The Father by Florian Zeller and translated by Christopher Hampton centres around André, a man dealing with dementia without actually knowing it. The play is confusing,non linear and often at times very emotionally distressing.
This is only the second time I have seen this play and both times it has been a compelling watch. Whilst the play itself does not directly mention dementia, there is no doubt that it takes you on a confusing roller coaster of emotions. It is not a play that you simply sit back and enjoy but more so you question every scene to try and make sense of it. It is from the not being able to make sense of it and being totally confused that truly puts you into André shoes or are you? The play even questions your confused mind. This is not a play for someone who has recently experienced caring for someone with dementia as maybe it is to raw. What the play does do however is highlight this terrible disease.
The play is set in France although it could be set anywhere and Oldbury rep choose not to put anything on the stage that indicated this was a flat in France. Of course it was meant to be two different flats and as the show progresses the set slowly diminishes which I felt perhaps represented the decline in Andre brain until at the end your just left with a stark light and hospital bed. Again, the set is confusing at times which it is meant to be.
We meet André at the very start of the show sitting in his armchair with his comfy slippers and I must say they really did look comfortable. We see him as a strong,proud man who believes everyone else is confused around him. We know straight away from the dialogue between him and his daughter that he is needing carers. We also know from his strong physical appearance this is not because of his mobility. André goes through a series of emotions until we’re left with him at the end like a snivering child who just wants to go home. Mike Venables played this part impeccably and had true chemistry with Laura Cooney who played his daughter Anne.
I felt from the very start that the audience had great sympathy for Anne who is wanting to do the best and care for her dad but at the same time dealing with her own frustrations of the situation. Laura played the part at times in a mentally exhausted state which fully conveyed her emotions. Between these two actors the emotions sweeped across the stage.
Lee Morgan-Salcombe who played Pierre (Anne’s partner) took on the role as the bystander who is witnessing the situation without the emotions. Elizabeth Ormston played Laura the carer. This role could be played by either a man or a woman with a slight change to the script. This character can be played how ever the actor playing it wants to make it. Elizabeth brought a relaxed character who took everything in her stride.
Then onto who I call the confusing pair played by Ruth Cattell as the woman and Robert Wood hall as the man. They played what ever character André saw them as at the time and thoroughly confused the audience.
Oldbury Players brought a difficult,often underrepresented subject to the stage with compassion and sensitivity and I can see how hard the director Alan Groucott has worked to get the tone of this play as it should be.
I think the scene that will stay in my mind for a long time is the last scene with André sitting on his hospital bed in the care home just saying he wants to go home.
Reviewed by – Emma T
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