Feature Review -
Victoria Claringbold
John Guare’s 1990 play returns to the West End this winter showing why exactly it deserves such consideration. The Old Vic seems possibly the best theatre to see this drama/comedy as it is a lavish house that nestles the audience in its red velvet seats mirroring the lush red carpet of the Kittredge’s, the rich protagonists of the play.
Six Degrees of Separation has been immortalised by a film adaptation in 1993 which is hard to discount from your mind whilst watching a stage production. The fact that it is an ensemble piece though provides enough excitement to carry the play forward for ninety minutes.
The play is cast appropriately with Anthony Head testing his mettle in the more demanding role of Flan Kittredge, a wealthy art dealer who is thrown into a perplexing situation when a young conman named Paul (RADA graduate Obi Abili) enters his penthouse suite on the upper east side of New York.
Ouisa Kittredge played by Lesley Manville is a rational woman forced to face the complex web of lies and deceit within her own relationships. Paul mesmerises her with his charm, celebrity and presence. Paul is based on the black teenager who in 1983, gained notoriety by charming his way into New York's white upper class, introducing himself as Sidney Poitier’s son, an ivy league student. The con inspired the celebrated play as well as a film starring Will Smith. Ouisa questions her marriage and her motivations by being forced to see herself as an outsider does. Is her life essentially something to be idolised?
Paul played with impulsive fervour by Abili, has a need to be somebody important, somebody illustrious who can be admired. He is incapable of empathy and with the naivety of a child expects to have everything handed to him. This is perhaps a reflection of American society where status is of such paramount importance and everything tends to be style over substance.
The Kittredge’s represent the glamour and affluence that Paul aspires to emulate. They go to black tie events, wear designer clothes, own a Kandinsky painting and dine at expensive restaurants.
South African Geoffrey (Ian Radford) as the Kittredge’s possible benefactor and dinner guest is just as captivated by Paul and through his magnetism is convinced into an art deal with Flan.
The nature of the ensemble play makes for scintillating theatre with new characters adding depth and intrigue to those already established on stage. The children of the well off New Yorkers who have been duped by Paul are refreshing in the stark contrast in attitude they have to their parents. “You gave him my pink shirt” howls nerdy Woody (Paul Stocker) Flan’s son who is incredulous that his property has been dispensed with so casually. The pink shirt comes to signify the upper class and Paul wears it with pride, as an affirmation of his acceptance into the lives of these dazzling people.
The themes of the play include deception, disillusionment, greed, narcissism and a yearning to escape from a prosaic existence. The play is driven by the mystery over who Paul really is. The discovery that the reality is so much more sinister than the Kittredge’s encounter with Paul is the revelation of the second half of the performance.
The literary references to Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye and the idea of six degrees of separation between everyone in the world were the strongest elements in the piece. Ouisa states sensitively “How everyone is a new door, opening into other worlds.”
My only objection to the production is that you can only really sympathise with the couple from Utah, featherbrained yet earnest Elizabeth (Sarah Goldberg) and straightforward Rick (Luke Neal) who in their gullibility are conned by Paul out of their savings. The rest of the characters are pretentious, acquisitive or attention seeking and elicit little warmth from their behaviour. Their possessions seem more significant to them than anything else showing the full realisation of capitalism.
The set included a sofa and coffee table in a carpeted revolving circle with a semi circular backdrop and the rotating Kandinsky just above that. The two sided Kandinsky is possibly a metaphor for the two sides of each character. The internal and external in constant opposition of each others desires.
You can see why producers wish to retell this story as it is compelling as it is thought provoking. The ending is left open ended which shrouds the action in more mystery. Is Paul someone we are supposed to feel for, despise or pity?
Victoria Claringbold
Six Degrees Of Separation
The Old Vic Theatre
The Cut, London, SE1 8NB
Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (with no interval)
Director: David Grindley
Age Recommendation: 14+ (at the discretion of the parent/guardian)
Additional Notes: This production contains nudity
Bookings being taken until: 03 April 2010
Based on a true story.
Paul, a streetwise young black man charms his way into the home of the Kittredges, a wealthy white New York couple. They are art dealers, on the verge of clinching a fortune. He is a college friend of their children, and the son of Sidney Poitier. Is he? Are they? They give him shelter, money and friendship. In exchange he changes their lives.
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