Jake Lindquist This is show that combines simple storytelling with amazing feats of strength, visual spectacle, and a finale that will literally take your breath away. It contains the grandeur and magic of the “Big Top,” in an intimate setting that is difficult to find. This show is a must-see.
In true Beckett form, hardly anything happens, yet there is so much going on. The entire action takes place in a blank interior where Hamm (William Petersen), a blind man unable to stand, and his servant Clov (Ian Barford), who is unable to sit, go through their daily rituals and await the end of everything.
There is a lot to enjoy about the play: The acting from the cast is strong, the monologues are often funny or thought provoking, and by the end of the show you will spend days interpreting the meaning of the characters, actions, and dialogue. In spite of these strengths, at the end of the night I walked away confused and am still puzzling over what I experienced.
The play is adapted from the original 1955 novel, rather than any of the films, but most of the story is still there. Alien “pods” drift down from space with the intention to replace human life in order for them to survive. They create exact copies of the town’s residents, the only difference being that there is a distinct lack of emotion in their eyes.
What I most applaud is the scenic design of David Denman, who has taken the small storefront space and placed a two story New York Tenement house inside. The two story set is complete with windows, doors, and makes a stronger visual statement than any of the grotesque movement moments.
The play is based on the infamous 1782 epistolary novel of sexual intrigue and ruthless manipulation set in pre-Revolutionary France. The action centers around two high-powered friends, the Vicomte de Valmont (played by Nick Sandys) and the Marquise de Merteuil (played by Rebecca Spence) who develop a game to test their well-seasoned skills as lovers.
I have seen the play done twice, both times wonderfully; however, it is a rare opportunity to see a piece of Chekhov performed in the original Russian. Furthermore, Maly Drama Theatre is a world-renowned theatre comprised of artists with immense talent: It is one of only three theatres to have been given the status, Theatre of Europe.