(Rated 5/5
)
Is it
'very sensible' - to use the words of my mother - to go see a play about old
age and the gradual loss of a parent be it physically or mentally, when you
have just recently lost one of your own - and 2 days before scattered their
ashes - and with that parent's sister? As usual I am not someone to shy away
from anything challenging like that - I am not one to be 'sensible' to protect
myself emotionally, and neither is my aunt, my companion on this occasion. And
whilst I did have some concern about how 'devastating' this production may feel
- especially given some previous reviews - in the event I was interested,
fascinated and even entertained rather than devastated. Saddened yes but also
encouraged to smile and be amused at points during the performance.
The Father is written unelaborately
and extremely cleverly by Florian Zeller. He writes from the perspective of his
title character, Andre, who is suffering from Alzheimer's. As Zeller says
theatre 'holds a mirror up to its audience, allowing us to recognise and
understand ourselves a little better… I was keen that on this particular
journey we shouldn't only be spectators, that we too should become lost in this
mental labyrinth - so as to experience more completely, from the inside, the
tragedy of old age and that fragility to life which makes us all equal'. I felt
I was trying to solve a puzzle - the same puzzle as Andre was, which enabled
empathy in a way almost impossible from the outside. Kenneth Cranham was very
convincingly lost, confused, distressed and vulnerable acting full on to the
point of giving us genuine concern for his sake at the end that he wouldn't do
himself permanent damage. Amanda Drew acted with great sensitivity experiencing
and conveying so many of the challenging and conflicting emotions we would all
feel as the caring/er and trapped daughter in such circumstances. The leads
were beautifully supported by their fellow actors. The staging, lighting and
sound effects played the biggest supporting role in a sense by not supporting
or helping. We experience increased loss of sense and memory in and of Andre's
world as furniture is gradually moved or changed around. The music introducing
each scene sounded at times like a broken record covered in dust - can't quite sound
the right note, recall the right memory and trying to play it over and over to
grasp something lost beneath jumble and damage.
Profoundly
powerful theatre so true to life.
I highly
recommend The Duke of York's Theatre. It feels more intimate than many of the
older theatres and has the most caring and friendly staff I have ever
experienced. Even though I decided not to take up the offer of moving seats to
the Royal Circle
to save me having to descend and climb stairs - I wanted to be in the stalls
right up close and personal with the actors - I really appreciated the care and
attention to my disability needs.
The
Father – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2016
