Theatre Review - The Sunset Ltd
Reminiscent
of a Samuel Beckett play, nothing much happens in Cormac McCarthy’s drama The
Sunset Ltd. Part of the attraction of Beckett is often his lack of words.
That “quietness” is lacking in the UK premiere of McCarthy’s nihilistic,
dialogue driven play.
McCarthy
is probably best known for his Pulitzer prize winning novel The Road,
an equally stark look at the futility of life.
However
thrilling it is to visit the new Boulevard theatre in the heart of Soho, this
two-hander will likely divide audiences.
Black
(Gary Beadle) an African-American ex-convict has just prevented White (Jasper
Britton), a college professor, from jumping in front of the New York train
known as the Sunset Ltd. He’s brought the professor home to his modest
apartment and attempts to talk him out of his despair.
The
middle-aged men move warily around one another – like chess pieces, each on a
particular trajectory. The contrasts between them are laid bare and make us
question why Black (the downtrodden) should have to talk White (the privileged)
out of anything.
Black
relies heavily on his faith (he found God in prison and enjoys reading the
bible), but White has no belief in anything. “The one thing I won’t give up is
giving up,” he quips. He doesn’t even look forward to death. The thought of
having to meet his mother on the other side horrifies him.
The
men parry with one another, share a coffee and a meal, but neither manages to
persuade the other to change their perspective.
You
can’t fault the stellar performances, but it’s hard to be drawn into this challenging,
bleak play. Given its static setting, Terry Johnson has little room for
manoeuvre and one can’t help thinking that McCarthy’s arguments would have been
better served in a novel or on radio.
Running
until February 29.