An important play offering a “savagely honest” study of a distressing illness that is part of family life for so many opens at The Crescent on Westside from this weekend.
The Father makes the audience see things as if through the confused eyes of André, whose dementia means he struggles to make sense of a progressively befuddling world.
It appears André’s things are being stolen, one daughter wants to take his flat away, the other one never visits. He is threatened with violence and strangers are coming in and out of his flat and saying that they are friends and family. André knows that he must find some way to assert his authority, but how?
The Father – originally Le Père by French playwright Florian Zeller, and translated by Christopher Hampton – was adapted into the massively successful film starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Coleman.
It will now be staged at the Ron Barber Studio at the Crescent from this Saturday 27 May until 3 June.
A Crescent spokesperson said: “The play constantly confounds expectations and works almost like a thriller, with a sinister Pinteresque edge, as complete strangers keep on turning up in André’s flat.
“There are strong echoes of ‘King Lear’, both in the impending madness and the father-daughter relationships, but there is also comedy in a situation that has its farcical elements even as the tragedy unfolds.”
There will be an After Dark session following next Friday’s performance, which is an opportunity to meet members of the cast and creative team to discuss the production. Tickets start at £9 and can be booked here.
