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A review by lelainav
Wit: A Play by Margaret Edson
4.0
Bent on staging the unstageable (though not to a Kane level), Edson has us watch a brilliant professor's health deteriorate from her initial cancer diagnosis throughout the entirety of her treatment. A compilation of direct address (Vivian, the principal character, spends most of the play denying any fourth wall), tight scenes, and simple, painful characters.
Edson lets her principal character fail, and miserably too. It's a bold move, one that sometimes got clunky (as in when Vivian tries to discuss with Jason his interests in medicine), and a definite acting challenge. It requires an impeccable performer no doubt. Not a play for college troupes.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say that Edson has written a near impossible character - by which I mean hyper-realistic - in a nearly impossible style touching on nearly impossible topics.
A moving play. I hope to see it in production one day.
Edson lets her principal character fail, and miserably too. It's a bold move, one that sometimes got clunky (as in when Vivian tries to discuss with Jason his interests in medicine), and a definite acting challenge. It requires an impeccable performer no doubt. Not a play for college troupes.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say that Edson has written a near impossible character - by which I mean hyper-realistic - in a nearly impossible style touching on nearly impossible topics.
A moving play. I hope to see it in production one day.