This year has seen a number of stage movie adaptations at Milton Keynes Theatre but Rain Man, which opens this week, is in a different league, writes Chris Gregg.
Based on the film which won a Best Actor Oscar for Dustin Hoffman alongside a young Tom Cruise, the movie also won Best Picture in 1989 and with such an iconic performance, the stage version was always going to have a tough act to follow.
This show, though, takes a strong story and gives it a fresh '80s nostalgia' angle with one of our best loved actors Matthew Horne (Gavin from TV's Gavin and Stacey) taking centre stage and really making the character his own.
The plot follows self-centered salesman Charlie Babbitt (Edward Speleers of Downton Abbey) as he discovers that his estranged father has died and left a fortune to his brother Raymond who is autistic with a remarkable memory and genius for numbers.
Charlie is determined to get his half of the inheritance and persuades Raymond to leave the institution where he has spent most of his life and come on a roadtrip during which Charlie gets to know his brother and discovers that he is worth more than he could have ever imagined.
The staging is simple and uncomplicated which doesn't distract from the story with some well selected eighties music during the scene changes.
The success of this show really does rest on the shoulders of Matthew Horne - and he doesn't disappoint. There is a real depth to his portrayal of Raymond and his performance doesn't slip for a moment. He demonstrates that he is a very talented actor who is more than capable of carrying a serious role.
Alongside him is Edward Speleers as the Tom Cruise character, Charlie. The opening scene sees him shouting into an oversized eighties mobile phone and there were a few gasps from the audience when his language became very strong, but you do get used to the swearing and the slightly strained American accents as the show gets underway.
Ed comes into his own during the quieter scenes with Matthew and seems more comfortable as his character softens.
There are also strong supporting performances from Elizabeth Carter as Charlie's girlfriend Susan and Neil Roberts as Dr Bruener.
This is a stylish and heartwarming production which takes a much loved story and gives you a chance to enjoy it with a fresh perspective.
Rain Man is at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 8th September 2018.
