be born and bred in the wrong body — and it’s moving, even searing stuff.
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