Review: WHO KILLED MY FATHER, Young Vic Theatre
Photo credit: Jan Versweyveld
The Young Vic has produced some exceptional theatre, so it truly deserves the reputation it has in the industry. Who Killed My Father is a terrific addition to Young Vic canon; drama at its most pure.
Firstly, we can't not acknowledge the sad news of loss the Royal Family faced just before the beginning of the show, and we'd like to commend the venue on their moment of silence before the show began. We are aware of this silence echoing across the West End and feel honoured to be part of a community that has the uppermost respect for the loss of The Queen.
As soon as the production begins, we are treated to an immense one-man show exploring the complex relationship between a son and his father, saturated with nuanced identity politics, abuse, masculinity and class struggle. It is captivating right from the start; Hans Kesting (character unnamed) enters through the singular door upstage into a room all but empty except for a bed, a TV and gas canister, and for the next 90 minutes, no one can take their eyes off of him.
Kesting's grounded performance is phenomenal. Years of pain and frustration painted on every inch of his face and contained within every joint of his posture. As his story unravels for the audience, we are hooked on his every word and action; he has us in the palm of his hand. Kesting has taken a step beyond acting here and with everything said, you sense a conjured lived experience that is truly difficult to replicate.
The collaboration between Kesting and Ivo van Hove is evident. It is clear that both artists have a huge respect for one another and their craft. This is raw, unfiltered theatre. Van Hove's direction is subtle, offering exactly what is needed, nothing more, nothing less. The full range of the rollercoaster is able to be explored, from the silent pauses (in which you could hear a pin drop) to the shockingly loud or violent moments.
The set design offers no specific location, and this helps us connect with the script more. We are able to contextualise the story we are reviewing how we want to, and as the character on stage vividly imagines his history, so do we. We are rarely given any assistance in this, bar a brief appearance from a disco ball or clips of Titanic (yes, you read that right!) These aspects appear to provide moments of escapist humour in what is a deeply tragic performance.
Designer Jan Versweyveld uses many exquisite theatrical methods to convey the emotion of the text, some beautiful smoke and lighting effects truly help in heightening moments of already intense emotion. This is further aided by George Dhauw’s sound design/composition, which is both subtle and extremely powerful all at once, complimenting the profound performance wonderfully.
While this production may not be overly enjoyable, it certainly is an exceptional performance, one that audiences should not miss out on the chance to see.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Callum Wallace
Who Killed my Father plays at the Young Vic Theatre until 24 September, with tickets available here.
