Downstate: A New Play

[Swithin]

I saw a disturbing, fascinating, provocative, and well done play in London last week. It was the last performance at the National Theatre, of a play called Downstate, which was produced in conjunction with Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre. The subject is life in a home for paedophiles.

Here are a few reviews, which help explain the approach of the play to its distasteful subject. Btw, one of my favorite English actresses plays the monitoring police officer: Cecilia Noble. I thought she was brilliant in The Amen Corner a few years ago, and she's great in Downstate. All of the actors are terrific.

https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/reviews/downstate-national-steppenwolf-norris_48737.html

https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/downstate-review

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/downstate-review-dorfman-national-theatre-bruce-norris-paedophile-a8833461.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/theatre/downstate-review-national-theatre-bruce-norris-a4097356.html

 

[rayban]

Quite frankly, I wouldn't want to see this play.