Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Florian Zeller’s THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM, led by Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins, magnifies the angst of old age

• By drediman
• September 29, 2019
• No Comments

Eileen Atkins and Jonathan Pryce in Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of “The Height of the Storm” by Forian Zeller at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Photo by Joan Marcus.

French playwright Florian Zeller – thanks in no insignificant part to his frequent collaboration with English translator Christopher Hampton – has become well known in theater circles on both sides of the pond for his enigmatic portraits of older characters on the verge of dementia or mentally breaking down. As an underserved actor of a certain age, what can be more rewarding than sinking one’s teeth into one of the playwright’s elusive creations? Indeed, at least on this side of the pond, the results have spoken for themselves – Frank Langella won a Tony for his performance in The Father, and French stage and film star Isabelle Huppert quickly sold out the Atlantic Theater Company run of The Mother. Both were riveting in their respective roles and fully deserving of the accolades bestowed upon them.

Now we have Mr. Zeller’s The Height of the Storm, starring the enticing British duo of Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins, which opened last week on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater, courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club. The play tells the story of an older married couple, one of whom has recently passed away. As with The Father and The Mother, the playwright plays with the audience and characters’ perceptions – over the course of The Height of the Storm, it’s not clear exactly which of the two is deceased. Mr. Zeller’s latest puzzle of a play is more mournful and less viscerally alive – and therefore less of a vehicle for its two established stars – than the two aforementioned works. That comes somewhat at the consequence to the production’s immediate impact, although the work remains very much in line with the playwright’s continued attempt at magnifying the angst of old age. Much of the play is a slow-burning exercise in creating mood rather than hard hitting drama.

Nevertheless, Mr. Pryce and Ms. Atkins are superb, playing beautifully against each other. Although they have few scenes in which they directly interact (the main conduit for moving the story forward are their two daughters, who visit their remaining parent to settle affairs), the contrast and chemistry in their characterizations contribute richly in painting a convincing portait of a longstanding marriage. The great Mr. Pryce is all brio and volatile masculine bravado. Although he’s great fun to watch, it’s Ms. Atkins who quietly steals the show with her steady but steely portrayal. Her final scenes are nervy and altogether breathtaking. Veteran British director helms the handsomely-designed production; he sensitively maximizes the play’s brooding mood, ideally benefitting Mr. Zeller’s latest effort.

RECOMMENDED

THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM
Broadway, Play
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
1 hour, 20 minutes (without an intermission)
Through November 24