The Children

4.5 out of 5 Stars

I’ll keep this brief because the fun part of The Children is answering all the questions that you might otherwise look to a review to prepare. Who are these people? What is their relationship? Where are we? (The curtain rises on a set that is truly mundane, with one twist that puts you on an edge you didn’t know you had for the whole show). WHEN are we? Why is this night different from all other nights? Why is this the night we have dropped in on these three people? And what, for god’s sake, is The Disaster that we are all recovering from? 

This Manhattan Theatre Club production explores in 105 minutes what can poison your life, and how someone’s interference can prevent or worsen a Disaster. When do we know that it’s done, that all the cards are finally on the table? And you know what? It’s dark and funny. British playwright Lucy Kirkwood has written dialogue that is consistent and snappy. If you think this kind of dialogue is unrealistic and that ordinary people don’t speak like that, well just remember these characters verge on genius. They’re not ordinary people. Just let them amuse you.

Ron Moore, Deborah Findlay, and Francesca Annis

The cast - Deborah Findlay, Francesca Annis, and Ron Moore – and director – James Macdonald - are the original team from the world premiere at London’s Royal Court Theatre in the fall of last year, and they bring that sense of history to this production, a history that is necessary for the story (still not telling you any more than that). Quick shoutout to lighting and projection designer Peter Mumford. He designed some of the most subtle and natural lighting sequences I have seen.

Listen. Just see it. At worst it’s non-offensive and one act, at best it’s thought-provoking, well written, and well acted. 

Guest review by Sarah Austen