OK, Kenneth Branagh isn’t great as King Lear – but have you seen his abs? | Zing Tsjeng

From Daniel Radcliffe to Paul Mescal, a star name will fill theatres. And if most of the audience aren't there for the acting, that's not always a bad thing

Poor Kenneth Branagh. His West End production of King Lear has been savaged by critics - including the Observer's Susannah Clapp - as an emotionally stilted, insubstantial affair. Branagh is, of course, a trained Shakespearean actor, although he hasn't performed on stage in eight years. His luxuriant bouffant - making him possibly the most follicularly blessed Lear since Laurence Olivier - is all Hollywood, as is the surprising third-act revelation that this Lear comes with abs.

I'm being a little unkind. But perhaps theatre audiences could do with a bit more unkindness, particularly when it comes to A-listers. While several good-looking stars got their start treading the boards, more than a few have entered stage right and left it coming off as total planks. (There's a reason you've probably never heard about Ricky Martin's stint in Evita.)