Tonight:
5°c
Fiona Mountford's rating
, Passion needed for Time of Your Life
By
Fiona Mountford
1 Dec 2008
There are compelling reasons for reviving William Saroyan’s sprawling, elegant, elegiac, of-all-life-in-a-Frisco-honky-tonk 1939 Pulitzer Prize winner The Time of Your Life. Unfortunately, this listless production from Max Lewendel provides few of them. Two and three quarters hours is a mighty long time for a play to remain stuck in second gear.
There are unmistakable overtones of The Iceman Cometh as Saroyan’s sprawling, episodic structure introduces us to saloon owner Nick and his irregular regulars. Nevertheless, Lewendel and his 24-strong cast lead us instead on a long, tedious day’s journey into an October night.
Saroyan offers some wonderful character portraits, not least the mysterious figure of Kitty Duval, a “young woman, with memories”, but no performer here has the confidence to grab a role by the throat and squeeze every drop of dramatic juice out of it.
Until 20 December. 0844 847 1652. www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (1)
I agree that the play is overlong and that it seems without direction but some of the acting is first rate.
- Natwin Jobhaland, London, United Kingdom, 01/12/2008 18:49
Report abuse
