I almost feel like I’m in NY, stood on Broadway as the largely American crowd stream past me into the theatre. The place is buzzing for the first night of previews and it’s packed for what I’m calling Spacey’s Last London Theatre Hurrah at the Old Vic before he leaves the Artistic Directorship in 2015.

I’ve seen him before. He was mesmerising. I have high expectations. Very high. And oh my goodness does he deliver.

This is a one man show, in the newly round and now what seems to be more intimate space of the Old Vic. Clarence Darrow is a lawyer and civil libertarian in the autumn of his years recounting his life, his successes, his loves, his trials and his beliefs triggered by his unpacking his new office; going through the boxes; remembering.

This is the performance of an actor supremely confident, masterfully in command of his art and his audience. At the beginning of the play, he sat for several minutes, in silence and surveyed the audience who are extremely close to the slightly raised platform that is the stage. You feel once HE is ready, we’ll begin. It was a superbly powerful moment and one that made you realise you’re in the presence of a true star; a true talent.

And a humble star. At the end of the play, a standing ovation (for a first night preview is generally unheard of) and a visibly moved and emotional Spacey. It brought a tear to my eye. He inhabits this character with a wonderful physicality. Darrow has aches and pains, he moves stiffly but he still has a fire in his belly about the causes he has helped defend and the justice he believes in.

Spacey seems to have notes and pointers dotted across his office and desk to help through the 90 mins, you can see them and he uses them as Darrow may have done to recount stories to a junior or a reporter or a friend. There’s nowhere to hide and no-one to help. He’s alone up there and these cues don’t detract from the performance. I actually loved watching how Spacey incorporated them into his performance. Almost making a feature out of them.

I also adored the interaction he has with the audience. There is a stage/raised platform but often he left it, walking into the audience, engaging individually with people, using them as other characters or the jury. The audience member that he sat next to in one scene looked amazed and awestruck as he spoke directly to her.

On stage, there was one prop that stood out. An Underwood typewriter. House of Cards fans will get it. I did.

This run is sold out although there are day tickets available for the amazing price of £10. I want to go again and would happily pay the top whack £120 for round 2. It would be utterly worth it.

5/5 This some of the most extraordinary and sublime acting I have ever had the privilege to witness.