Jessie Buckley and the worst night of theatre in 50 years

An Oak Tree
Young Vic, London, until May 24

Please don’t even think about going to see Tim Crouch’s An Oak Tree, a strange, self-indulgent, and, above all, mind-numbingly boring piece of improvised theatre that was first performed around 20 years ago and has since been periodically and sadistically revived with star names such as Hugh Bonneville and David Tennant somehow being persuaded to put in guest appearances.

On the first night of this latest revival, the star name was Jessie Buckley. She is a good actress and an amiable human being who stood on stage with a script she hadn’t seen before – that’s one of the silly conceits of this show, the guest stars don’t get to see the script beforehand – doing what she could to maintain her dignity as Crouch stood beside her accusing her of, among other things, defecating in her trousers.

The play is supposedly about bereavement but it’s so loosely written that it soon loses its focus. It’s all quite honestly mystifying and often distasteful and I can genuinely say an hour and 15 minutes has never – in 30 years of theatregoing – gone by quite so painfully slowly for me in a theatre.

Theatre-makers should always give the punters at least a sporting chance of enjoying themselves, but Crouch has determined on this occasion to give them absolutely no chance. I turned to my companion at the end – a seasoned theatregoer and former Sunday Times and Observer journalist – and asked him if it was just me. Was it really as boring and pointless as I’d thought it was?

He said it was the worst night at the theatre he’d experienced in more than half a century.