Amy Herzog's play, which premiered in New York two years ago, is an astute reflection on the many ways that communication can misfire. Herzog writes about the mix-ups caused by differences of age, education and culture. She also deals poignantly with the misunderstandings that can result from forgetfulness and dementia.
Leo, a gangly young bohemian, arrives at his grandmother Vera’s Greenwich Village apartment in the middle of the night. He’s in some respects far from typical of his generation (he doesn’t own a mobile phone) but is predictably torn between an interest in politics and a numbing apathy. He has no definite career plans and has recently lost a close friend. An ambitious bike ride across America has left him feeling raw rather than fulfilled.
Vera, played by Sara Kestelman, is lonely yet also buoyant. Although she has an odd assortment of tics and quirks, she bustles about her living room. She’s meant to be in her nineties but for all her frailty seems younger. In fact, Leo is the more fragile of the two. Their relationship evolves over several weeks — neatly condensed into a 90-minute running time.
James Dacre’s production, with a compact design by Simon Kenny, is sensitive to the delicate nuances of Herzog’s play yet also manages to be straightforwardly absorbing. It’s quiet and intimate — essentially a two-hander, despite the presence of other characters. There are a few laughs but Herzog eschews easy humour in favour of savvy observation.
Kestelman’s performance as Vera is gutsy and precise, and as Leo excellent newcomer Daniel Boyd is charming, goofy and affecting.
Until June 1 (020 7221 6036, the-print-room.org)
