Constellations

Nick Payne’s award winning play from the Royal Court Theatre is a refeshingly entertaining yet intellectually demanding theatrical experience that set my head spinning with emotions that ranged from sadness to delight. From start to finish this is captivating stuff, the staccato pacing, brilliant lighting and inventive setting all work so well – but it is the clever concept, well formed script and beautifully handled performances and direction that make the evening the joy that it is. Louise Brealey is mesmeric as Marianne, fragile one moment, controlling the next, despairing and delightful in equal parts as she plays out her role in the multi-universe that she occupies. Joe Armstrong is equally impressive as he too plays out the sequential storyline and curious twists in how their story can be seen. Witty, moving, shocking and above all thought provoking. Watching Roland and Marianne from so many perspectives made me contemplate the way I look at my own life and wonder too how others see it.

Theatre Royal Brighton, 30 June 2015
Rating:
Andrew Kay