The Libertine, in Stephen Jeffreys’ play is John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester (1647-1680), a notorious rake, the quintessence of debauchery and the wittiest of Restoration poets. He lived his short licentious life to excess and was dead by the time he was 33. The role was created by Jon Malkovich on stage in 1994 and by Johnny Depp on film in 2004.
Jeffreys has cut and rewritten the script. Terry Johnson’s unashamedly crude revival features Dominic Cooper and it is Cooper, who will be bringing in audiences rather than the play, which is still flawed. There is able support from Jasper Briton as King Charles II, a surrogate father to Rochester, who constantly banished him from court for his rudeness and outrageous behaviour.