Review: Second Best Deserves First Place! 

Barney Norris has taken David Foenkinos’ novel of the same name and has transformed it into a profoundly moving, razor-sharp, and deeply human piece of theatre. 

★★★★★

A one-man show led by the remarkable Asa Butterfield, Second Best explores the fragility of dreams, the weight of what-ifs, and the quiet but seismic moments that shape a life.

At the heart of this production is Martin Hill—a once aspiring actor, a soon-to-be father, and a man caught between nostalgia and the uncertain future ahead. Over the course of 90 minutes, we watch him relive the moment that could have changed everything: the final audition for Harry Potter that he didn’t get. In another life, he would have been the face of a billion-dollar franchise, a household name. Instead, he has spent years navigating a very different existence, one defined by missed opportunities, small victories, and a looming sense of "what could have been?" Norris' writing is piercingly intimate yet universally resonant, capturing the way we all turn over the pivotal choices of our past. 

Under Michael Longhurst’s meticulous direction, the stage is set within a stark, white box—a seemingly blank canvas that also serves as a gallery of his past. Subtle shifts in lighting, projections, and sound weave the fragments of his life together, each piece snapping into place like an unfinished puzzle. It is simple yet utterly effective, allowing Butterfield’s performance to take center stage without distraction. Longhurst masterfully balances the humor and heartbreak of Martin’s journey, ensuring that every moment lands with precision and depth.

And then, there’s Asa Butterfield. Making his stage debut, Butterfield delivers an extraordinary, career-defining performance. Known for his work on screen, he proves himself to be just as captivating in the theatre, carrying the entire weight of the story with remarkable ease. He is funny, awkward, wistful, and raw—utterly relatable yet uniquely compelling. Butterfield navigates the script’s emotional peaks and valleys with astounding skill, holding the audience in the palm of his hand from the very first word to the last. It’s a performance of stunning vulnerability and precision that cements him as a force to be reckoned with on stage.

Second Best is an absolute masterclass in storytelling, performance, and theatrical craftsmanship. It is intimate yet expansive, specific yet universal—a rare kind of theatre that lingers in the mind long after the final bow. This play needs a West End transfer. Anything less would be a disservice to this magnificent piece of work.

Second Best - Riverside Studios

Attended on 13 February 2025