The legend which is Orson Welles and his passion for the theatre are beautifully portrayed in the breezy period drama Me & Orson Welles.

The film is also an education experience for the fans of leading man Zac Efron, who came for the heartthrob but will hopefully leave with an appreciation for Welles and his beloved theatre.

Efron stars as Richard, a high school student who bluffs his way into Welles’ famed production of Julius Ceaser at the Mercury Theatre.

As the “Me” in the title, Efron plays both the protagonist and guide into the Mercury’s community of artists, and he does it with charm and skill, his turn an impressive marking an impressive transition from teen to adult territory.

Yet it is Christian McKay’s Orson Welles who is the real star.

Portraying legendary figures of peculiar speech and appearance can be a tricky process, and Orson Welles is a daughnting task to duplicate. The voice. The passion. The intensity. The ego. All facets of Welles’ persona which are unique in part, and even more so when they come together as whole.

Yet such is the miracle of McKay’s performance, that close your eyes and it was as if the great artist was resurrected for one last performance.

So impressive is McKay, that if in the hands of a different director, he would have engulfed the whole movie.

With Richard Linklater at the helm all elements of the film -from the palpable community spirit felt within Julius Ceaser’s cast and crew, to the infatuation and heartbreak felt by Efron’s virgin pilgrim of the boardwalk towards Claire Danes’ ambitious ice queen - is given breath and maturity.

Linklater’s filmography is as eclectic as it gets, and Me & Orson Welles is a valiant entry into his list of achievements, ranking up there with Dazed & Confused and Before Sunrise.  

Impressive too is his knack for casting new talent, with McKay his greatest find yet.