The Father ****

Tricycle Theatre

Excerpt: "We experience the horrors of dementia with Andre, as bemused as he is by the changing of stories, of context, of people claiming to be each other. The script is immensely clever in the way it makes us see life from his point of view, whilst never demonising or getting cheap political points in about the people who care for him."

Summary

Now 80 years old, Andre was once a tap dancer. He lives with his daughter Anne and her husband Antoine. Or was he an engineer whose daughter Anne lives in London with her new lover, Pierre? The thing is, he is still wearing his pyjamas, and he can’t find his watch. He is starting to wonder if he’s losing control. Author of this intriguing and compelling black comedy, Florian Zeller, has been hailed as “one of the hottest literary talents in France” (Independent). The Father (Le Père) is the winner of the 2014 Moliere Award for Best Play. The Molieres are considered France’s highest theatrical honour.

Thoughts

Christopher Hampton's adaptation of Florien Zeller's The Father is exquisitely brought to life in James Macdonald's production. We experience the horrors of dementia with Andre, as bemused as he is by the changing of stories, of context, of people claiming to be each other. The script is immensely clever in the way it makes us see life from his point of view, whilst never demonising or getting cheap political points in about the people who care for him. It is an unflinchingly honest but deeply depressing portrait of the realities of parents growing old. Their growing dependency on their children, often without thanks, makes their children grow old before their time, puts strain on their relationships, and is ultimately untenable long term. However, the striking final scene shows just how much a decline can be accelerated by removing all those reminders of their past life - as was realised metaphorically and truthfully by the slow stripping back of Miriam Buether's set until - like the blank white canvas of the room - Andre couldn't know who anyone else was because he didn't know himself. Him weeping for his mummy is an enduring image that will last with me.  ...'s performance really was splendid - mercurial in his shifts from needy dependent to authoritatively compos mentis, frustrating and cruel to sweet and loving, indignant to helplessly devastated. And when the final scene makes sense of all the confusion before, he brings it all together so that we can see a glimpse of the man he was as well as the baby he has become.

This is not a play I think my parents would appreciate - rather too close to the bone I fear. But it is a truly wonderful play, hugely effective and affective, and one which did impress upon me the need to be grateful for my uncomplicated youth.