Post by showgirl on Mar 15, 2018 13:41:15 GMT
"Brooklyn, 1938. Phillip and Sylvia Gellburg are a married couple living increasingly separate lives.
Phillip is obsessed with getting ahead, in a real estate company where he is the only Jew.
Sylvia is disturbed by news of Kristallnacht from Germany. In a single night, the Nazis destroyed thousands of Jewish homes and businesses, smashing windows and burning synagogues. Haunted by these images, she becomes ill and is unable to move.
Phillip takes her to see the popular and attractive Dr Harry Hyman, whose ‘talking cure’ has unexpected consequences."
As I saw this less than 24 hours ago and it's a dense, resonant play, it still feels too soon for me to have sufficient perspective and to be able to write something clear and coherent - but I want to post now because it's so impressive, and to urge those who can to travel to Watford in case it doesn't receive the transfer it deserves.
So, this play, which premiered in 1994 (and won the 1995 Olivier Award for Best New Play) isn't as well-known as All My Sons, View From A Bridge and The Crucible, but deserves to be and I'm amazed not to have noticed any revival in the last 20+ years. The title refers to Kristallnacht but there are so many issues in the play itself: communication, fear, forgiveness, impotence, wasted lives and so on, that I can't do it justice. No, it's not an easy watch and I could have done without the insistent cello accompaniment, but it seems to me a play which needs to be seen.
If you need a nudge, Watford is only 15 minutes from Euston by fast train and seniors can see any matinee for £13, which for this quality is a steal. The Stage has given it 4 stars and online I've so far seen another 4-star review and a 5-star one. Definitely 4 from me.
Phillip is obsessed with getting ahead, in a real estate company where he is the only Jew.
Sylvia is disturbed by news of Kristallnacht from Germany. In a single night, the Nazis destroyed thousands of Jewish homes and businesses, smashing windows and burning synagogues. Haunted by these images, she becomes ill and is unable to move.
Phillip takes her to see the popular and attractive Dr Harry Hyman, whose ‘talking cure’ has unexpected consequences."
As I saw this less than 24 hours ago and it's a dense, resonant play, it still feels too soon for me to have sufficient perspective and to be able to write something clear and coherent - but I want to post now because it's so impressive, and to urge those who can to travel to Watford in case it doesn't receive the transfer it deserves.
So, this play, which premiered in 1994 (and won the 1995 Olivier Award for Best New Play) isn't as well-known as All My Sons, View From A Bridge and The Crucible, but deserves to be and I'm amazed not to have noticed any revival in the last 20+ years. The title refers to Kristallnacht but there are so many issues in the play itself: communication, fear, forgiveness, impotence, wasted lives and so on, that I can't do it justice. No, it's not an easy watch and I could have done without the insistent cello accompaniment, but it seems to me a play which needs to be seen.
If you need a nudge, Watford is only 15 minutes from Euston by fast train and seniors can see any matinee for £13, which for this quality is a steal. The Stage has given it 4 stars and online I've so far seen another 4-star review and a 5-star one. Definitely 4 from me.
