A woman’s journey to meet her blind husband makes for a powerful and electric night of theatre via All That Fall, Samuel Beckett’s radio play that’s receiving a delightful limited engagement at 59E59.
The stage is set with a dozen chairs around the periphery and a mock automobile (cleverly designed by Cherry Truluck) in the center. The cast members file out, scripts in hand. A red light turns on. And away we go to rural Ireland in the ’50s. Mrs. Rooney (Eileen Atkins), described as “a lady in her seventies” is making quite a long trek to a train station by foot, car and the (mostly willing) guidance of others.
It’s a simple concept beautifully executed under effortless direction by Trevor Nunn. Mr. Beckett’s script deals with sometimes agonizing issues-- loss, grief, old age-- in an easy-to-swallow fashion. There is so much delicious dialogue (my favorite line: “You stepped into your father’s shoes when he took them off”) that’s further enhanced by a stellar cast.
At the core of it all, Ms. Atkins delivers a master class performance filled with humor (after a driver runs over a hen, she deviously declares: “Drive on”) and laced with sadness (she latches onto a middle-aged woman named Miss Fitt, as not to fall down). Of the supporting cast, Trevor Cooper is a standout as Mr. Slocum. He brings to the table golden physical comedy and perfectly colorful line deliveries. And when he enters the playing space in the last twenty or so minutes, Michael Gambon makes it so you can’t take your eyes off of his fragile and sensitive Mr. Rooney.
The Miss Fitt section lasts too long, dragging down the momentum. But once Atkins and Gambon are together, it’s a joy to watch these two beyond accomplished actors play off each other. A revelation regarding what exactly happened on Mr. Rooney’s train hits you like a ton of bricks while a brewing storm (expert sound design by Paul Groothuis) begets a haunting image on which to conclude.
All That Fall runs through December 8. Tickets are $70 ($49 for 59E59 members). SCHEDULE: Tue 7p, Wed 2p & 7p, Thu 7p, Fri 8p, Sat 2p & 8p, Sun 3p.
