‘Blackbird’: Dynamic duo in dark tale

‘BLACKBIRD’: Jeff Bridges & Michelle Williams. Photo: Brigitte Lacombe

BLACKBIRD
Written by David Harrower
Directed by Joe Mantello
Through June 11, 2016
Belasco Theatre
111 West 44th Street.
(212-239-6200), www.blackbirdbroadway.com

By David NouNou

Complex and intense, riveting but perplexing, damaged and flawed are all descriptions of the characters and the play Blackbird. By the nature of its unsavory subject matter, it is one of those plays that make you squirm in your seat, but you can’t take your eyes off the stage. Its strongest suit is that it constantly alters the viewer’s allegiance from one character to the other.

Ray (Jeff Daniels) seduced Una (Michelle Williams) 15 years ago. Ray was 40, Una was 12. On the surface it is a very clear open-and-shut case. Today, Una has finally located Ray, who has moved to a different city and changed his name. She has come to his place of work to confront him about that incident. From the onset, when both characters enter together as though joined at the hip into a messy private eating area, you sense that fireworks will go off. They have both paid a horrific price for their act and the extent of their damage is very obvious. As the play delves deeper into the incident, it becomes an entangled web of who seduced who, who was left alone to fend for themselves, and who had to pay the higher cost of humiliation and punishment

Up to this point the play is riveting and intoxicating. However, playwright David Harrower alters this perfectly balanced play to reach the nether regions and suddenly this emotional wallop disperses into the nebulous zone and there is no assistance from director Joe Mantello.

In order to keep this play on track, you need two superb performances, and what performances? Michelle Williams who made an inauspicious Broadway debut in 2014 in Cabaret is simply mesmerizing. Every movement, facial expression, tick, and the torment behind them is conveyed magnificently. She is so immersed into the role that at times it is excruciating to watch.

Jeff Daniels is equally brilliant; he picks up his cues from Ms. Williams and has to go toe to toe with her in order to give the play balance. Upon hearing Ms. Williams recall her lost youth and upon remembering his own ordeal of punishments, Mr. Daniels ages before our very eyes. The two are giving the performances of their careers.

Consequences of events that happened a long time ago stay with us and the damage and flaws it creates can be lifelong. Hopefully at some point, one can confront it and try to resolve it. Blackbird is only 85 minutes long and performed without an intermission. Short as it is, it’s not an easy sit through, but the rewards are great. To see Jeff Daniels and Michelle Williams at the top of their game makes the evening that much more bearable and enriching.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published March 13, 2016
Reviewed at press performance on March 11, 2016

‘BLACKBIRD’: Jeff Daniels. Photo: Brigitte Lacombe

‘BLACKBIRD’: Michelle Williams. Photo: Brigitte Lacombe