Six Degrees of Separation

Rising star Obi Abili takes on the role of Paul, the scarily plausible con artist who claims to be the son of (real-life) legendary actor Sidney Poitier. John Guare's fast-talking play is as tricksily believable as its protagonist, and garnered him the kind of glittering prizes Paul would probably be more than happy to get his acquisitive hands on: a 1993 Olivier for best new play, and an Oscar nomination for the film, for which Guare wrote the screenplay (and which has the dubious distinction of providing Will Smith's first credible serious role, although he was extremely good in it). This, the first major London revival in nearly 18 years, is directed by David Grindley, and also stars Anthony Head and Lesley Manville as the gullible, wealthy Manhattanites whose snobbery provides a lever that will, Paul hopes, propel him into a different world.