Girls & Boys

Girls & Boys

Minetta Lane Theatre

The Royal Court Theatre

July 7, 2018

Photo courtesy of Girls & Boys

The Royal Court Theatre’s production of Girls & Boys is now running at the Minetta Lane Theatre.  This one woman play starring Carey Mulligan tells the story of family annihilation.  Magnificently directed by Lyndsey Turner, Ms. Mulligan transports herself in and out of the character’s memories in an effort to heal herself of grief and despair.  Playwright Dennis Kelly skillfully structures the story to build curiosity, intrigue, empathy, and knowledge.

Lights come up on Carey Mulligan as “the woman.”  She is alone on an empty, turquoise stage.  She is antsy, foul-mouthed, and desperately in search of herself.  She tells the story of how she met her husband in a line at an airport in Italy.  Her first impulse was one of dislike that turned into interest and attraction as he was approached by two stunningly beautiful models looking to cut the line.  The woman continues to tell the story of their lives together and the building of her very successful career as a film producer.  Cutting into this storytelling are scenes between her and her two children.  She becomes different with them.  Loving.  Caring.  Tender.  We see this woman grow and flourish into a focused and grounded wife, mother, and successful entrepreneur.  She then begins the story of what happened to her children, and we understand why they are not present in her memories.

Carey Mulligam
Photo courtesy of Girls & Boys

Carey Mulligan takes the audience on the journey of this character from discovery to happiness, uncertainty to risk, and despair to recovery.  Her transitions are flawless.  Her conversation is direct and personal to each individual member of the audience.  The timing in her humor is succinct.  Her connections are intimate and genuine.

Scenic design by Es Devlin, costume design by Jack Galloway, lighting design by Oliver Fenwick, and video design by Luke Halls all merge to create an effective environment that deeply absorbs the audience into the storytelling and heightens the emotional impact of the events.

Girls & Boys is a unique piece of theatre.  It is skillfully written, directed, and produced.  Don’t miss this impactful portrayal by Carey Mulligan at the Minetta Lane Theatre, now running through July 22.

Domenick Danza

The Children

The Children

Manhattan Theatre Club

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

December 9, 2017

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Lucy Kirkwood’s play The Children asserts a powerful message of responsibility.  Produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club in conjunction with Royal Court Theatre, this three character play asks a number of mind boggling “what if” questions.  Director James Macdonald builds the tension and suspense with subtle glances and shifts in timing and tone, which brings Ms. Kirkwood’s daring script to a shocking conclusion.

Rose (played by Francesca Annis) drops in on her old friends Hazel (played by Deborah Findlay) and her husband Robin (played by Ron Cook) for a surprise visit.  All three are retired nuclear physicists who worked together in the local power plant.  There was a recent nuclear explosion that has put the whole county in grave danger.  Since the disaster, Hazel and Robin have been living in a small cottage on the outskirts of the danger zone.  The purpose of Rose’s return is to gather the group of scientists who built the plant, knowing its weaknesses and impending dangers, and repair the damage in order to make it safe for the children and the future.

Ron Cook, Deborah Findlay, & Francesca Annis
Photo courtesy of Royal Court Theatre

All three actors are amazing.  They keep you on the edge of your seat by gradually revealing their characters’ wants and fears.  Francesca Annis’ character of Rose is a mysterious myriad of secrets.  Deborah Findlay’s Hazel is a stoic force, eager to speak her mind.  Ron Cook’s rendition of Robin is outgoing, charming, and quietly brave.  Their chemistry is genuine and their timing is spot on. 

Ms. Kirkwood’s play speaks to a generation.  It asks them to do what is needed in order to leave the world in as good, if not better, condition than it was given to them.  Isn’t it everyone’s responsibility to clean up after themselves?  How can you expect a different outcome from repeating the same behavior decade after decade?  The Children asks these questions on an individual as well as a global level.  This amazing play, direct from the Royal Court Theatre, will be running at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre through February 4.  See it for yourself.   

Domenick Danza

Escaped Alone

Escaped Alone

BAM Harvey Theater

The Royal Court Theatre

February 23, 2017

Photo courtesy of Escaped Alone

Mind boggling.  Thought provoking.  Confusing.  Serious.  Metaphorical.  Abstract.  These are a few words that come to mind after seeing the Royal Court Theatre’s production of Caryl Churchill’s Escaped Alone at BAM Harvey Theater.  The rhythm and images in Ms. Churchill’s dialogue are riveting.  James Macdonald’s direction creates captivating moments for the four women in the cast.  The design team (Miriam Buether, scenic design; Peter Mumford, lighting design, and Christopher Shutt, sound design) juxtapose numerous technical elements that blur the line between the characters’ realities and fantasies within the world of the play.

Mrs. Jarrett (played by Linda Bassett) notices three women having tea through an open garden gate.  When invited in, she engages in light afternoon conversation that leads to darker revelations of the three women’s experiences.  None is darker than Mrs. Jarrett’s recollection of apocalyptic horror.

Photo courtesy of Escaped Alone

Linda Bassett is calm and matter of fact when she tells of the tales of human catastrophe.  Her demeanor and presence have an interesting blend of humor and terror.  June Watson grabs attention as Vi.  Her cordial tone smoothly transitions into a recollection of how she “accidentally” killed her husband with a kitchen knife.  Deborah Findlay portrays Sally as a socially pleasant woman, until her deep fear of cats dominates the conversation.  Kiki Markham plays Lena with equal duality.  These women are masters at creating realistic characters who have subliminally contrasting inner lives.

Photo courtesy of Escaped Alone

Escaped Alone communicates the strong sense of loneliness and fear that can lie beneath the façade of social pleasantry.  The complex layers of Caryl Churchill’s writing take time to digest and ponder.  It is certainly a well-produced play, which evokes deep thought in our present day reality.  This Royal Court Theatre production is playing at BAM Harvey Theater for a limited time (Feb. 15 – 26). 

Domenick Danza