My Perfect Mind, which tells actor Edward Petherbridge’s tale about suffering a stroke on the eve of one of his greatest theatrical achievements, has proved another Young Vic hit and has extended its run at the Southwark venue until 4 May.
The Told By An Idiot show, which features Petherbridge playing himself and Paul Hunter playing everyone else, had originally been expected to run until 20 April.
The comic play, which opened last week, was inspired by the near tragedy that occurred when, as Petherbridge was rehearsing to play King Lear, he suffered a stroke. As he started on his recovery he could hardly move his thumb and index finger together yet he could still remember every word of Shakespeare’s taxing role.
Writing about the production, Official London Theatre’s Kate Stanbury described Petherbridge’s performance as one “that combines a vulnerable fragility with comic mutterings that give the audience an insight into the actor’s personality”.