I can now say I’ve seen Kate Winslet and Leonardo di Caprio on stage. OK, in order that they had been on telly on stage, however that’s technically on stage. Kate and Leo had been in Titanic mode, the favorite movie of the son in Who Killed My Father.
Who Killed My Father, Young Vic, Sep 2022
His homophobic father initially refuses to get him the video for his birthday.
Father and son are each performed by Hans Kesting on this Ivo Van Hove adaptation of Édouard Louis’ novel. The son is visiting his dying father and reflecting on his life, what formed him and in the end introduced him to an premature loss of life.
Kesting differentiates the 2 utilizing postures, cigarette breaks and stuffing fists up his jumper to point a protruding stomach. He flits seamlessly from one to the opposite. There are shifts in vitality too, the play masking childhood, teenagers, maturity and center age.
It’s a punchy 90-minute play that feels a bit of like a whodunnit, with the suspects being mother and father, tradition, class and politics.
While it’s set in France, there’s a lot that resonates concerning the struggles the poor face right here within the UK and the way essentially the most minor political resolution could make an enormous distinction – for good or dangerous.
It’s additionally an fascinating exploration of poisonous masculinity and the way that will get handed down and strengthened by society. It exhibits the devasting impression it has on the daddy and his prospects – toeing the road at college is seen as a female or gay trait.
But this is not a easy story of an emotionally abusive father who cannot disguise his disgrace about his son’s lack of ‘masculine’ traits. There are household treats, the Titanic video and singalongs to Celine Dion within the automotive.
The father additionally experiences a superb dose of misfortunate, which makes life much more troublesome regardless of his greatest efforts.
Kesting’s supply is sluggish and thought of, reserving bursts for youthful vitality. It makes for an efficient distinction in temper and tone, though the tempo does drag a bit of in a few locations. He would not at all times play to the viewers, so at occasions it feels voyeuristic.
At one level, Kesting disappears from view if you’re sitting to the left of the stage, but it surely is not for very lengthy He spends a little bit of time sitting on a mattress which is stage left, however I’m undecided if that impacts the view if you’re in seats which are to the far proper.
Who Killed My Father presents some fascinating concepts concerning the company poor folks have over their very own lives, and the way in which society each helps and hinders. It’s refined however highly effective, and I’m giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Who Killed My Father, Young Vic
Adapted from Édouard Louis’ ebook by Ivo Van Hove
Directed by Ivo Van Hove
Running time: 90 minutes with out an interval.
Booking till 24 September; go to the Young Vic web site for extra particulars and tickets.
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