‘Heisenberg’ one of best two-character plays in last decade

‘HEISENBERG’: Denis Arndt & Mary-Louise Parker. Photo: Joan Marcus

HEISENBERG
Written by Simon Stephens
Directed by Mark Brokaw
Through December 11, 2016
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
261 West 47th Street
(212-399-3050),www.manhattantheaterclub.com

By David NouNou

Simon Stephens, better known to American audiences for his adaptation of Mark Haddon’s novel The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, has veered into the a new direction. From the epic Curious Incident, this time he has dropped us in the middle of a very unusual love story. Though it may seem small in size, it is epic in opening the layers that form a relationship.

Georgie Burns (Mary-Louise Parker), an American living in London, meets Alex Priest (Denis Ardnt) in a crowded train station. Georgie in essence picks up Alex. She is much younger and an incessant talker and Alex is a shy, gentle man who likes to sit on a bench and observe people on his days off. Georgie deals in half truths and lies while Alex enjoys his quiet life. With her maniacal jabbering, she somehow makes her way through to Alex. Questions and answers begin to become more personal and truthful and start striking at the center of each person’s core. We find out that Alex is a butcher and Georgie works in a school with small children. Her 19-year-old son abandoned her many years ago. Georgie is 43 and Alex is 75. Georgie is on a mission and Alex goes for the ride.

What separates this duo from others is the way their conversations and questions get them under each other’s skin. The play does not make it merely about a younger woman meeting an older man; it delves into their physiological inner being on how they talk to each other and treat each other. There are no boundaries with Georgie; she does what she has to do. Meanwhile. Alex having had one true love when he was in his 20s, of course is the more innocent and reserved of the two. He is always on to her next move.

Through swearing and their offbeat communication, they manage to form a relationship, and it is interesting to watch, because Georgie can be an obnoxious and an incessant nuisance and the type of woman you want to stay clear from. Alex, on the other hand, sees her as something so unusual that he is attracted to her vulnerability  What makes the relationship interesting is how their oppositeness brings them closer together.

Mary-Louise Parker gives one of her strongest performances in years and is a joy to watch. Denis Arndt is equally brilliant in his shy, strident man of many interests. Mark Brokaw has given them just enough direction so they can express themselves as they do and expose their raw nerves. He also has made them interesting to watch, one not to be too overbearing and the other not to be a milquetoast. Of all the two-character plays that have come out in the last decade, Heisenberg has got to be one of the most provocative dramas of bringing two diametrically opposed people together, and is certainly one of the best.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published October 16, 2016
Reviewed at press performance on October 15, 2016

‘HEISENBERG’: Denis Arndt & Mary-Louise Parker. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HEISENBERG’: Mary-Louise Parker. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HEISENBERG’: Denis Arndt. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HEISENBERG’: Dennis Arndt & Mary-Louise Parker. Photo: Joan Marcus