5 STARS, Apr 21 – May 20. "The telephone ringing in the dead of night and the voice on the other end asking for someone he was not". This is a stunning adaptation of Auster's metaphysical detective novel, says Catherine Bardrick
“What appealed to us was the fact that it could not be done” states director Leo Warner co-founder of 59 Productions, the team of designers, animators, and videographers responsible for bringing Paul Auster’s cult classic to the stage; resulting in an astonishing visual spectacle which blends art and technology to near perfection. Auster who has also described his novel as an “unlikely candidate for the stage” was indeed impressed enough to comment “This goes beyond the realms of my imagination!”
And there certainly is a sense of breaking theatrical boundaries with stunning innovative technical achievement deploying extraordinary visuals and striking imagery. Video projections of words and images creatively stream across the stage transforming an ordinary and shabby New York writer’s apartment into Grand Central Station, Columbia Library, an oak-panelled study, a New York cityscape, a local neighbourhood café - all in the blink of an eye. As the images bleed into each other in quick succession, it is like watching a live stream of a graphic novel making you question the reality of what is actually present on the stage in front of you at any one time.
All of which is very apt for an adaptation of a metaphysical detective novel which explores the very nature of reality, identity, and language whilst ironically playing with the tropes of the classic noir genre. This meta-thriller begins with a wrong number in the memorable opening line “It was a wrong number that started it…The telephone ringing in the dead of night and the voice on the other end asking for someone he was not.” The caller is one Peter Stillman speaking to mystery writer Daniel Quinn and mistaking him for Private Eye Paul Auster.
Jonathan Keenan
The urgency of the situation revolves around the imminent release of Stillman’s abusive father who imprisoned his son in the past, conducted experiments upon him relating to “God’s own language”, and was now coming to kill him. Allegedly. In response, Quinn adopts the persona of Auster, takes on the case of tracking down Stillman Senior, and thus embarks upon the strangest of quests in which reality becomes very slippery indeed, and identities shift, swap and disintegrate in the most disturbing of ways. Very soon it seems that Quinn is lost on the wildest of wild goose chases, and as everything unravels so his desperation increases to record the “facts” in his red notebook.
This sense of multiple identities and “alternative facts” is brilliantly rendered by the decision to cast two actors in the central role as Quinn played impressively by Chris New and Mark Edel-Hunt. At times they are on stage simultaneously, and at other times they perform very quick changeovers, sometimes so sudden it is hard to spot the exit of one or the entrance of the other. To add to the “confusion” they also play other roles as do the excellent supporting actors with Jack Tarlton playing all the Stillmans, and Vivienne Acheampong playing Virginia Stillman amongst many others. Indeed, with sixteen on-stage roles, it is a surprise when only five actors emerge for the curtain call!
All credit should also be given to writer Duncan Macmillan responsible for the script of the adaptation itself, which was inspired by both the novel and the graphic novel by Paul Auster and David Mazzucchelli. It is indeed an amazing achievement, and my only reservation about the entire production is that, as with so many literary adaptations, the device of the voiceover narration becomes too dominant and intrusive, a limitation here which is a little at odds with the overall ground breaking nature of the production.
Finally, it was certainly great to see such a young audience enjoying live theatre at the Lyric tonight, and the buzz and excitement of the atmosphere was palpable. This is edgy London theatre at its best, and well worth your time….
- City of Glass is showing at the Lyric in Hammersmith from April 21 – May 20. For tickets visit: lyric.co.uk
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