__James Norton__ (*Happy Valley*, *Grantchester*) stars in the theatrical event of 2023 as visionary director __Ivo van Hove__ (*Network*, *Hedda Gabler*) stages the English language premiere of *A Little Life*, his acclaimed production of the million-copy bestseller by __Hanya Yanagihara__ (*To Paradise*, Booker Prize Shortlist for *A Little Life*).
The much-anticipated play also stars __Luke Thompson__ (*Bridgerton*, *Hamlet*), __Omari Douglas__ (*It’s A Sin*, *Constellations*), __Zach Wyatt__ (*The Witcher*, *I and You*), __Elliot Cowan__ (*The Crown*, *2:22 A Ghost Story*), __Zubin Varla__ (*Tammy Faye*, *Equus*), __Nathalie Armin__ (*Force Majeure*, *The Doctor*), and __Emilio Doorgasingh__ (*Best of Enemies*, *The Kite Runner*).
A LITTLE LIFE follows four college friends in New York City: aspiring actor Willem, successful architect Malcolm, struggling artist JB, and prodigious lawyer Jude.
As ambition, addiction, and pride threaten to pull the group apart, they always find themselves bound by their love for Jude and the mysteries of his past.
But when those secrets come to light, they finally learn that to know Jude St Francis is to understand the limitless potential of love in the face of life.
__Assisted performances__
Captioned: Wednesday 7th June, 7pm
Audio Described: Wednesday, 31 May 2023, 7pm
BSL: Tuesday 23rd May 2023, 7pm
The events don't have time to breathe and hit the audience like they should because the company bestow them at an impetuous speed due to obvious timing reasons. A lot is sensibly omitted - from entire figures to situations that only solidify the small details - but one feels the topics shown are left underanalysed. The script ambles between dialogue, narrative, and inner monologue, swiftly going from one to the next with Shakespearean ambition. It largely works, but comes off as a forced artifice used to slide the story along painlessly. Poetic peaks follow clipped exposition while the actors address the crowd like a narrator would the reader.
Yanagihara’s perspective seems to be that abuse messes you up for life, making emotional intimacy almost impossible and suicide the only way out. Van Hove’s production reinforces that, creating a production that’s so painful to watch that, like Jude, you wish it would all just stop. But it’s both a hugely irresponsible message, and a false one. Real-life suffering is more complex, interspersed with moments of joy, care and healing – and recovery is too precious to give up on.
2022 | Off-Broadway |
BAM Next Wave US Premiere Production Off-Broadway |
2023 | West End |
West End |
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