On & Off Broadway

‘The Father’ and ‘Head of Passes’

Reviewed by Elyse Trevers

Posted

Some people avoid “heavy” theater. They prefer lighter fare - laughs and music. However, if they skip two of the newer plays this season, they will miss two superb performances. The Father and Head of Passes both deal with aging parents.

Frank Langella, who will always be etched in my mind as an incredibly sexy Count Dracula, plays The Father. Dementia and memory loss are a part of the aging process for many, and some plays depict what used to be known as senile characters. What makes The Father different is that this fine play by French playwright Florian Zeller shows the mental confusion from the perspective of the character himself; the experience is dramatic, frightening and terribly depressing. Andre (Langella) lives with his daughter, Anne (Kathryn Elbe). Sometimes he doesn’t recognize her; other times he’s confused about her husband or is it her boyfriend? Is she moving to London or remaining in the flat in Paris? Is she trying to get his flat from him or is he living in her home? The audience is confused as well and that’s part of the strength of the play.

Andre, who had been an engineer, tells his caretaker that he was a dancer and then begins to tap dance. He notes that the caretaker resembles his younger daughter Elise and often compares her to Anne, always favoring Anne.

When Anne corrects him, he notes that she’s getting confused and that he’s worried about her. At first the audience laughs at some of these comments, but the uncomfortable laugher eventually stops as it becomes apparent what is happening to this once strong man. The 78-year-old Langella is wonderful as the man fighting to hold onto his life and identity. He bellows, insisting that he can take care of himself, but then turns childishly to ask why Anne is leaving him. He tears at our heartstrings when he finally weeps for his mother.

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