Good theatre should have resonance, inspiring thought and evoking emotion. With a strong cast and profound script, The Visitor rises to meet this standard.
Set in 1938 Nazi-occupied Vienna, the play debates some timeless philosophical questions such as ‘Does God Exist?’ and ‘What is God’s responsibility for the actions of Man?’ With such complex themes it would be easy for this play to become lost within its own intricate plot. The 121 Theatre Company, though, have not only navigated this maze but have the skill to exploit its depth to their advantage.
This adaptation of Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt’s Le Visiteur finds Sigmund Freud wrestling with the decision of whether or not to flee Vienna and the implications this may have. With his daughter being interrogated by the Gestapo and the weight of the decision he must make bearing down upon him, Freud cries out in anguish. His cries are seemingly answered by the appearance of a strange man, clad in tuxedo and top hat, his frivolous garb in stark contrast to the grim reality at play just outside the building.
Is this stranger God or merely a trickster? That question is left for the audience to decide, what is tackled here is God’s existence and his responsibility for the actions of those he has both created and empowered.
The cast of this play are all accomplished actors, worthy and adept enough to handle the intricacies of even this complex piece. Despite the wealth of talent displayed by his fellow actors, it is Duncan Lumsden who takes ownership of the play through his role as God/the trickster.
His emotional range and ability to convincingly straddle the duality of his character is truly astounding. It is his performance more than anything else that gives this play its credibility.
The Visitor will make believers question their devotion and lead atheists to the contemplation of the Divine. This play works through your mind to touch your soul.
4/5
Matthew Straw
