By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Saturday 4 July, runs through 16 August 2025 RUNTIME: 175 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The casting of Wilson as the hardy farmer Josie initially appears jarring but eventually fits perfectly in this story of a woman who creates her own unreliable narrative.

• Read on for reasons including how these stellar performances deserve both West End and Broadway runs

You join us in a dilapidated Connecticut house in early September 1923 as Josie contemplates her ruined reputation with her bullying Irish tenant farmer Phil, David Threlfall delicately treading the fine line between banter and verbal abuse.

The action takes place on 1 night and Wilson (The Human Voice, Harold Pinter Theatre) believes the owner of the farm, Jim Tyrone played by the twice Oscar-nominated Michael Shannon, is plotting to sell it after inheriting it from his late mother.

Father and daughter acknowledge Josie’s unspoken love for Jim across the years but resolve to play on it to ensure the farm isn’t sold from under them making them homeless.

It’s an intriguing set-up with Misbegotten renowned as 1 of Eugene O’Neill’s autobiographical plays even sharing a character with the same name as the better known Long Day’s Journey Into Night.

The lighting in Rebecca Frecknall’s (Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Almeida) production is quite beautiful with the moon theme represented by the circular stage with lights revolving around it to cast shadows against the venue’s striking brick back wall as the night sees the tone darken.

Father and daughter conspire for the latter to spend the night with Jim and it’s during this scene that we discover the extent of his alcoholism and self-loathing exacerbated after the death of his beloved mother.

Shannon earned a Tony nomination for his portrayal of James Tyrone Jr in 2016 in Journey on Broadway and we found his earnestness and capacity for self-destruction captivating.

Wilson was more than his match however and although this isn’t a near 3 hours for the faint-hearted her Josie is a complicated woman making and fulfilling her own choices at a time in history when they prove much to her detriment.

Misbegotten is a tough watch but is made easier by some stellar performances and a director who knows exactly how to get the best from difficult material which we think deserves both a West End and Broadway run.

• Main pictures by Marc Brenner via Facebook courtesy Almeida Theatre Tickets
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