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| David Hyde Pierce. Photo: Joan Marcus |
A Life
By Adam Bock
Directed by Anne Kauffman
Playwrights Horizons
through Nov. 27
By Lauren Yarger
What's It All About?
A new play from gifted playwright Adam Bock (A Small Fire) starring David Hyde Pierce. Nate Martin (Peirce) has been trying to find meaning in his life, especially after a crisis of faith and being dumped by his boyfriend. He has turned to astrology, and while he finds it fascinating, it hasn't provided all the answers to his questions. Truth is hard to find, he tells us, and even more difficult to hold on to. He's tried group therapy to find a balance between passion, intimacy and companionship, but his fears of commitment and vulnerability make it difficult for him to find answers there either. Best friend Curtis (Brad Heberlee) offers some friendship and advice, but it might be too late.
What Are the Highlights?
Under Anne Kauffman's taut direction, we get a real look into the mind of Nate (one scene is mostly through our hearing his thoughts as he moves around his apartment) and then by witnessing how his life touches those around him, including Curtis, his sister, Lori (Lynne McCollough) and those who care for him at the end (Nedra McClyde and Marina Anderson round out the ensemble).
This is not a typical theater experience. Laura Jellinek's set makes unexpected changes to tell this extraordinarily sad, humorous and deeply personal story of the importance of one person's seemingly ordinary life. Mikhail Fiksel's sound design incorporates sound effects, such as neighbors yelling outside the apartment, which at first seem unimportant. We ignore them as minor annoyances with the same nonchalance that an emergency-services worker in one scene appears to be unaffected by having to transport another body. Later, however, they remind us that all of those lives count too and that we should never take anyone for granted.
What Are the Lowlights?
None. It's an engaging and touching 80 minutes without intermission. Pierce find the humanity in his character and pulls us in so we feel we have experiences some significant moments in the life of a friend.
More information:
A Life has been extended through Dec. 5 at Playwrights Horizons, 416 West 42nd St., NYC. Performances are Tuesdays through Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30 7 pm. For Thanksgiving week (November 21-27), the performance schedule will be Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 pm, Wednesday at 2:30 pm, Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2:30 and 7 pm. Tickets are $59-$99: www.phnyc.org; 212-279-4200.
Additional credits:
Costume Design by Jessica Pabst, lighting design by Matt Frey.
Adam Bock will moderate a symposium Saturday, Nov. 5 4 pm at the Peter Sharp Theatrer at Playwrights Horizons. Visit phnyc.org/symposium for tickets.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FACTORS:
-- God's name taken in vain
-- Astrological information
-- Language
By Adam Bock
Directed by Anne Kauffman
Playwrights Horizons
through Nov. 27
By Lauren Yarger
What's It All About?
A new play from gifted playwright Adam Bock (A Small Fire) starring David Hyde Pierce. Nate Martin (Peirce) has been trying to find meaning in his life, especially after a crisis of faith and being dumped by his boyfriend. He has turned to astrology, and while he finds it fascinating, it hasn't provided all the answers to his questions. Truth is hard to find, he tells us, and even more difficult to hold on to. He's tried group therapy to find a balance between passion, intimacy and companionship, but his fears of commitment and vulnerability make it difficult for him to find answers there either. Best friend Curtis (Brad Heberlee) offers some friendship and advice, but it might be too late.
What Are the Highlights?
Under Anne Kauffman's taut direction, we get a real look into the mind of Nate (one scene is mostly through our hearing his thoughts as he moves around his apartment) and then by witnessing how his life touches those around him, including Curtis, his sister, Lori (Lynne McCollough) and those who care for him at the end (Nedra McClyde and Marina Anderson round out the ensemble).
This is not a typical theater experience. Laura Jellinek's set makes unexpected changes to tell this extraordinarily sad, humorous and deeply personal story of the importance of one person's seemingly ordinary life. Mikhail Fiksel's sound design incorporates sound effects, such as neighbors yelling outside the apartment, which at first seem unimportant. We ignore them as minor annoyances with the same nonchalance that an emergency-services worker in one scene appears to be unaffected by having to transport another body. Later, however, they remind us that all of those lives count too and that we should never take anyone for granted.
What Are the Lowlights?
None. It's an engaging and touching 80 minutes without intermission. Pierce find the humanity in his character and pulls us in so we feel we have experiences some significant moments in the life of a friend.
More information:
A Life has been extended through Dec. 5 at Playwrights Horizons, 416 West 42nd St., NYC. Performances are Tuesdays through Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30 7 pm. For Thanksgiving week (November 21-27), the performance schedule will be Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 pm, Wednesday at 2:30 pm, Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2:30 and 7 pm. Tickets are $59-$99: www.phnyc.org; 212-279-4200.
Additional credits:
Costume Design by Jessica Pabst, lighting design by Matt Frey.
Adam Bock will moderate a symposium Saturday, Nov. 5 4 pm at the Peter Sharp Theatrer at Playwrights Horizons. Visit phnyc.org/symposium for tickets.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FACTORS:
-- God's name taken in vain
-- Astrological information
-- Language
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