Alan Davies's West End acting debut is a delight, even if Morris Panych's black comedy at first threatens to be a one-trick pony.
Davies plays a man who leaves his job to tend to his dying aunt. Her letter insisted she was grave-bound, so he grows angry at his mute Auntie's inability to snuff it: 'Why are you putting on make-up? Why don't you let the mortician do that?'
The story unfolds in staccato scenes that lengthen as their year together progresses, and Davies's character reveals more of himself. Asexual and misanthropic, sporting a prissy uniform of chinos and pink oxford shirt, he claims only to be there for his inheritance.
But cynicism is the refuge of the wounded romantic, and the great feat of Anna Mackmin's production is to let the nastiness give way to tenderness without betraying Panych's merry bleakness.
Davies starts stiffly, but relaxes into a role that gives rein to his habitual Dougal-the-dog exasperation. By never trying to be likeable, he ends up with a winning portrait of armoured neediness. Margaret Tyzack, alternately bemused and sympathetic, is the perfect foil to this study in misanthropy.
There are flaws. The first hour labours its point - she's not dying, he's amazingly callous - and so the show feels a bit long even at 90 minutes. But the surprising, sharp final half-hour makes one forgive all previous longueurs.
Auntie and Me is slight, but ends up both cherishably sweet and refreshingly sour.
Booking until April 26, Wyndham's Theatre, Charing Cross Road WC2, Mon to Fri 8pm, Sat 6.30pm and 8.30pm, Wed mat 3pm, £15 to £37.50. Tel: 020 7369 1736. Tube: Leicester Square
Auntie And Me
