Grandparental bond lights way
EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED
Hampstead Theatre
OUR bond with our grandparents is often special and in Simon Block’s adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s award-winning bestseller, the significance of this relationship is shown from two sides and two separate families.
Meet Jonathan (Patrick Kennedy), a young American writer who has journeyed to rural Ukraine in order to find his deceased grandfather’s village and the woman who saved his life during World War II, thus making his own life possible.
He travels on this quest with his young Odessan translator, Alex (Craig Parkinson) who spends most of his time with his Jew-hating grandfather (David Ryall) – so consumed is the older man by rage that he sees no reason in not swiping his grandson whenever the mood ignites – and a sexually excitable dog called Sammy Davis Junior, Junior.
Rachel O’Riordan’s simple production, which takes place on Anthony Lamble’s minimalist stage, lacks momentum in the first half leaving one with little emotional pull to any of the five cast, three of whom play several parts.
Nonetheless, one is left playing detective, eager to find out what the next piece of the jigsaw will be and where the play will take us.
This becomes apparent in the second act. Not only does the plot move apace, but long-harboured secrets are revealed.
These largely emanate from Alex’s grandfather who has been provoked into revealing his truth to his grandson after a meeting with an Old Woman (Gemma Jones).
Ryan gives a heartwrenching performance as he reflects on the choices that his younger self made and in doing so explains that he was a “good person who lived in a bad time”.
Guilt over his actions can never desert him and at the end its ramifications lead to a powerful climax.
The production is assisted by some of the acting. While Kennedy plays the bookish author with panache, it is Parkinson who holds one’s attention and effortlessly glides from relating two very different relationships – that with his grandfather where they speak Ukranian and that with Foer whom he is eager to help.
The poignant and imaginative production is a hefty mix of off-the-wall humour mixed with personal pain. And despite its faults – most notably slowness – I dare say it will be a winner for many of its audiences.
Until Oct 14
020 7722 9301 Click here to book tickets
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