Rory Kinnear takes on the role of economist John Maynard Keynes in the new play "The Standard of Living" at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, offering a portrait of one of the 20th century’s most influential economic thinkers. Written by James Graham and directed by Nicholas Hytner, the production traces Keynes’s life and work from 1914 until his death in 1946, with brief glimpses beyond.

The play attempts to balance Keynes’s professional achievements with his personal life, including his connections to the Bloomsbury Set, his marriage to Russian ballerina Lydia Lopokova, and his previously less-explored private affairs. While the narrative is rich in historical detail, critics note that it struggles to translate this complexity into a dramatically compelling story. The production unfolds through a series of episodic scenes, with the direction focused on managing a large ensemble cast that includes Thomas Flynn, Naomi Frederick, Claire Price, and Pip Carter.

Kinnear’s portrayal highlights Keynes’s role as a pioneering advocate for state intervention and the welfare state, though his depiction of Keynes’s more unconventional personal side comes across as restrained. The set design by Bob Crowley provides visual context, including period photographs that hint at the economist’s mischievous personality beneath his composed exterior. Laurie Kynaston’s portrayal of Friedrich Hayek, Keynes’s ideological rival, forms one of the play’s more engaging elements, illustrating the contrasting schools of economic thought through their interactions.

Natalia Osipova, making her theatrical debut and billed alongside Kinnear, appears as Lydia Lopokova. The Royal Ballet principal brings her renowned dance skills to the role, offering moments of physical expression early in the play before assuming the role of Keynes’s devoted spouse. While her star power adds visual interest, her performance has been described as somewhat tentative in this new theatrical context.

Despite structural and pacing challenges, "The Standard of Living" presents several compelling moments, including scenes depicting Keynes’s negotiation of Britain’s wartime debt with the United States and his involvement in establishing the Arts Council. The production, running through December 12, aims to shed light on the intersections of economics, politics, and personal life in a formative period of British history, though it stops short of offering a fully cohesive dramatic experience.