Winner of the Evening Standard’s ‘Best Comedy Award’, the Critics' Circle ‘Best Play Award’, and the Olivier Award for ‘Best New Play’, Patrick Marber’s Closer tells the cold, sterile, cruel, empty, un-fulfilling, and darkly funny story of four people, who mate, break up, swap partners, seek revenge on and wilfully hurt each other. It’s a cocktail of sex, loneliness, desire, guilt and revenge.
Obituary writer/would-be novelist Dan and a young American stripper Alice strike up an instant connection after a freak accident. Another accident of circumstance causes them to meet with the pleasure-pursuing dermatologist Larry and his divorcée girlfriend Anna, a photographer with whom Dan had earlier shared a flirtation. Closeness is what each of the play's four characters struggles for, but as the story unfolds, these four will betray and be betrayed by each other. Each suffers from some crippling variation of dishonest and frightened self-preservation where they crave notions of love yet are not willing to surrender themselves to it.
Written by: Patrick Marber
Directed by: John Paul McSharry
Set Design by: Niall Rea
Lighting Designed by: Darren Willingham
Assistant Director: Richard Lavery
Producer: Lyn Harris
Stage Manager: Graham Crighton
Deputy Stage Manager: Rebekah Rush
Costume Supervisor: Niall Rea
Reviews
“With superb performances by all four members of the cast, director John Paul McSharry has created an edge of the seat production which should give all smug couples, second thoughts about their relationship security. Nicholson gives a captivating, risqué performance as the beautiful Alice, whose eyes betray her true vulnerability and deep rooted neediness. Weyman as the strong, confident Anna plays a more subtle role rising to the occasion when confronted by her angry, cheated husband Larry played by Belfast man Jenkins. In turn he gives an explosive, spell-binding performance when he learns the truth of her infidelity highlighting the very reason why Closer is better suited to the stage than the big screen. Meanwhile Liebmann brings an authenticity to his self-obsessed character Dan, which no doubt will resonate with male commitment issues everywhere. The set designed by Niall Rea (also in charge of costume design) is sparse and simple, which accentuates the raw emotions delivered by the cast.”
“Closer gets beneath the fingernails of modern relationships and though it could be argued the language and the aforementioned scene are gratuitous, by the same token this makes it more realistic. 8/10.”
“The evening never dips beneath delicious, lascivious entertainment. Rawlife is dedicated to encouraging non-theatre going audiences to try the theatre. As Dan states, ‘Life without risk is death’. So why not let temptation win out and take a risk with Closer? Within reason of course…”
