Never So Good (play)

Infobox Play
name = Never So Good


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writer = Howard Brenton
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date of premiere = 26 March 2008
country of Origin = United Kingdom
original language = English
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subject = Life and career of British politician Harold Macmillan
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web = http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/neversogood
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"Never So Good" is a 2008 play by Howard Brenton, which portrays the life and career of Harold Macmillan, a 20th-century Conservative British politician who served as Prime Minister (1957-1963). It was first performed in the Lyttelton auditorium of the National Theatre, London, on 26 March 2008; previews began on 17 March 2008.

The play is divided into four acts, covering Macmillan's early life and military experience in World War I; his involvement in British politics during the descent into World War II; the Suez Crisis, during which he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer; and his service as Prime Minister, during which the reputation of his government was severely damaged by the Profumo Affair. Macmillan's younger self remains with him, providing mocking commentary.

The National Theatre production was directed by Howard Davies. The cast included Jeremy Irons as Harold Macmillan, Anthony Calf as Anthony Eden, Pip Carter as young Harold Macmillan, Anna Carteret as Nellie Macmillan, Anna Chancellor as Dorothy Macmillan and Ian McNeice as Winston Churchill.

References

*Theatre Record and its annual Index
* [http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/neversogood National Theatre page for the opening production]
* Never So Good (script), Howard Brenton (2008), published by Nick Hern Books Limited, ISBN 978 1 85459 551 5

External links

* [http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/20229/never-so-good The Stage review, 27 March 2008]
* [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/theatre/drama/reviews/story/0,,2268907,00.html Guardian review, 28 March 2008]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/03/28/btnever128.xml Daily Telegraph review, 28 March 2008]
* [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/theatre/drama/reviews/story/0,,2269573,00.html Observer review, 30 March 2008]