It is California, 1962. Ex-pat Englishman George (Theo Fraser Steele) wakes up and will get prepared for the day; a day which we’ll spend with him. Sometime previously, his associate Jim was killed in a automobile crash. George now lives his life alone, however we see Jim (Miles Molan) float briefly by means of the house, the absence and the loss haunting him. The set (by Caitlin Abbott) is gray and concrete, with a big block working as a desk, desk and mattress – an uncomfortable-looking mattress. It’s an virtually brutalist design that appears chilly, lonely and gray, subsequently…
Rating
Good
A gifted solid and a massively touching ending.
It is California, 1962. Ex-pat Englishman George (Theo Fraser Steele) wakes up and will get prepared for the day; a day which we’ll spend with him. Sometime previously, his associate Jim was killed in a automobile crash. George now lives his life alone, however we see Jim (Miles Molan) float briefly by means of the house, the absence and the loss haunting him. The set (by Caitlin Abbott) is gray and concrete, with a big block working as a desk, desk and mattress – an uncomfortable-looking mattress. It’s an virtually brutalist design that appears chilly, lonely and gray, subsequently mirroring the characters and story.
Steele is spectacular. Initially, he performs George with a stoic restraint. We comply with him by means of his day, declining dinner along with his bigoted neighbours, driving to work, instructing his class at University after which on to dinner with an outdated pal, Charley (Olivia Darnley). She is one other ex-pat, residing close by and likewise lonely, deserted by her husband and feeling distant from her son. Her loneliness drives her extraversion ahead, contrasting with the guarded George (or Geo as she calls him).
Following this dinner, the place George has spurned Charley’s drunken advances, he finds his strategy to a bar and he meets his decades-younger pupil Kenny (Molan doubling up components). The programme notes that that is Molan’s skilled debut and it’s a robust one with actually high quality work in each his roles. There’s a wierd subtext between the 2 males, by no means fairly fulfilled, however it permits George to drop his guard. We get, for the primary time, a view of the individual inside. Steele properly permits us an odd glimpse of the nice and cozy man beneath the loneliness and grief, which lets us empathise along with his want for connection. This was a special time and the connection – or extra precisely the suggestion of the potential of 1 – between Kenny and George wouldn’t have been thought of such a difficulty… properly at the least the age hole and energy hole wouldn’t. These days, it doesn’t play so properly.
The staging and the motion of the characters are executed with fashion, courtesy of director Philip Wilson. Additionally, Beth Duke’s sound design works properly, with music early on after which with humorous moments, because the set strikes and we’re proven a glimpse and sound of George utilizing the bathroom.
There are occasional bursts of humour however A Single Man falls prey to a quick dialog resonating a lot with present political occasions that it’s inconceivable for the viewers to do something aside from laughing loudly at traces like “things changed and nothing has”. Credit to the solid who didn’t break at this level: it could have been simple.
There are good parts to this manufacturing, however on the entire they don’t fairly click on collectively. Each particular person piece is sweet (typically greater than good) however general it feels chilly – colder than the intent. It has leaned too closely into the fashion relatively than the substance. Having stated that, the ending is massively touching and actually fairly lovely because the lights go down.
Written by: Christopher Isherwood
Adapted by: Simon Reade
Directed by: Philip Wilson
Set and Costume Design by: Caitlin Abbott
Sound Designer and Composer: Beth Duke
Producer by: Ashley Cook for Troupe
A Single Man performs at Park Theatre till 26 November. Further data and bookings may be discovered right here.