Blue/Orange review – an argument still worth hearing

‘Still rousing’: David Haig, Luke Norris and Daniel Kaluuya in Blue/Orange at the Young Vic. Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

Blue/Orange does not startle as it did 15 years ago. But Joe Penhall’s arguments about racism and psychiatry are still rousing. And Matthew Xia’s production elicits a memorable performance from David Haig – supercilious and sweating – and an outstanding performance from Daniel Kaluuya.

Fifteen years ago Chiwetel Ejiofor put his stamp on the stage, radiating charm and alarm as the psychiatric patient. He has a worthy successor in Kaluuya. Completely different and completely convincing, he fences, tenses, judders and lolls, turning in a second from threat to nonchalance. It is as if the very air is his enemy.

• At the Young Vic, London until 2 July