Good Night, Oscar is proving to be an international hit. Fresh off its Tony award-winning run on Broadway, London offers this one-act play a new home at the Barbican — but who exactly is Oscar?

Oscar Levant is an American famed concert pianist, actor and one of the most unpredictable men in Hollywood that time. Good Night, Oscar focuses on one night in 1958, where Oscar is appearing on Jack Paar’s live late-night talk show. Already known as being a wild card guest, the current events of Oscars life promise that this appearance is set to he even more risky. With Oscar’s favourite one-liner, “There’s a fine line between genius and insanity; I have erased this line,” truer words have not been said, as Oscar, who has been committed to a psychiatric hospital, is released a four-hour pass to attend the show. An interview which changes the face of late night talk shows forever.

Sean Hayes, is electrifying. Embodying Oscar Levant entirely, inhabiting his constant twitching, tics and chaotic energy – you almost forget you’re watching the same man who stole everyone’s heart on Will & Grace as Just Jack. It’s very clear to seen how and why he won a Tony Award.

The hauntingly beautiful imagery of Oscar playing the piano at the end of the play was superbly done. It left you wanting, as well as wishing we had seen more of Hayes’ sublime piano playing. However, the chaotic build up to the stillness of the scene paid off immensely. To me, this moment acts as the eye of Oscar’s hurricane and for that brief moment, his mind was finally quiet.

I cannot speak more highly of the rest of the cast, which is made up of six actors. Each one holds their own against Hayes’s gigantic performance. Rosalie Craig’s powerful, Stoic portrayal of June Levant (née Gale), an American actress, is a harmonious balance to Oscar’s fast-paced mind and demeanour. Acting as both wife and care-taker to Oscar, it is very clear that without her, I fear Oscar would have had a different, if not worse outcome.

Rachel Hauck’s art deco aesthetic seemingly transitions from multiple studio environments; from an office to green room to live studio stage. But as Oscar’s mind starts to fracture, so does Hauck’s set design; nothing is fully complete again, until Oscar sits down at his piano.

The main theme that runs through this show is that of a sidekick. Oscar is mostly known as Gene Kelly’s right-hand man in American In Paris and he was ultimately George Gershwin’s sidekick in real-life. For which the cruel reality is, if it was not for his playing of Gershwin’s repertoire, Oscar, would not have the life he did.

Good Night, Oscar is now playing at the Barbican Theatre until 21 September.

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