SANDRA DICKINSON & JONATHAN CHAMBERS IN THE UNBUILT CITY AT KING’S HEAD THEATRE ☆☆
On a cold afternoon in February, Jonah knocks on the door of a townhouse in Brooklyn Heights. He’s come to ask Claudia to sell her famously secret collection to a university archive. But in order to do that, he’ll have to persuade her to reveal her own enigmatic past, and to illuminate a series of mysteries about the nature of love, legacy and the untold history of New York City.
The Unbuilt City written by Keith Bunin debuted by New York Stage And Film Vassar in The Powerhouse Season summer 2015. This European premiere is just the second time the play has been staged.
In reading the synopsis of this play one is reminded of a Henry James novella The Aspern Papers although set in Venice it also tells of an elderly reclusive woman living in the past and not wanting to give up the love letters of a once-famous poet to the young man who connives to get them from her or indeed to discover if they really do exist! As a sideline this has just been filmed by Julian Landais starring Vanessa Redgrave and Jonathan Rhys Meyers for release later this year and judging by the trailer looks ravishing! We wait in anticipation!
The Unbuilt City does become after a rather brusque start and style a rather deep and fascinating tale and feel it will develop after a few performances, sadly the set will not which does not reflect the home, albeit rundown mansion house of a rich socialite. One can pay no heed to it anyway as the actors deflect from that completely.
A wonderful part written for a seasoned actress, which Sandra Dickinson (I Love Lucy) grabs with both hands, shakily at the beginning, maybe first night nerves but quickly settles into a memorable performance.
In the beginning, the Director’s choice of having the actors at times direct their lines to the audience seems out of place for the piece as surely we are eavesdropping on their conversation but after a while, one gets used to it.
The play really comes together towards the end and the monologue by Jonathan Chambers (The Motorcycle Diaries) of his youth and male lovers is a moving moment, the reveal of the unbuilt city and explanation is when the two strangers finally bond, past, and present, the young learning from the elders – a reason to believe.
Directed by Glen Walford, The Unbuilt City runs at the King’s Head Theatre from June 6-30.
Review : Peter Harrington 